Tag Archives: diesel

by Craig Vanderslice | January 29, 2023 · 9:14 am

Protocol, Hoyo de Monterrey and Diesel Cigars

A few weeks back I bought a five pack of Protocol Churchills from Discount Cigar Warehouse. From what I know, this was exclusive to them and Churchills aren’t available in all the blends regularly. I happen to be a big fan of the Churchill size, although these are only 6½” x 48, not quite the 7″ x 47 that is truly a Churchill. Call it what you will, it’s still a great size in my book. I’m pretty happy with anything from 5½” to 7″ and 46 to 60 ring. I’m pretty happy with a lot of cigars to be honest. Anyway, of the five blends in the sampler, I hadn’t smoked two of them, the aforementioned Cyber Crimes Unit, and the Official Misconduct. The Official Misconduct has been around since 2018, not sure how I haven’t smoked it yet, but I really quite enjoyed it. It has an Ecuador Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and fillers, made in the La Zona factory. Two of my favorite cigar brands make (or made, as in the case of the latter) cigars in this factory, La Sirena and Cornelius and Anthony. I enjoy many of the Espinosa cigars too, I just don’t seem to smoke as many of them as I should, I guess. Arandoza is another defunct brand that I really liked that was made there. Anyway, this cigar made me happy. It was a nice, spicy Habano that hit the spot for me. I toy with the notion of ordering another five pack, these “Churchills” were very good.

I made a stop on the way home from work the other day and picked up a couple new-to-me cigars that looked interesting. First of which was the Diesel Atonement, a TAA exclusive. This is a fairly priced cigar at $10 (in PA), has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan fillers. It’s made in the AJ Fernandez factory, as I believe all Diesel cigars to be. It’s a 6″ x 52 which made it an easy sell for me. It’s a nice looking cigar, smooth and dark with some oiliness to the wrapper. It was loaded with pepper from the light. It reminded me a lot of the Puro Esteli, which I found to be fairly strong. I have a pair of those set aside, now that I think about it, one I took the cedar sleeve off, one I left it on, with the intention of seeing how the cedar sleeve affects the flavor after aging, a project for warmer weather. The Atonement remained strong, the pepper remained throughout, although it deadened my palate after a while. I’ve smoked my share of Diesel Cigars, and this was a pretty good one. I have a hankering for a Whiskey Row Sherry Cask now, which is probably my favorite Diesel.

The other cigar I picked up was the Hoyo de Monterrey El Torcedor. I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of this one, apparently released in 2019. I searched my archive of press releases and came up with nuthin. This is a rustic 6½” x 49 Figurado, very much like the Cuban Partagas Presidente (the vitola de galera on that one is Taco, by the way). It seems like I smoked another cigar in a similar shape, but I’ll be darned if I can remember what it was. I dig the size and shape. It lit easily, the foot has a small surface area, not a formed “nipple” like a Hemingway. it burned perfectly and had a pleasing flavor. It had some sweet spice and wood. I bought the last one the shop had in this size, I may stop for a couple of the larger size one day. It’s a wonder I hadn’t heard about this one before. I still need to try the Illusione/Excalibur cigar, anyone know where I can buy a couple? I just looked, and Fox Cigars sells singles, but they are no cheap date!

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Atonement, cigar, cigars, diesel, El Torcedor, hoyo de monterrey, Official Misconduct, Protocol, TAA

by Craig Vanderslice | September 27, 2022 · 7:00 am

News: Diesel Sunday Gravy Series Concludes with Porcellino

I smoked the Rosamarino and Gabagool this evening and they were pretty darned good. This one sounds interesting as well. These are nice, affordable cigars. Read on:

DIESEL SUNDAY GRAVY SERIES CONCLUDES WITH PORCELLINO

The sixth and final Diesel Sunday Gravy expression will ship to brick and mortar retailers on October 3.

The blend is named after the 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. Perhaps AJ and Justin Andrews were hinting at a “return” to collaborating when they selected Il Porcellino as the name for the final Sunday Gravy release. Either that or they were inspired by a wild boar ragu and wanted to name a bold, rich smoke after it. It’s anybody’s guess.

