Tyson 2.0

Undisputed

Knock out the competition in your humidor with the help of the toughest fighter in boxing history. The esteemed Gurkha brand is pulling out all the stops for the Tyson 2.0 Undisputed line, a premium collection of two separate cigars, each with its own unique and delectable flavor profile. With the history of boxing and cigar smoking so deeply intertwined, it was only a matter of time before one of the greatest fighters of all time got his own signature cigar line. Tyson, for the uninitiated, ranks among the likes of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Louis and Floyd Mayweather and is known for a stunning 44 knockouts out of his 50 victories. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were few people on the planet capable of matching his trademark toughness and the fear he instilled in the heart of every opponent. Tyson was everything from a fashion icon to the final, unbeatable boss in his own Nintendo video game. When Gurkha called on the Champ for this collaboration, they knew the cigar had to pack a punch. No pun intended. “Our collaboration with Mike Tyson and his teams at LGNDS and Carma HoldCo is a very unique one. We believe we’ve chosen the perfect blends together to represent the Tyson 2.0 brand,” said Jim Colucci, the Gurkha Cigar group president. Released during the 2024 convention season, the Tyson 2.0 is another shimmering example of Gurkha’s mastery. Since 1989 when the century-old brand was purchased by Kaizad Hansotia, the company has been able to perfectly navigate the fine line between premium tobacco, collectable themes, bright ideas and accessibility. While some of their smokes can market into the triple digits, many are moderately priced despite the stringent care and attention that goes into the sourcing of their tobacco. The Undisputed follows the Year of the Dragon series, which began as a 1,500 limited box release and ended up coming out in several different blends, each backed by a premium blendmaster who put his own unique spin on the brand’s central theme. The Undisputed 2.0 is available in either a maduro with Mexican San Andres wrapper, Cameroon binder and T13 Corojo and Broadleaf tobaccos, or a Habano, which features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Indonesian binder and filler with Criollo ‘99 and Nicaraguan tobacco. Though both are medium-bodied, allowing for all-day smokability, the flavor profiles are drastically different. The Habano is a combination of earthy, toasty and spicy flavors which pair especially well with pale ales or amber style lagers. The caramel notes on many amber beers, especially, tend to embrace the earth and spiciness. For the Maduro, the flavor profile is that of dark chocolate and peppery spices. The Maduro is best when lined up next to a premium bottle of cognac, a dark stout type of beer or an espresso for those who like to pair their tobacco with a little caffeine buzz. Like many Gurkha cigars, if you are not sold on the blending or the taste, you will almost certainly be captured by the packaging. Available in either a shimmering, reflective gold box with Tyson’s iconic, tattooed face etched in black, or a black box with the same Tyson artwork etched in gold, these smokes are going to stop any fellow aficionado in their tracks. Many box collectors revere the Gurkha brand because of their ability to encapsulate a cigar with premium artwork. In the case of Tyson, known as the “baddest man on the planet,” there is no better way to harness his power. Each cigar blend is available in two different sizes, a 6 x 54 Toro Gordo and a 7 x 60 Gordo Extra. It makes sense to stock up on both, not only because of the complementary and contrasting flavors, but because Gurkha’s smokes tend to be a limited release affair. Though the Tyson 2.0 Undisputed may find its way into regular production, there are currently just 2,000 boxes of each size mapped out for the initial run. Judging by the 2024 convention release of these smokes, many of these boxes