The Diesel Vintage Series Natural debuted in March 2024 as a five-cigar collection, handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Estelí, Nicaragua and developed in collaboration between AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews.
In the press release, Justin Andrews said:
“For Diesel Series Natural, AJ and I took the opportunity to highlight the aged tobacco in the blend. We introduced a natural wrapper to deliver a transformative effect on the blend and make the aging of the filler more pronounced. The result is a cigar that not only delivers the signature, bold experience that Diesel is known for, but also introduces layers of rich and satisfying complexity.”
The company describes the blend as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian
- Binder – Nicaraguan Habano
- Filler – Nicaraguan Jalapa (aged from five to seven years)
The Diesel Vintage Series is expressed in 5 different vitolas, each packaged in 20-count boxes except for the “Rabito” frontmark which is packed in a 10-count box.
- Pico Gordo (4.5 x 60) – MSRP $8.79/cigar
- Robusto Gordo (5 x 56) – MSRP $7.79/cigar
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $7.99/cigar
- Double Corona (7.75 x 49) – MSRP $8.79/cigar
- Rabito (6 x 46) – MSRP $9.29/cigar
For this review, I sampled 3 of the Diesel Vintage Series Natural Robusto Gordos, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press
Pre-Light Examination
The Diesel Vintage Series Natural is draped with a silky smooth, milk chocolate brown wrapper that exhibits a nice sheen, minimal veins and all but invisible seams. The cigar is packed firm with no discernable soft spots. A well applied cap finishes the construction.
A single band adorns the cigar using a cream, gold and black motif. The Diesel logo is proudly presented in the center with the words “Diesel Vintage” printed below.
Running the barrel of the cigar along the nose, I picked up a pungent fermented leaf aroma while the foot presented similar notes with an added mild pepper note.
Using my double blade cutter, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that offered notes of peppery spice, butter, and a light tanginess all through a nicely restricted draw.
Using my dual flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in a burst of rich Nicaraguan peppery spice to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Introductory puffs deliver rich peppery spice to start the journey
- Sweet cocoa aromas waft off the foot
- Subtle cream notes add to the early pleasure
- A light grey ash forms on top of a thin and slightly wavy char line
- The draw is smooth, and each puff offers palate filling smoke
- Flaky ash
- Cedar notes form in the background
- Ash fell in a chunk revealing a well formed burn cone
- Gentle spice wraps the blend midway
- Cigar went out and required a relight
- Mild nut nuances deep in second third
- Hint of espresso notes down into the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Final Analysis
The Diesel Vintage Series Natural Robusto Gordo begins with a bold introduction of robust, peppery spice that sets the stage for the experience to come. Early in the burn, the air fills with wafts of sweet cocoa, adding a layer of aromatic complexity along with a touch of cream. The draw is consistently smooth, each puff delivering a generous, palate-coating puff of smoke. The ash, though flaky, remains surprisingly stable, occasionally falling off in chunks to reveal a well-formed burn cone underneath. Cedar notes subtly weave into the background, adding a nuanced depth. Midway through, the cigar is gently embraced by a warming spice that enhances its character. Deep in the second third, mild nutty undertones begin to emerge, enriching the flavor profile. As the cigar progresses toward its final stages, a faint hint of espresso makes its presence known, rounding out the overall tasting journey with a satisfying complexity. With an extremely wallet friendly price point, a box but of these is recommended to add to your regular rotation. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy/Jagged Burn; (-1) Relight Required; (-1) Flaky Ash
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Pleasantly Nuanced and Balanced across multiple samples
