"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.
La Gloria Cubana collaborating with the famed, family-owned El Titán de Bronze Cigar Factory. The company wanted to make this brandto honor La Gloria’s roots in Miami’s Little Havana district, where El Titán de Bronze Cigar Factory is located. This is reflected in the name of the limited-edition called “Eighth Street.” The concept was created by Justin Andrews and the cigar was blended by the team at El Titán de Bronze.
Diesel has announced its 5th iteration of the Sunday Gravy line: Grappa. Grappa is Italian-made digestivo (after dinner drink) made from the distillate of grape seeds, stalks and stems.
STG and Forged Cigar Company's Justin Andrews and Robert Caldwell (Caldwell Cigars and Lost & Found) are collaborating on a new cigar, Bolivar Cofradia Lost & Found. This limited edition collection was created in Caldwell’s tradition of bringing “forgotten tobacco” from Central America’s best cigar factories to cigar lovers in the US.
"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.
General Cigar and Espinosa Cigars have announced a new, and final size in their Warzone line. This marks the fourth vitola to be available, following the original (2020) Robusto and Toro, and 2021's Short Churchill. This new size is one of Espinosa's signature sizes, the Rabito, a 6” x 46 corona gorda.
"This was a very very enjoyable cigar, there were no extreme flavor transitions in fact the flavors seem to mildly transition at the appropriate times staying pretty consistent throughout the whole smoking experience. All the flavors highlighted in the cigar being cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, leather, and sweet aged tobacco were perfectly balanced for me and came and went at the appropriate times. The draw and construction of the cigar were impeccable making for an overall excellent cigar and a great smoking experience. This is definitely a cigar I would smoke again and recommend to anyone who enjoys cigars. As for pairings, I think the cigar would be excellent with a mocha style coffee or an oatmeal stout." -Angel M. (Angel)
Diesel is launching a third blend in the Sunday Gravy line - Rosamarino. Diesel Sunday Gravy Rosamarino is a Nicaraguan puro that follows the two previous Sunday Gravy blends, San Marzano and Pecorino. Diesel Sunday Gravy launched in August 2021 as a full-time line of seasonally-released, Nicaraguan-forward smokes, blended and handcrafted through the partnership of AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews. Blends will be released quarterly, sold until their limited supply is deleted and offered at an MSRP of less than $5.00 per cigar.