Episode 27 Gurkha Sampler Pack Cigar #5 |Whistlepig Gravestock

Yo yo yo yo yo. We are back for another episode of the Sticks and Stones podcast. Sticks and Stones where we talk about life, love, and the brotherhood of the leaf, the thing that we love the most. So on this episode, we are drawing near to the end. This is the Girka sampler pack and we are going to try our fifth cigar. And we have left the Castle Hall and the Rogue. And being that I am drinking tonight the whistle pig limited edition gravetock distilled with liquid death water from proofed proofed with liquid death mountain water. We are going to go with the Girka Rogue. So let's seal the last one up and let's give this puppy a snippy snippy it up and rock and roll. Give it a snippy snippy. A good cold draw. I love this bottle because the cork looks like the top of a liquid death can, but it's so heavy. I get a lot of vanilla in that vanilla. Kind of like a caramel vanilla. All right, let's torch this baby up. One more stick in this sampler pack. And honestly, I got to tell you that Girka has really grown on me. And I know I don't have [ __ ] to complain about for what my friends back in the Northeast are complaining about, but it's it's a little chilly here tonight. That is not bad at all. That is not bad at all. That has good flavor. It's got good body. It's got a good draw. It's too early right now to see what the ash is going to look like. Like right now, it's kind of questionable. So, honestly, as a cigar guy, somebody who loves cigars, I smoke multiple a day, you know, I I run this podcast. Um, I have not, you know, I I didn't know much about Girka. So, did a little research and so the origin story is Kaazad Hanosha in his own words says it best. I was young and drunk off my ass at a beach in Goa, Goya, Goa, on vacation in India 1989. He stumbled across a Portuguese vendor selling cigars out of a little hut under the name Girka. Was intrigued and three bottles of rum later bought the entire stock as gifts for his watch business clients. Then acquired the brand itself for a mere $149. Those cigars that he bought went out as corporate gifts and his duty-free clients came back asking for more. The businessman in Hanosha recognized an opportunity and he went allin. Where the name Girka comes from. During the war of 1814, a group of Nepalese soldiers known as Gorcali tenaciously battled the British East India Company. The soldiers made such an impact that they were later recruited into the British army who referred to them as girkas. their loyalty. They've loyally fought for the British all over the world, earning 13 Victoria crosses. Colonial soldiers became so enormous are so enamored with their skill and history that they began calling the cigars they made Girkas. The name spread through the British colonies and eventually made its way to India where Kayazad founded. Not having a factory of his own, Henosha partnered with Charlie Tyranno. Yes, that Tyranno to roll the first proper Girka release. It was met with critical acclaim, launching Kayazad deeper into the super premium space. He noticed early on that David off was the only expensive cigar out there and everything else looked the same. Either a dress box or a cedar cabinet. He wanted something that really stood out. So he reimagined both the product and the packaging from the ground up. He created some of the highest quality and most intriguing cigar boxes in the industry. From $200,000 lavish lavishly handmade humodors down to $200 solid wood chests with eye-catching designs. Hanosha essentially created the ultra premium cigar category and started a packaging trend the industry has never looked back from. Girka started as a duty-free exclusive for five or 6 years eventually transitioning to the traditional retail with help of Nester Miranda of Miami Cigar and Company who introduced Henosha to retailers across the US. His Majesty's Reserve, or the HMR, the Crown Jewel. The HMR is comprised of a 15-year Connecticut Maduro wrapper with a 12-year-old Dominican binder and filler, aged with one full body of the world's finest Kgnac. I'm sorry, aged with one full bottle of the world's finest Kgnac, Louis the 13th. Only 75 boxes are made per year. 75 boxes per year. Listen to that. For each box of 20, an entire bottle of Louis the 13th Kgncac is used to condition the cigars, creating a flavor profile that balances the sweetness of the Kgnc with the richlex tobacco blend. Those who have smoked one report a deep dark chocolate flavor on the exhale with a sweet nuttiness from the Louis the 13th infusion. Pricing has varied widely over the years from $250 a stick originally, currently ranging around $750 a stick and $25,000 a box depending on the source. The Royal Cortison, which was actually the one of the first cigar that I smoked out of this sample pack. The Girka Royal Cortison holds the title of most expensive cigar. Well, nope, I didn't smoke that one at $1.36 million per cigar. Its tobacco is farmed