Start cruising your local B&M? I don't know, they're available but I don't know where yet. Maybe only on the local level, hopefully we'll see them on ccom soon.

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When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

Thomas Jefferson

Great cigar...I have a box of the 08 just waiting to be enjoyed.

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JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE...

bbc020:

j0z3r:

I was looking for info on the 2009 release of the Serie V maduro and found a side-by-side comparison picture. Supposedly the new release is better than the 2008 version, let's hope so since the '08 was pretty good.

...ok now the question is...how can I get my hands on some 09s?

No I disagree I believe the question is how can brink get his hands on some '09s.

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Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin look alike contest and came in third.

Search around, they are landing. Ccom probably will get them in soon, hopefully at a good price.

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

I've been dying to try this especially after loving the III so much.
Gurkha Empire VI (Brazilian wrappers hug a robust blend of Dominican Piloto Cubano and Nicaraguan ligero tobaccos)

The cigar looks amazing as with the other empires. The pre-light smell is of peat and cedar. After lighting it I get more peat, wood, some coffee and subtle sweetness. Overall I wasn't overly impressed with it. The taste wasn't that flavorful for me. The burn was good, as was the draw.

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

Being a little dissapointed with the VI, I move on to the Empire IV. Another dark wrapper cigars, again with a fantastic construction and gorgeous presentation.
Gurkha Empire IV (A jet-black Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper conceals a bold recipe of Nicaraguan and Dominican long-leaf ligeros)

The pre light smell was something I really couldn't nail down but it was pleasant. Moving on to lighting this bad boy and toasting it..... After the first few puffs I was loaded with flavor, some coffee, cedar, spice, leather, and a chocolate sweetness. The draw was tight on this cigar and my usual loosening tricks weren't working so I stuck with it. The flavors changed from time to time between the cedar, spice, and coffee/chocolate. The sweetness was a great bonus as it melded the other flavors wonderfully. I got more of a cedary spice/sweet kick through the nose while a tobacco and coffee taste lingered in the mouth. The burn was even but had a strong ash, even when I noticed the ash getting a bit long and not wanting it to fall on my chair I tried to knock it off but it wouldn't budge. After a while longer it finally gave but it stayed perfectly intact when I got it in the ash tray. Going into the last half the cigar started to go out a bit, but a quick touch up and it was good as new. The flavors moved to more of a spice but it soon backed off and more of the sweet cocoa flavors moved in. Overall this cigar was pretty good, however I would like to have another go at it with less tight of a draw as it really impeded the enjoyment. The aroma of this cigar was nice, but not as sweet as the III. I might have to put this 2nd out of the Empires I've had thus far.

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

The Empire V is really the only light looking cigar out of the bunch, and since I love the Turk so much I'm hoping this lives up to the high standard of the "creamy" gurkha I enjoy so much.
Gurkha Empire V (A complex mixture of long-fillers from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico mingle within a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper)

The pre light smell of the cigar is sweet with cedar. The construction is down right beautiful as is the presentation. After lighting it and the first few puffs I'm overwhelmed with a sweet flavor along with cedar, coffee, butter, nuts and a tad bit of spice. The cigar starts out very flavorful, and continues all the way to the end. The burn stayed even, the ash tight, and the smoke was plentiful (aroma was nice as well). This was a great smoke, and for the price it may well beat out the turk. Though I enjoyed both. I may even go as far to say I enjoyed it more than the 5 vegas gold. The size of the Empires are just right in my opinion and this cigar comes in high on the list of creamy smokes I have enjoyed.

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

Finally finishing the Empire series from gurkha and my non stop smoking weekend (though maybe another cigar later....)
Gurkha Empire II (6-year-old combination of Cuban-seed long-leaf ligeros from the Dominican resides within a dark Connecticut wrapper)

Let me first start out by saying that when I learned that yet another monster blend was coming out from Gurkha I was a bit hesitant. The Micro batches weren't bad and though I only had 2 of the 4, I was satisfied with my choice on the 2 I had bought boxes of. They seemed to have blended a bit since I first had them when they arrived which certainly added to their flavor. The Empire series, though a whopping 6 cigars in the line are actually quite good. I thoroughly enjoyed the III and IV (though I want to have another to be sure), and while the others weren't as impressive they were still good cigars. The last of the 6 is now under the burner and I'll stop stalling and get to it!

Pre-light this cigar has a very different smell than the rest, but still has a bit of ceder to it. The construction is wonderful and the double bands make it really shine. After lighting the cigar and puffing away I got loads of smoke and a very nice blend of flavors. Coffee, a sweetness, almost sugary and buttery, cream, a touch of pepper and cedar. There was another maybe more that I can't describe, but it sure was different than what I have yet from any of these cigars. I really noticed it through the nose and while holding the smoke in my mouth getting ready to push some smoke through my nose. A very yummy taste. The conni wrapper seems to really blend well with the ligero leaves and leaves a lasting impression. The aroma isn't as sweet as say the III but it still is a nice one, so much so my wife complimented me on it and she's been doing that a lot the last couple of smokes...
After the first ash, I noticed some strength starting to brew and it lasted a bit but soon subsided. Now it's not a strong pepper or knock your socks off but from the start the cigar was mild so a little introduction of pepper and wood mixed things up a bit. Soon after, the sweet cream, coffee, nutty (almost roasted peanut) and hints of chocolate flavors came pushing back and from then on. Now this cigar is a mild cigar but FULL of flavor (complex even) and that is something that is very welcomed. This cigar would probably be my favorite cigar out of the lot but I really must give it a tie with the Empire III. Either way, I am sold on the II, and the III. And while these cigar's are rather cheap at the moment it makes them a no brainier.

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

Nice review Pheebs nice review ...

