TheGurkhaCellarReservePlatinum12-YearSolaratakestheCellarReserveideainadistinctlyNicaraguandirection.RatherthantheagedDominicantobaccooftheoriginalseries,PlatinumisbuiltaroundNicaraguantobaccosagedupto12years,includingleaffromEstelí,JalapaandCondega,finishedbeneathanEcuadorianwrapper.TheresultisaCellarReservewithalittlemorespiceandstructurewhileretainingtheroundedcharacterexpectedfromwell-agedtobacco.
At5"x58,theSolaracarriesasubstantialfillercorewithoutrequiringthetimecommitmentofalargercigar.ThebroadringgaugeputsthosematureNicaraguantobaccosfirmlyintheforeground,whiletheEcuadorianwrappercontributesenougharomaanddefinitiontokeeptheblendcomposed.Theprofileiswoodyandearthywithrestrainednuttiness,naturalsweetnessandwarmspice.ThereisNicaraguanstrengthunderneath,buttheageofthetobaccokeepsthecigarfrombecomingoverlysharporaggressive.
TheSolaraisagoodfitforthesmokerwhoenjoysasubstantialRobustobutwantsthecharacterofagedNicaraguantobaccoratherthansheerpower.Fiveincheskeepstheexperiencemanageable,whilethe58ringprovidesplentyofmaturefillertosettleinto.Givethisoneaslowpaceandletthetobaccodothetalking—PlatinumshowshowwellNicaraguanleafcantradesomeyouthfulintensityformaturityanddepth.
