Diesel

Whiskey Row

Surprisingly great cigar. Great flavor with a good burn and a fairly loose draw. Paired well with an old fashioned.

TL;DR - tastes like chemicals. 👎 5 mos aged. ⏳️ Removing the cellophane wrapper, the initial scent still shows signs of ammonia. I give it a 4 hour dry-boxing to see if I can get rid of the ammonia. Success. Prelight is now a light barnyard. Draw is OK, though lacking. Appearance is very good. Some of the wrapper comes off when paper packaging from the lower foot is removed. Does not impact the smoke. Light up is easy. Whatever whiskey flavor they're trying to impart comes through right away. There is a problem. I've finished the first third, and I think they're infusion is not great. Imagine adding Lobster Thermidor as a topping to your steak. If the 🦞 is good, then your meal will be amazing. But if the lobster is lacking, then your meal is lacking. Either way, the true nature of the steak is hidden by the lobster topping. There is a parallel here. In this case, the whiskey infusion really comes off as a chemical flavor. Also, it masks any nuance that I might be getting from the tobacco. I expect a better experience from my cigars. Early discard.

Rested 4 months.The pairing with the Johnnie Walker Black really brought out the whiskey flavor of the cigar. Burn wavy and draw good. Oaky nutty with a touch of sweet whiskey. Great for a dreary day.

Diesel Libation If you’ve been around these parts long enough, you’re well aware of the Diesel brand. No-nonsense, full-flavored, and expert construction. These phrases no doubt come to mind. Diesel Whiskey Row stays true, but takes a unique approach for the brand. The binder is aged in Rabbit Hole Bourbon barrels – a first for Diesel as well as master blender AJ Fernandez. But have no fear – these bourbon barrels that once held Rabbit Hole Bourbon were first shipped to AJ Fernandez in 2016. After many months of testing, he finally nailed down a process that imparts the perfect amount of flavor and aroma into the tobacco and Diesel Whiskey Row was born. The core of this cigar is made up entirely of Nicaraguan long-fillers from 3 different growing regions - Ometepe, Jalapa, and Condega – that have been aged from five to eight years. The bourbon barrel aged binder is a Mexican San Andres leaf, and it’s all held together five-years aged Ecuadorian habano wrapper. The barrel aging produces a strong oaky flavor and hints of bourbon in the aroma. You’ll also notice some floral notes, spice and some sweetness in a medium-bodied format. In my many, many samplings of this cigar, the construction has been nothing short of flawless – something we’ve come to expect from AJ-made cigars. Grab a box of these unique Diesels today, pair ‘em with a few fingers of the good stuff, and you won’t be disappointed. Good news! Diesel Whiskey Row has received a well-deserved 91-point rating, noting: "The earthy, chocolate notes of this cigar frame a hearty core of wood and cedar, all combining for a finish of bread and brown sugar."

Unlit draw was peppery. Lit easy. Burns well. No whiskey taste. Rather unremarkable. Good construction. However, not really worth $8.50

Proper humidor time makes it a pretty decent cigar!