The Gentleman Magazine Issue 15 | June 2019 | Page 59

Confident that his cigars would be appreciated by those with
a taste for the more elusive things in life, Hansotia created
the ultra-premium cigar category. “I wanted to give people
something they didn’t even know they needed,” he explains.
When Gurkha cigars debuted in duty-free markets in 1990,
they came in three sizes (Churchill, toro and torpedo) and
retailed for an unheard-of $14 to $17 per cigar. Moreover, they
were available by the individual stick. The first run quickly sold
out.
Making Gurkhas even more eye-catching among competitors
is their exquisite packaging, with ornately detailed boxes
regarded as collectors’ pieces. Hansotia personally directs the
design of all of the artwork that goes into labels and packaging.
His favorite design, for “The Beauty,” took over three years to
create.
Hansotia’s eye for detail and commitment to quality has paid
off. Today, Gurkha produces 12 million cigars per year, sold in
more than 70 countries worldwide. While Gurkha is known
for its exclusivity, it has an impressive array of more than 105
brands of flawlessly handcrafted, premium cigars crafted in a
variety of strengths, tasting profiles, and price points. “I always
thought long-term from day one,” says Hansotia. “Most people
think of a three-year plan. We think of a 30- to 50-year plan.”
It is clear that Hansotia hasn’t lost his entrepreneurial spirit. For
now, however, he is content to reflect on his company’s many
accomplishments with a hand-rolled Gurkha Grand Reserve –
and perhaps a glass of Louis XIII cognac.
The Gentleman Magazine | 59