Gurkha Marquesa Toro Box Press 4/20/19

 Appearance
A dark brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and only visible due to some mottling. There are a couple imperfections in the wrapper as well. It has a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is loosely packed and a bit on the soft side. We’ll see if that affects the
experience.

Aroma
Earth, sugar, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Dried fruit, cedar, earth and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Sugary, dried fruit, cedar, earth and cinnamon spice.

1st
The initial draws are very earthy along with notes of cedar and a pinch of black pepper spice in the background. The draw is effortless. The burn is a bit wavy. Smoke production is at the medium range. The ash is medium gray, stacked and a bit flaky. The dried fruit notes are a nice addition to the profile. The black pepper spice moves to a dash which is considerably more than a pinch(think in cooking terms). The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a couple of tunnels which are causing the mildly erratic burn. Notes of toast join the profile as well as espresso notes. The black pepper spice is balanced by a cinnamon spice note. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, dried fruit, espresso and a cinnamon/black pepper spice combo. The profile is well balanced and flavorful. Strength is medium+. The imperfections in the wrapper did not cause any issues. Cashew notes bring a creamy texture to the profile.

Final/3rd
The still present tunnels keep the burn erratic even while I use simple physics to correct. The blend causes plenty of salivation from start to finish. The flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall
The Gurkha Marquesa Toro Box Press provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with an effortless draw and erratic burn. The Marquesa also comes in a round Toro which I will review tomorrow.