Diesel Whiskey Row Robusto

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 time, A.J. tried something new, barrel aging the Mexican San Andres binder in Rabbit Hole Bourbon barrels. This was not an easy feat; the barrels where delivered to A.J. back in 2016 and it took months of testing before he was able to nail down the process that delivers the perfect balance of flavor and aroma. Once the binder was perfected, A.J. focused on the core which is a blend of Nicaraguan long fillers from three different regions, Ometepe, Jalapa, and Condega, that have been aged for five to eight years. Finishing this masterpiece is an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper that has been aged for five years. The aroma will hit first with bold notes of oak and bourbon. Light it up and find notes of spice, slight sweetness and hints of floral essence. Medium in strength, the smoke is one for the books and Cigar Aficionado agreed, giving the smoke a well-deserved 91 rating. Enjoy this one with a single malt.

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.