So maybe I should keep my backordered box of Empire III!!!! IDK why it is taking so long but I was about ready to cancel it and try to get singles of all of them.

I dunno, they'll show up. The III's are good. I'm planning on getting boxes of the II, III, and maybe IV...

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

Nice reviews. Looking forward to trying some of those. Unfortunately, the smoking weather is totally gone around here and I don't have a place to smoke indoors aside from local shops.

Gurkha Red Dragon (Cameroon Wrapper, Cameroon Binder, Costa Rican Filler.)

One thing gurkha is not short on is its blends and the DRAGON line has many. 1st release black dragon, the "now" black dragon, The Dragon Fury, The Dragon Fire, The Green Dragon, and now the Red Dragon. First off let me say that I don't think the Black is all that great, though it isn't bad. I enjoyed the Dragon Fire, the Fury, and the Green Dragon, so when I heard of the Red Dragon landing I had to get it. Packaged the same as the Green but with Red fabric to give a fantastic presentation.
This cigar has an interesting smell pre light and I just can't pin it. After lighting, and a few puffs I am immediately impressed. This cigar is longer than I like (sadly all the dragons are minus the fire) but wow what a bunch of flavors and lots of smoke. This cigar leaves a sweet creamy-ness in your mouth and it is fantastic. There are a lot of flavors here, nut, coffee, cocoa, butter, ceder, wood, chocolate, and others that I just can't describe, trust me this thing has a lot of flavor. Moving into the half way mark some zest comes in, a bit of pepper to collide with the sweetness. The cigar was flavorful all the way through and the burn stayed constant. I haven't had a green dragon in a while but this cigar makes me want to light one up just to compare them. Going off of memory, I think I like this Red Dragon a tad bit more, and I might have to get another box. At any rate, these guys are terrific and if you like smooth creamy smokes here's another to consider. BTW some info on this cigar says it's a strong cigar, so unless I'm out of my mind, this guy isn't. But then again I don't think that opus's are too strong either... If anyone wants me to do a review of the Green Dragon let me know, as I did a brief one but can't find it.

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

phobicsquirrel:

Gurkha Red Dragon (Cameroon Wrapper, Cameroon Binder, Costa Rican Filler.)

One thing gurkha is not short on is its blends and the DRAGON line has many. 1st release black dragon, the "now" black dragon, The Dragon Fury, The Dragon Fire, The Green Dragon, and now the Red Dragon. First off let me say that I don't think the Black is all that great, though it isn't bad. I enjoyed the Dragon Fire, the Fury, and the Green Dragon, so when I heard of the Red Dragon landing I had to get it. Packaged the same as the Green but with Red fabric to give a fantastic presentation.
This cigar has an interesting smell pre light and I just can't pin it. After lighting, and a few puffs I am immediately impressed. This cigar is longer than I like (sadly all the dragons are minus the fire) but wow what a bunch of flavors and lots of smoke. This cigar leaves a sweet creamy-ness in your mouth and it is fantastic. There are a lot of flavors here, nut, coffee, cocoa, butter, ceder, wood, chocolate, and others that I just can't describe, trust me this thing has a lot of flavor. Moving into the half way mark some zest comes in, a bit of pepper to collide with the sweetness. The cigar was flavorful all the way through and the burn stayed constant. I haven't had a green dragon in a while but this cigar makes me want to light one up just to compare them. Going off of memory, I think I like this Red Dragon a tad bit more, and I might have to get another box. At any rate, these guys are terrific and if you like smooth creamy smokes here's another to consider. BTW some info on this cigar says it's a strong cigar, so unless I'm out of my mind, this guy isn't. But then again I don't think that opus's are too strong either... If anyone wants me to do a review of the Green Dragon let me know, as I did a brief one but can't find it.

Great review Pheebs.
Now cut it our already... I can't afford any more box splits right now I told you, LOL.

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phobicsquirrel:

Gurkha Red Dragon (Cameroon Wrapper, Cameroon Binder, Costa Rican Filler.)

One thing gurkha is not short on is its blends and the DRAGON line has many. 1st release black dragon, the "now" black dragon, The Dragon Fury, The Dragon Fire, The Green Dragon, and now the Red Dragon. First off let me say that I don't think the Black is all that great, though it isn't bad. I enjoyed the Dragon Fire, the Fury, and the Green Dragon, so when I heard of the Red Dragon landing I had to get it. Packaged the same as the Green but with Red fabric to give a fantastic presentation.
This cigar has an interesting smell pre light and I just can't pin it. After lighting, and a few puffs I am immediately impressed. This cigar is longer than I like (sadly all the dragons are minus the fire) but wow what a bunch of flavors and lots of smoke. This cigar leaves a sweet creamy-ness in your mouth and it is fantastic. There are a lot of flavors here, nut, coffee, cocoa, butter, ceder, wood, chocolate, and others that I just can't describe, trust me this thing has a lot of flavor. Moving into the half way mark some zest comes in, a bit of pepper to collide with the sweetness. The cigar was flavorful all the way through and the burn stayed constant. I haven't had a green dragon in a while but this cigar makes me want to light one up just to compare them. Going off of memory, I think I like this Red Dragon a tad bit more, and I might have to get another box. At any rate, these guys are terrific and if you like smooth creamy smokes here's another to consider. BTW some info on this cigar says it's a strong cigar, so unless I'm out of my mind, this guy isn't. But then again I don't think that opus's are too strong either... If anyone wants me to do a review of the Green Dragon let me know, as I did a brief one but can't find it.

I may have to pick up a 5 pack soon! How does it compare to the CAO CX2? I figure the must be similar with the Cameroon wrapper and binder but the filler obviously could really change the cigar.