Gurkha Grand Reserve Cognac Churchill 7 1/2″ * 52

The Grand Reserve is the cigar that put Gurkha on the map, the cognac-infused flagship from the company Kaizad Hansotia founded in 1989. What earns it the name is the cognac itself: every cigar is infused with Louis XIII by Rémy Martin, a bottle of which runs well over a thousand dollars. This is the Churchill, a generous 7 1/2 x 52.

Gurkha does not dip or spray the cognac on. The process is proprietary, carried out before each cigar is sealed in a crystal tube and hand-dipped in wax, so the tobacco can sit and take on the cognac’s character over time. Underneath is a Connecticut shade wrapper over Dominican binder and filler, hand-rolled in the Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic.

The result reads mild to medium, the kind of smooth, creamy smoke made for slowing down. Expect a quiet cognac sweetness alongside cedar and a touch of spice, more about polish than power. The name suits both the size and the heritage: a full Churchill that nods to the old practice of pairing a fine cigar with finer cognac. Save this one for an occasion where popping the wax seal is part of the moment.

Pairs well with a tawny port or an after-dinner espresso.