What’s certain is that Porcellino is like the five previous Sunday Gravy releases in that it’s a full-bodied, all-Habano blend made with tobaccos fermented in a “low and slow” method that’s like the way Sunday gravy (or sauce!) is cooked slowly over a low flame for a long period of time to get the taste just right.

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews and crafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel Sunday Gravy Porcellino is rolled with an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan Pueblo Nuevo binder and Nicaraguan Habano filler. It is a smoke that delivers notes of pepper, earth and leather.

“Porcellino” is being released in a toro size only.

Diesel Sunday Gravy Porcellino (6” x 52); SRP per cigar $4.99 or $49.90 per 10-count box

Diesel cigars are produced by Scandinavian Tobacco Group and distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

About Diesel Sunday Gravy

Diesel Sunday Gravy launched in August 2021 as a full-time line of seasonally-released, Nicaraguan-forward smokes, blended and handcrafted through Diesel’s winning partnership of AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews. Blends have been released quarterly, sold until their limited supply is deleted and offered at an unbelievable SRP of less than $5.00 per cigar.

About Diesel

Handcrafted by artisans in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel cigars are “bold by design.” The brand challenges the current conventions of the handmade cigar category through the bold, unapologetic style of its Cigar Master, AJ Fernandez. Diesel cigars are unified by their deeply complex flavor which is achieved through AJ’s steadfast adherence to time honored cigar making techniques and his insistence on using the highest quality tobacco. The Diesel portfolio includes Hair of the Dog which was released in 2019; Whiskey Row which launched two expressions, one in 2019 and one in 2018, and Diesel Grind which debuted in 2017. For more information, visit www.dieselcigars.com.

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, diesel, Porcellino, Sunday Gravy

by Craig Vanderslice | June 25, 2022 · 6:32 am

News: Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa Announced

I’ll admit, I’m behind on sampling the Sunday Gravy series. The first one was pretty good, and I’ve been meaning to revisit it. I don’t think I’ve seen any of the others. I’m not a big fan of tomatoes, so that gets into my head a little, and, subconsciously, I don’t tend to look for them. A sampler would be nice, now that there are five versions!

It’s a widely held belief that Italians wrote the book on eating and drinking. Food, libations and socializing are part of the culture and meals can stretch on for hours. Not for the faint of heart is grappa, an Italian-made digestivo made from the distillate of grape seeds, stalks and stems. The distilled spirit is enjoyed as a palate-cleansing firewater. And when the grappa comes out, things get interesting.

Or so says Justin Andrews who explained that the fifth Diesel Sunday Gravy expression was named “Grappa” in a nod to the blend’s bold flavor profile and the brand’s ability to spark conversation. “Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa, like our previous Sunday Gravy expressions definitely packs a punch. It’s a great, medium-plus blend, handmade with premium tobaccos. And given its affordable price, Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa is a cigar that’s meant to be smoked with good friends during spirited discussions.”

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews and crafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa is rolled with an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Honduran filler. It is a layered smoke that delivers notes of leather, earth and spice.

“Grappa” is being released in a robusto gordo size only.

Grappa (5” x 56); SRP per cigar $4.99

Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa will be available nationally from July-September 2022, or until the blend is sold out. The sixth and final Sunday Gravy blend will be released in October, 2022.

Diesel cigars are produced by Scandinavian Tobacco Group and distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

About Diesel Sunday Gravy

Diesel Sunday Gravy launched in August 2021 as a full-time line of seasonally-released, Nicaraguan-forward smokes, blended and handcrafted through Diesel’s winning partnership of AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews. Blends will be released quarterly, sold until their limited supply is deleted and offered at an unbelievable SRP of less than $5.00 per cigar.

About Diesel

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Tagged as aj fernandez, cigar, cigars, diesel, Forged, Grappa, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, STG, Sunday Gravy

by Craig Vanderslice | March 24, 2022 · 6:25 pm

News: Diesel to Release Fool’s Errand

I like a lot of the Diesel cigars, as a matter of fact, I smoked an Unholy Cocktail just last night. I think that was the first Diesel. There’s been a few here and there that I wasn’t fond of, the original Whiskey Row I didn’t get, for instance, but I really like the Sherry Cask. I look forward to giving this new series a shot.

