Diesel has been a well know presence in cigar shops and from online retailers for a number of years now. Very soon, fans of the brand will have another reason to smile, as Diesel presents Whiskey Row. As with the rest of the Diesel portfolio, they are blended by AJ Fernandez. This cigar was also developed in conjunction with Rabbit Hole Bourbon, a new distillery in the bourbon category. Whiskey Row uses some binder leaves that were aged in bourbon barrels, using a proprietary process developed by AJ to enhance the profile of the cigar.
“The partnership between Diesel and Rabbit Hole speaks of going against the grain in traditional industries. Rabbit Hole doesn’t claim to use 12 year old juice or have a 6th generation master distiller, much like Diesel doesn’t claim to be an old Cuban brand or have tobaccos that have been aged for 20 years. Both Rabbit Hole and Diesel are young, energetic brands with a unique go-to-market strategy. We knew the first time both companies sat down, there was a tremendous amount of synergy.” said Diesel Senior Brand Manager Justin Andrews.
The Rabbit Hole Bourbon barrels arrived at Tabalacera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua back in 2016. AJ placed the Mexican San Andres binder in the barrels in a special configuration. The tobacco was then left to rest inside the barrels, and the amount of air inside was controlled at regular intervals.
AJ Fernandez says, “A lot of passion went into this process and I am very pleased with the results. Aging the binder leaf in the bourbon barrels added an unexpected layer of flavor and aroma right beneath the wrapper. When you smoke Whiskey Row, you get a unique and complex experience that engages the senses unlike any other cigar I’ve smoked.”
Diesel Whiskey Row features a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos from Ometepe, Condega and Jalapa. Each leaf in the filler blend has been aged 5 to 8 years, and bound with the bourbon-barrel-aged Mexican leaf. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper leaf which was aged for five years. Diesel Whiskey Row will launch in June of 2018 and it will be available in four vitolas, each in 25-count boxes.
Vitolas and MSRP List:
Robusto 5.5 x 52 – $7.49/Cigar
Toro 6 x 54 – $7.99/Cigar
Churchill 7 x 49 – $8.49/Cigar
Gigante 6 x 60 – $8.99/Cigar
In July 2018, Diesel Whiskey Row events will begin featuring pairings with Rabbit Hole Bourbon will be held at select cigar shops. For more information, visit www.dieselcigar.com.