from the Himalayan mountain reserves in Nepal, rolled by blindfolded artisians who are instructed to spiritually feel the contents while crafting it. The tobacco is soaked in Fiji water, infused with Remy Martin black pearl Louis the 13th cognac, which costs $165,000 per bottle, wrapped in 24 karat gold leaf, and embedded with five karat of diamonds. Each one is handd delivered by a white glove personal messenger. Make of that what you will. That's for sure. I mean, that sounds like a lot of marketing [ __ ] Great marketing [ __ ] don't get me wrong. But lines include the ghost royal challenge, the seduction, the seller reserve 15 retailing around $10 to $13. I've had the seller reserve 15. It is really good. That has been a bestseller. Girka's the Girka 125th anniversary exo earned number nine spot on cigar fishado's top 25 cigars of 2013. Hanosha also formed a subsidiary called East India Trading Company which allows him to create less expensive experimental brands like Red Witch, Wicked Indie without cheapening the girkin name. Tobacos are sourced from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras. And the brand now caters to everyone from entry- level smoke smokers to seasoned efficionados. So, the controversy/debate. This is where things get interesting. Girka is genuinely polarizing in the cigar community. The elite packaging and extreme price points have led many hardcore afficionados to accuse the brand of being more about marketing marketing theater than tobacco craft. Critics argue you're paying for the box and the story. Defenders say the blends are genuinely excellent at multiple price points and that Kayazad created a luxury category that didn't exist before him, which I would have to agree with that. His cigars have reached the White House during the Clinton years, though Girka and other manufacturers made clear that they wanted no association with the Lewinsky scandal and managed to distance themselves from the headlines. Can't say that I blame them. So, here's the bottom line. Girka is the ultimate cigar brand for the lifestyle angle. It's not just a smoke. It's a story. It's a $149 drunken impulse buy turned into a brand synonymous with royalty, shakes, Navy Seals, and Fortune 500 CEOs. Whether you love or hate the marketing, Kayazad Hanosha built something that didn't exist before. The ultra premium cigar as a luxury lifestyle symbol. That's a conversation that you should have amongst your brothers of the leaf whether you agree with that or not. I mean, you have to admit dude did something that no one did before him and probably will never do after. He created something and whether it's an illusion or if it's the real deal Holyfield, he created the ultra premium brand in the cigar world. Whether that's just the premium packaging, the diamonds in the in the cigar band wrapped in gold leaf, the rollers are blindfolded, and they're using Fiji water in the process. You know, it's it's just like, you know, this stuff, you know, proofed with liquid death water, you know, there's everything is a marketing angle in this world today. From 1989 to present day, everything is in the marketing. It's it's how you can market yourself. What did you do differently than the competition did? Love it or hate it, you got to give dude props. He did something that no one else thought of, no one else cared to think of, he executed it and he [ __ ] killed it because Girka, whether you like him or not, it's a name that everyone recognizes. And primarily they recognize, and I knew this even before I was a big fan of theirs, I knew that out of the most expensive cigars in the world, they're on that list at least a couple of time, at least two times, you know. So, they have produced at least two of, call it the 10 world's most expensive cigars. So, got to give them props for that, right? That's a good bourbon, man. That is a good weeded bourbon. Now, I wonder why Whistle Pig is known for their rise and bourbons, but this bottle doesn't say this wheat and rye. This wheat and rye whiskey mitt. So, it says aged and charred American cask. Wheat whiskey doesn't necessarily call it bourbon. So, let's see what's the back of the label say. says, "Here in lies our dearly departed gravetock whiskey. This wheat and rye whiskey met its bottle peacefully at the Whistle Pig Farm in Shorum, Vermont, surrounded by pigs and friends. After years in new American oak, it spent its final moments resting in peace in a 380-galon charred American oak casket. Then was proofed with liquid death mountain water, remembered by those who know life is too short to drink anything but the best in lie of flowers. Pour out a glass and share. Interesting. They put a um an obituary on the back. So I guess it's a weeded rye whiskey. wheat and rye. So, it's a blended whiskey. It's pretty damn good, I'll tell you that. It's got a sweetness to it. I mean, that just don't suck, man. That is K Hanosha and Company Rogue. I rather I rather, as you can see, anyone