They say there are only two seasons in Chicago: winter and construction. Well, today officially kicked off construction season in the windy city. I had to head up to Milwaukee for a one day business meeting. Unfortunately I-294 was under construction for most of the way there and back. I have never been to Baghdad, but I guarantee they are better quality roads in that city than the current condition of I-294. The only remedy for a season full of construction is a fine supply of quality smokes to make the drive a little less stressful.

My medication of choice was the Gurkha Chancellor which is made from a proprietary blend of well aged broadleaf tobacco that exhibits a smooth and creamy smoke with a distinctively dry finish on the palate. These cigars were rolled in 2001 and have been resting..... until now.  This limited edition series is constructed of Honduran and Peruvian fillers and a Dominican binder. It is then finished with a Nicaraguan wrapper. The Gurkha Chancellor is  medium-bodied smoke that comes in a bundle of 25 for about $145. Each stick is packaged with the elaborate Gurkha band and a cedar sleeve. I fired up the robusto which measures the standard 5 x 50. It lit easily and held a good two inch ash before it dropped in my lap while driving 2 m.p.h through the orange construction barrels. It maintained an even burn all the way to the nub. As mentioned, it has spicy under tones and a cinnamon after taste. The Gurkha Chancellor was the perfect choice to help ease my stress while fighting construction and traffic.

MonkeyDan Rating: 87