"Hats off to the torcedor who expertly rolled such a beautiful cigar and hats off to the blender for the incredible balance of flavors that dazzled my palate. From the first puff to the last this smoke was nothing short of stellar! Spice bombs typically aren't my go to when I reach in the humidor but this one hit different as the abundance of spice was offset and balanced with just the right amount of sweet. The contrast of flavors was enjoyable and intriguing enough that I didn't miss the lack of significant transitions and it certainly did not detract from the overall smoking experience. I would love to try this cigar again and would love to pair it with pint of a bitey flavorful IPA or a nice spiced rum on the rocks." -Noah S. (Noah)
Diesel Disciple is getting two new sizes as regular production additions. The Toro and Torpedo vitolas be the second and third sizes in the line and started shipping last week. The line was originally released as a TAA exclusive in 2021 in a lancero vitola, the moved to a regular release in 2022.
"Overall, this wasn’t a bad cigar. I don’t generally waste my time with a cigar that won’t stay lit, but this tasted too good. The first thing I noticed was the flavor of black tea. As I continued to smoke there were earthy tones that compliment the tea flavor quite well. About halfway through, a hint of spice was introduced to the palate, adding a layer of complexity. As the cigar rounded out, there was a nice balance of black tea, spice, and some mildly sweet earth notes. " -Jai P. (Jai)
"The creamy sweet milk chocolate notes that slowly evolved into a more bitter dark chocolate by the end along with the classic leather and earth background notes made a very old-school quality Maduro. There was some great complexity and interest with the nuttiness, molasses, baking spices, and hint of cinnamon that upped this blend to another level. I'd be interested to try this in a larger size to see if more time allowed for even more transitions." -Lauren S.
Atonement is the latest collaboration between AJ Fernandez and STG's Justin Andrews, this time once again on the Diesel brand. The latest release is called Diesel Atonement and is described as an "unapologetically-bold, limited-edition." The cigar is exclusive to retail TAA members.
Diesel Cigars and Rabbit Hole Bourbon and Rye have announced their third collaboration: Diesel Whiskey Row Founder’s Collection Boxergrail. The two men working behind the scenes were two masters of their respective crafts: AJ Fernandez and Kaveh Zamanian, founder and whiskey maker of Rabbit Hole.
"Overall, this was a very good cigar. Starting off medium and remained at a medium in strength and body throughout. The cedar and nutty flavors followed all the way through, along with the background of citrus. There were no major flavor transitions, and it stayed pretty steady throughout the full experience. Making for an enjoyable cigar. I would definitely recommend this cigar to others, and I am interested to see what it turns out to be. " -Angel M. (Angel)
"Great looking and performing lancero. If you like an earthy profile this would be a great choice. I did find that it had a lack of transitions and was a bit one-dimensional. Still, the profile was solid and engaging the entire time." -Alan (Eulogy)
"From the time I took it out of the bag and held it to my nose to the time I put it to rest in my ashtray, this cigar made a lasting impression on me. All around this was an effortless and undeniably pleasant smoke. With a near-perfect burn and draw, I didn't have to work to smoke this cigar which always heightens the experience for me. Although lighter with regards to body and complexity, the flavor was certainly not lacking and the transitions were smooth and made sense. I typically reach into my humidor for a stronger cigar but would not hesitate to start my day with this cigar accompanied by a solid cup of coffee. I would also recommend this stick to any beginner with a developing palate who is looking to broaden their horizons and start venturing into slightly more complex and flavorful smokes. I can't wait for the reveal as I would love to explore this cigar again!" -Noah S. (Noah)
The last in Diesel's Sunday Gravy series will be released October 3, Porcellino. The name comes from an iconic Florentine fountain called Il Porcellino. The name translates to “little pig,” yet the bronze sculpture is of a female wild boar which is said to bring good fortune and a sure return to Florence.