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Diesel Hair of the Dog and Unholy Cocktail Cigars

Another working weekend, so another short post.  Over the last couple of days I smoked the most recent Diesel cigar on the market and the first Diesel cigar that came out nearly 10 years ago.  I figured it would be fun to see how the two compared.  The Diesel Hair of the Dog is a 6” x 52 toro made of all Nicaraguan Habano fillers with an Ecuador Habano wrapper and Ecuador Sumatra Binder. Like all Diesel cigars, this is made by A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua.  This one was made to compliment the Diesel Whiskey Row, which, as I have mentioned before, was not a cigar that suited my palate.  The Hair of the dog, however, I found to be quite enjoyable.  There was a sweetness that I found quite enjoyable, with a cedary wood flavor. while it wasn’t the chocolatey sweet cigar I usually am drawn to , it was an enjoyable change. The burn and draw were excellent. It was a medium-bodied smoke and nice and smooth. Of course, the size was just right for me.… Continue reading »

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Craig Vanderslice
April 28, 2019
Review
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News: Altadis U.S.A. Announces Montecristo Espada Oscuro

I really enjoy the Montecristo Espada, especially the Guard size, so I’m quite intrigued with the Oscuro. I’m looking forward to giving this one a try! Interesting that the original version the toro vitola they spell the name “Guard and the Oscuro it’s spelled “Guarde”…

MONTECRISTO ESPADA OSCURO

The famed “Grupo de Maestros” once again collaborates with the Plasencia family  

Altadis U.S.A., maker of world-renowned premium cigars announces the release of the Montecristo Espada Oscuro.  The Montecristo Espada Oscuro is a follow-up cigar to the Montecristo Espada, which earned a top 20 honors by Cigar Aficionado in 2015.… Continue reading »

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Craig Vanderslice
April 24, 2019
News
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News: Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask Launching in June

Here’s some news from General Cigar Co. I admit that the first Diesel Whiskey Row wasn’t for me, I tried several times, but it just wasn’t up my alley. As much as people who’s tastes I respect raved about it, I just don’t get it. That’s OK, not every cigar is right for everyone! I am looking forward to giving this a whirl, Broadleaf and Arapiraca? What can go wrong?

DIESEL TO LAUNCH WHISKEY ROW SHERRY CASK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RABBIT HOLE

New Collection Marks the Second Collaboration between Two Maverick Brands

Diesel Cigars and Rabbit Hole Bourbon have reignited their partnership with Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask, a new, three-cigar collection shipping to all channels on June 3, 2019.… Continue reading »

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Craig Vanderslice
April 24, 2019
News
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Camacho American Barrel Aged and Corojo Maduro Cigars

I went into the Camacho stash fir the first couple of cigars this week, and the first one that caught my eye was an American Barrel Aged Perfecto Gorda. This was in a Sampler from the IPCPR a few years ago, so I’m not entirely sure it’s a regular production size, hang on, let me go look. OK, It’s available, and it’s a terrific size. It’s a hair under 6” x 52, and lit easily and opened up to a perfect burn and draw. This is an all US Broadleaf blend, PA Broadleaf wrapper with broadleaf fillers, aged in bourbon barrels and made in Davidoff’s Dominican factory. I found myself mesmerized by the sweet, medium-bodied flavor of this cigar. I’ve smoked this blend before, but I don’t recall enjoying it as much as I did in this shape. Perhaps it was the several years of additional age? As my regular readers know, if there’s any bourbon flavor from the barrel aging, it’s lost on me. If I ever even had bourbon it’s been over 30 years, and it wasn’t good, I’ll tell you that. … Continue reading »

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Craig Vanderslice
April 24, 2019
Review
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Sobremesa Brulee and an Elegante En Cedro ReRun

Busy day ahead, so I’m going to give a quick rundown on a new and exciting cigar I smoked this week and re-run a piece I wrote for Prime Living Magazine back in 2016 which doesn’t appear to be on their website any longer. I haven’t been asked to write a Cigar Notes column for them for quite a while, and I think that’s because they haven’t published an issue in quite a while! It’s a shame, that was a fun gig, and I’m proud to have contributed articles to 21 issues of that magazine. How many other bloggers can say that? Anyway, A couple weeks back when I  hung out with Steve Saka at Famous Smoke Shop I got a sample of his new creation, the Sobremesa Brulee. This is his entry into the Connecticut shade market. Steve goes into great detail in the CigarCrag Podcast episode, so please give that a listen, but his intention was to make a Connecticut shade cigar that was like the cigars he remembered from the 80s and 90s. I smoked the Brulee this week and I was thoroughly impressed (shocker!). It just might have been my father’s Connecticut! It has an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, so in that way it differs from the COnnecticut shade cigars of 30 years ago, but it was smooth with a nutty/grassy flavor, but still had the richness one expects a cigar with the Sobremesa name to have. This is going to be a hit, I nubbed it, despite Steve’s concerns about the nubability, and, yes, it did start to turn a little beyond the band as he said, but it was a flavorful and satisfying cigar that I will add to my selection when it becomes available.… Continue reading »

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Craig Vanderslice
April 21, 2019
Review
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