Diesel will roll out a new trilogy that blends storytelling, interactivity, and cigar mastery in one. Called ”Fool’s Errand,” the new, limited edition release will ship to retailers on April 1.

Justin Andrews, who oversees Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s (STG) cigar collaborations and the Diesel brand says, “AJ Fernandez and I recently completed the Elixir trilogy and in that time, Diesel fans grew accustomed to our cool approach to limited edition cigars. We’re keeping the tradition alive with ‘Fool’s Errand.’ It’s our next three-year series, and we’ll launch it annually to kick off spring. With Fool’s Errand, we’re taking it to the next level by adding an interactive game to the mix. As far as the blends for Fool’s Errand go, we definitely won’t disappoint.”

The first Fool’s Errand release is called “Stubborn Fool.” Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews, this full-bodied expression is made with a highly-sought-after Connecticut Broadleaf that has been used in previous Diesel releases. The filler is a hardy blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos beneath a Honduran Jamastran binder. In Stubborn Fool, dark chocolate, coffee, leather, cedar and light spice come together on the palate for an invigorating smoking experience.

Stubborn Fool is being released in one size, a 5” x 58 perfecto chosen because it “expresses the blend well,” according to AJ and Justin.

For the premiere of the Fool’s Errand series, the Stubborn Fool character will be introduced via a collectible tarot card inside the box. The card contains a QR code that, when activated, will launch an interactive game which invites the cigar smoker to complete the Stubborn Fool’s errand by solving a series of riddles. Special Diesel Fool’s Errand prizes created specifically for the Stubborn Fool character will be awarded at random to the top 10 participants.

In addition to the annually-released blends, new characters will be introduced annually for the next two years to complete the trilogy.

Justin Andrews hints, “The opposite of a fool is someone who’s wise, so if a wise person were to buy a box of Stubborn Fool smokes, they would put the tarot card in a safe place for the future…”

Diesel Fool’s Errand Stubborn Fool is handmade at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua. The cigars will come in 10-count boxes.

Diesel Fool’s Errand Stubborn Fool (5” x 58); SRP per cigar $9.99

Diesel cigars are produced by Scandinavian Tobacco Group and distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

About Diesel

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, diesel, Fool's Errand, Stubborn Fool

by Craig Vanderslice | October 24, 2021 · 11:12 am

A Visit To Best Cigar Pub with The Cigar Hacks and Diesel Sunday Gravy News

Nearly Four years ago when I went to New Hampshire for the Cigar Authority’s 400th show I met Dave, who was launching a new podcast called The Cigar Hacks. They do a panel style podcast, (often large) with a cast of characters which has morphed over time. They concentrate on promoting events and shops local to them in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts areas, along with events at other places they have visited in their travels. They also do a blind review of a cigar just about every week. I find them entertaining, as long as they don’t get too political. Dave has also managed to get his hands on a stretch limo, which they call the Oscuro III, as there have been others before this one, which the load up into to visit the various shops and lounges in their area. Like Pennsylvania, New Hampshire is loaded with cigar shops, because there’s no cigar tax. This is one of the reasons that the Hacks made a trip to the northern part of my state of PA to visit a few stores. There are also a few friends of the show, and fellow Hacks, I guess, in PA who hosted the New Englanders. These guys like to party too. I decided to drive up to Best Cigar Pub in Drums, PA to surprise them. I beat them there by about twenty minutes, which allowed me time to hit the humidor where I picked up some of the new CAO 60 Torque for some reason. What compelled me to get, and light up, an 8″ x 60 cigar, I can’t tell you, I suppose I wanted something that was going to fill the right amount of time for me, nd it was new and I really couldn’t find anything else I wanted to smoke in the humidor at the time. I really wasn’t paying too much attention to it, but it wasn’t bad, I smoked the second half on the ride home and it was actually quite tasty. More on that cigar another time, but it’s easily a three hour cigar. I ended up being a guest on the podcast episode that they recorded there, which should be released tomorrow, so if Podcasts are your thing, check out The Cigar Hacks where ever fine podcasts are sold. If you’re in the northeastern part of PA, you need to visit Best Cigar Pub. It’s quite the place. They have a full bar and restaurant, along with a well appointed humidor and an outstanding staff. I’d stop in more often if it weren’t an hour and forty minute drive! It was great to finally meet the Hacks from NH/Mass, Joe and his family, and Alex from PA.

