Last year, Diesel introduced a limited cigar called the Diesel | Heart of Darkness. Made in Nicaragua covered in a dark, oily Ecuador HabanoOscuro wrapper, DieselHeart of Darkness is one fat 6.0”x58 blend of all long-fillers from three different regions in Nicaragua and additional ligero from Esteli, giving this cigar its kick.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
“This is a big cigar…ok, now that the obvious is out of the way, the cigar is quite attractive. It is sporting a reddish brown wrapper leaf that is silky smooth and expertly applied. The cap is a bit uneven, but the seams are tight and it handled the punch very well.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Aroma: 90
“The pre-light aroma is that of dirt and wood. There is also a faint sweet scent as well.” –Eric (smalls29)
First Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“While starting off bold, the flavors of nutmeg and cherry wood have mellowed and balanced out very nice. A nice peppery tingle greeted the palate with the first inhale but soon all but disappeared. So far a nice start to this cigar. The size and wrapper color would make you think it a bold cigar not for the faint of heart. However, it is a nice and balanced medium smoke.” –Eric (smalls29)
“The initial flavors are very mild cedar and sweet charred wood….not something I’ve gotten before…there is a very faint pepper burn through the nose as well. Smoke is ample due to a light draw, but it is really uncomfortable drawing on a cigar this large.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Second Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“It looks like the burn-line will self correct without needing surgery. Leather comes to the front and is smoothing out the char while the coffee develops a subtle sweetness. Grass and hay are still in the mix, surfacing occasionally. Sadly another seam is lifting.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“Still getting that sweet cedar and oak from the first third. Not much has changed through the second third.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Final Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“As the final third began, I didn’t detect any real flavor shifts but I’m really enjoying the baking spices that follow each retrohale. The smoke is beginning to get more oily and leaves a bit of a slick on my palate and also causes the sweet flavor to last longer, remaining until the next puff. One interesting note about the smoke is that while it is more oily, it is also thinner in volume and sticks together less on the exhale.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“Some heat returns hitting the back of my throat and coating my palate. Not overwhelming, just present. Dried grasses and hay move to the front working with the leather to maintain balance. The heat is short lived but adds an overall char to the profile.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 91
“The draw was a bit tight requiring a couple of puffs each time.” –Eric (smalls29)
Burn: 91
“Great burn on this cigar and I did not have to touch up the entire time.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Construction: 90
“Construction was on point for such a large cigars. Experienced no issues.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 89
“For the most part this was a nice cigar. It had some personality. The wood and nutmeg flavors were nicely balanced for most of the time. There was a bit if hickory in the final third but not for long. The smoke provided a nice smell of camp fire and the flavors left in the mouth were very nice. While it did start of mellow, it slowly became bold towards the end. The final moments did produce the bitter flavors you would experience at the end of most cigars. Overall this would pair nicely with a single malt or even a mixed drink while sitting by a camp fire.” –Eric (smalls29)
“I enjoyed this large RG cigar more than I thought I would, particularly considering how mild the flavors were. There was a nice sweetness, and the retrohale flavors were interesting. Surprisingly, given the mild flavors, there was a bit of nicotine hidden in there… not enough to get me sweating, but enough to make me think a rookie might want to have a sugary drink handy, or eat a good meal first. I can recommend this to most smokers, and wouldn’t mind trying some more at a later date… particularly if this blend is available in something less than a jaw breaker.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“A bit disappointed with the wrapper issues I experienced but the flavors were solid and well balanced. Nice transitions through the thirds, although I found the final one lacking a little dimension. I would not hesitate to smoke another one assuming the construction concern was a fluke.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“This cigar was pretty much 1 dimensional on the flavor profile. For sure a cigar that you could just pick up and smoke if you didn’t really want to pay attention but just have a cigar going.” –Zane G. (Zane)
"For the most part this was a nice cigar. It had some personality. The wood and nutmeg flavors were nicely balanced for most of the time. There was a bit if hickory in the final third but not for long. The smoke provided a nice smell of camp fire and the flavors left in the mouth were very nice. While it did start of mellow, it slowly became bold towards the end. The final moments did produce the bitter flavors you would experience at the end of most cigars. Overall this would pair nicely with a single malt or even a mixed drink while sitting by a camp fire." -Eric (smalls29)
