Funny, you just pretty much described every Diesel cigar I have smoked, starting with when they showed up and people were raving about them Never understood the attraction.
I have yet to come across one Diesel cigar that is not a simple wood and black pepper notes with no other redeeming flavors. You get a hint of something or other, here and there, but just that, a hint, quickly disappearing, with wood and pepper still taking center stage, overwhelmingly. No nuance, no change in flavors. With usually a harsh finish, to boot. Pretty much any other cigar I light up right after tastes like a big step up. And I did light up one right after, almost every time, just to “calibrate” my palate to see if it is the Diesel cigar and not my palate at fault.
This cigar has been in the humidor for about one year. Uneven burn at first solved with a little touch up. Pepper drives this stick. Not overpowering but always there. First there were tea notes. They were joined by leather and sweet cedar. Caramel replaced the cedar about mid cigar along with some earthiness. Carrie said the room note is milk chocolate or something that reminds her of the old malted milk balls we ate as children. I don’t detect either on the cigar. Various kitchen spices come and go the entire cigar. Pretty complex.
The cigar has been in our humidor for about five years. Good looking dark brown oily wrapper. Barnyard funk on the foot and some faint chocolate on the cold draw. Starts out with cocoa, some earthiness and white pepper on the finish. Wonderful draw with lots of smoke. Solid ash. Some leather notes and sweet caramel join in by the halfway point. As the cigar winds down, some spice notes, most notably cinnamon, appear just before the the light white pepper finish. Not real complex but very tasty.
I like the Diesel line but would agree they are fairly monolithic although I generally like the flavors I get. At $3-4 all in, they work for me.
I have some Olivas but I have liked over years of trying them. But I have some more that have more humi time and I’ll revisit soon. In the humi are a few of the Saison 2009 Harvest but I have never tried one.
Padron and Fuentes are probably my favorite non Cubans the Padrons are too pricey for me to have on a regular basis. I have some Davidoffs but they are way out of my price range. I’d rather get Cubans from Switzerland or sticks from Warped (much cheaper & maybe better).
I am getting more Marrero cigars and will report back. Top 5 cigar of 2020 for me. Had 4 years of humi time.
Caldwell Eastern Standard Sungrown Robusto Purchased Jan. 2020
The draw was easy but was a little vacant and the burn was okay. First quarter of the cigar was fairly interesting. Cinnamon spiced brownies, leather and it took me a while to figure out there was a bit of gooseberry in there. By half way through the smoke it became monolithic. Earth, wood, and pepper. It became less interesting as it went on. The original Eastern Standard is more pleasant. = C
I have only had one V to the best of my recollection but have recently gone through a few V Melanio. After my last one, I have decided to let them rest. It did not intrigue me like the first time I smoked one. A bit fatiguing. Have you had the Master Blend 3? I tried one a while back and liked it a lot. Still very big. Letting my others sleep.
Ortega Cubao - Toro
This has really smoothed out with some time in the humidor. Great classic style. No harshness. @$2.89 all in I am very happy to have more Toros and Robustos. = B+
Had a friend over for dinner tonight, home made lox, chicken liver pate, slow cooked beef cheeks, lamb shanks with chick peas.
Afterwards Oliva V Robusto with Pappy 15 year old. Seriously good cigar, in all respects.Deep, rich flavors, lots of complexity and nuance, roasted nuts, dark cherry notes, smooth, long and clean finish that makes you reach for another draw. On par with anything out there, IMO.Both of us easily compared it with Davidoff Winston Churchill at a better price point.
This was from a box bought 3+ years ago. Will light up a 15 year old Liga Privada tomorrow.
Rich tobacco and toffee notes on the foot and cold draw. Starts out woody with a very slight sweetness. Draw is pretty tight for the first half. Wood is primary with earth, straw, kitchen spice and vanilla coursing through this mild plus smoke. The wood softens and vanilla disappears for the final third. Not complex but smooth and enjoyable.
Monty White Rothschild (robusto). Lovely stick. Mid-weight. Nice balance. Lingers on the palate. Great daily quarantine smoke. Burns even with perfect draw.
CAO Black Gothic
Great cigar. Easy to smoke. Mild/medium in flavors. Not in your face but great subtle complexity. Cedar, dried fruit and caramel. The finish is long and compelling (that’s what … Stay healthy and God Speed. = A-
CAO Black has been one of the first in CAO lineup, and now, after years and years of newfangled blends and gimmicks Black line always delivers, no matter what. Very consistent and enjoyable. To my palate way better than Flatheads and some other newer ones. When they moved to another factory/manufacturer and different fields close to 20 years ago now this line never “suffered” in any way, kudos to them.
My understanding is that the Black is not yet back to being a regular in the lineup. I got a bunch of them at $1.94 a piece all in. I am very happy with this purchase.
BTW, thoughts to follow but I just had the Oliva O maduro and Oliva Saison 2009 First Harvest.
Oliva Serie O Maduro Robusto
A bold and rich beauty that does not bring any palate fatigue. A great cigar with cinnamon, clove, chocolate, cream, and light black pepper. = A+
Ashton Magnum
Avoided them in the past believing they were too light. I was right. Well made good smoking cigar, just too light for my palate. Smelled barnyard on the foot. Everything else was hints of or nuances. Those were straw, wood, sweetness and mild spice.
With the exception of Master Blends I like any Oliva. Some more, some less (when compared to brethren), but they are all well made cigars with plenty of flavor and nuance.
Just curious, was this a recent purchase? I only age Vs, everything else I smoke sans much aging, sometimes off the truck
Never understood the attraction.