There have been some news items that have come across my desk over the last week that I have passed on posting because they were shop exclusives or “just shipped” or stuff like that. I figure others are passing that info along, my readers don’t need to see it here. However, one I didn’t get a chance to pass along, and it was sent kind of late, as the cigar had already started to show up in stores I’m led to believe, is this one:

DIESEL LAUNCHES SECOND “SUNDAY GRAVY” EXPRESSION

Diesel is rolling out the first follow-up to Sunday Gravy with “Pecorino,” a three-country blend that’s just begun shipping to retailers nationwide. Pecorino takes its name from a deliciously rich and flavorful Italian cheese often substituted for a more expensive variety. Here again, the culinary world and the cigar category collide, as Sunday Gravy Pecorino offers a satisfying smoking experience at a surprisingly affordable price.

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews and handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel Sunday Gravy Pecorino features a Mexican San Andres wrapper over a Cameroon binder and bold Nicaraguan Esteli Habano filler. This is a medium-plus smoke brimming with character. The Mexican wrapper delivers a peppery note and when combined with the subtle sweetness from the Cameroon binder and the boldness of the filler, the experience is unique and dimensional.

Justin Andrews said, “AJ and I had a lot of fun blending Diesel Sunday Gravy Pecorino. And as often happens over Sunday sauce, we brought our opinions to the table. ‘Pecorino’ represents what he and I both believe is the best of our palates: AJ’s nod to a bold smoke is there on the Nicaraguan ligero filler and my style is represented through the complexity and balance of the Mexican San Andres wrapper. This is the perfect cigar to enjoy, share or gift this holiday season and the size makes Pecorino the perfect smoke for any occasion. ”

Pecorino is being released in a robusto gordo size only, which both AJ and Justin agree is the best expression of the blend.

Pecorino (5” x 56); SRP per cigar $4.99

Diesel Sunday Gravy Pecorino will be available nationally from October-December 2021, or until the cigars are sold out. The next Sunday Gravy blend will be released in January, 2022.

Diesel cigars are produced by Scandinavian Tobacco Group and distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

About Diesel Sunday Gravy

Diesel Sunday Gravy launched in August 2021 as a full-time line of seasonally-released, Nicaraguan-forward smokes, blended and handcrafted through Diesel’s winning partnership of AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews. Blends will be released quarterly, sold until their limited supply is deleted and offered at an unbelievable SRP of less than $5.00 per cigar.

About Diesel

Handcrafted by artisans in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel cigars are “bold by design.” The brand challenges the current conventions of the handmade cigar category through the bold, unapologetic style of its Cigar Master, AJ Fernandez. Diesel cigars are unified by their deeply complex flavor which is achieved through AJ’s steadfast adherence to time honored cigar making techniques and his insistence on using the highest quality tobacco. The Diesel portfolio includes Hair of the Dog which was released in 2019; Whiskey Row which launched two expressions, one in 2019 and one in 2018, and Diesel Grind which debuted in 2017. For more information, visit www.dieselcigars.com.

I’m starting to see a pattern, are they naming these after tomatoes? I don’t like tomatoes, but I don’t mind a good sauce (my wife’s Italian, I only hear her refer to gravy when turkey is involved). I’m picky, I don’t like chunks or skin in the sauce. I did smoke a couple of the San Marzanos, and they were pretty good cigars. The wrapper is Ecuadoran Habano, the binder is Nicaraguan Esteli and the filler is Nicaraguan Jalapa. These are inexpensive cigars by today’s standards and are definitely on the high side of quality when it comes to cigars in that price range. The flavor is fairly linear, not an overly complex cigar, but the flavor is good, thankfully no tomato flavors (which reminds me, I grew some Habano 2000 in the greenhouse this summer and a tomato plant was in there too, think they cross pollinated? Wasn’t that a Simpson’s episode?). If you are looking for a good, inexpensive smoke, pick some of these up. I’ll be looking forward to trying the subsequent releases, which are actually limited, when they are sold out that’s it.