Diesel Grind Belicoso

Diesel cigars have one of the best reputations in the business and so does the mastermind behind the brand, Abel, “A.J.” Fernandez. He is known for the Man O’ War, Rocky Patel’s Fusion, Man O’ War Ruination and ITC 10th Anniversary, among other stellar sticks. This beautiful Nicaraguan handmade begins with Nicaraguan and Dominican long-leaf fillers, has a Nicaraguan binder, and then is carefully finished with a toothy Ecuadorian Habano Sun Grown Oscuro wrapper. The result is a tantalizing bouquet of flavors of earth, coffee, cedar, cream, and pepper. Our cigar panel loved this medium to full bodied cigar and enjoyed it with a whiskey.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.