on YouTube, it's a pretty damn even burn. I mean, the the ashes is is kind of a mix of light and dark gray. Let me see if I if I'm getting any better with my tasting notes because I'm really really trying very hard to to pull some stuff out of cigars these days. All right. So, let me look this up because I'm thinking there's like baking spice, maybe graham cracker in there. Let's see if see if I'm completely full of [ __ ] Okay. Okay. Rogue was released by Girka in 2013. Wow. This is an old cigar under the East India Trading Company. So, it's one of the cheaper ones. the same subbrand that houses the Wicked Indie and the Red Witch. It's the third release under the East India Trading umbrella. East India Trading Lines is Girka's playground for the bold, affordable, accessible smoke. The Rogue starts with a variety of smooth Ecuadorian habano wrapper layered over an ultra rare Ecuadorian binder and pack then packed with a blend of three year age Nicaraguan, Honduran and Dominican leggerero long filler. That's the key detail worth talking about. All lego, three countries. Legero leaves come from the top of the tobacco plant which are usually the strongest where they get the most sun. making them the strongest, most flavorful, the slowest burning leaves in the bunch. Loading a cigar with legero from three different regions is a bold blending move. Honestly, I don't think it's that strong. So, we showcase the powerful filler. The Rogue is rolled in a larger ring gauge and box press to allow the blend to meld into a more enjoyable smoking experience. Well, thank god I don't have that one cuz the box press is not an enjoyable experience for me. The Rogue is designed to stand out with a blazing gold skull front and center on a weathered white band. The cigar also features a closed foot which adds a blast of concentrated flavor from the first light. The wrapper is consistently medium brown, oily, and silky. Reviewers noted it almost wants to slide out of your hand. It's sports a beautiful unfinished or closed foot and a clean double cap. That retro can get you sometimes. So, the flavor profile, expect punctuated notes of spice, red pepper, rich tobacco, roasted chestnuts, and earthy undertones that build slowly throughout the experience, culminating in a strong finish that lingers long after you're done. I get obviously earthy tobacco, and I get I can see roasted chestnuts. Maybe it's because this cigar might be from 2013. This might be an old cigar. I don't get any spice or red pepper at all. Reviewers noted leather and cedar up front, a solid earthy follow-up and a kick of pepper on the retro hale. The second half creaminess, sweetness, and a hint of fruit and cocoa emerge almost as one unified flavor. Cigars International gave it a 90 rating, noting its toasty and spicy with a sweet, nutty character that becomes toasted by the finish. So this thing, so the price point, this is where the Rogue shines for everyday smokers at around $625 a stick by the box. At the time of release, it punches well above its weight. Current street pricing runs roughly in the $6 to $10 range depending on the size and retailer. So the honest critique, the most consistent knocks in community reviews come down to construction inconsistency. Some boxes smoke beautifully. Others have issues with draw. The larger ring gauges in particular have been criticized for being lightly filled, which constitutes a looser draw and faster burn for a faster burn than ideal. In the bigger sizes, a strong chalkiness can creep in around the halfway point, which some reviewers attribute to the heavy lego load in a very large ring gauge, leaving less room for the rapper and binder to express themselves. The consensus from hardcore afficionados, smoke the rascal or the tyrant before committing to the Armageddon. The blend translates better in a more manageable format. The Rogue is a perfect illustration of the Girka East India Trading Company philosophy. Take the DNA of an expensive, complex brand and build an accessible version that still brings character and edge. It's the cigar you hand someone who's intimidated by a $20 plus stick, but is ready for something more serious than a budget smoke. Box pressed, skull banded, all leg unfinished foot. It's got plenty of personality to talk about at the table. Yeah. I mean, the the ash lightened up. I don't get any spice whatsoever. I mean, I get creaminess, the nuttiness definitely. Honestly, in the beginning, I was I was getting like graham cracker, baking spices, kind of like the sweeter spices, not not a spicy spice. Well, that is Girka Sampler Pack cigar number five. We only have one more to go, guys. This one was the Rogue. I enjoyed the Whistle Pig limited edition gravetock weeded and rye whiskey blend in liquid death water. I'm going to enjoy the rest of this cigar, kick back the rest of the evening, and then I will see you guys on the next podcast episode. Until then, stay blessed and above all else, keep it rolling,