Made in Nicaragua by A.J. Fernandez, the Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask consists of a dark, Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, cask-aged Brazilian, Arapiraca binder and Nicaraguan filler. It comes in three sizes: Robusto, at 5 inches by 52 ring gauge ($8.49); Toro, 6 by 50 ($8.99) and Gigante, 6 by 58 ($9.49). All are packaged in 20-count boxes.
The Brazilian binder leaf spends some time aging in Rabbit Hole’s barrels that once contained Pedro Ximénez Sherry from Spain.
There are two large bands take up majority of the cigar in the robusto vitola, such as the one I am reviewing. Once foot band is off, you have about 2 inches before you have to take off the main band.
The CT Broadleaf wrapper is dark brown in color, has minor, fine veins and gives off a sweet, earthy aroma. The triple cap is smoothly applied and the foot of the cigar is finished and also gives of a sweet scent.
The cigar was an average weight for a robusto vitola and firm to the touch. I used a guillotine cutter for a straight cut and took a pull for a pre-light draw. The draw was good with a slight resistance and I got a sense of the sherry cask flavor.
Once lit, the cigar had a nice even burn throughout with a thin carbon ring and a firm, tight light gray ash. The cigar produced a good amount of smoke volume.
After finishing up the first third, I found that there was a strong retrohale and a slightly bitter, astringent short finish.
Onto the second third and the retrohale picked up some sharpness in the strength. The astringency was gone from my palate and was replaced with some sweetness and a longer finish.
The final third of the cigar was consistent with the second and really did not offer anything new. Not that it was a bad thing at all.
I consider this smoke to be medium to full in both strength and body and was a very good smoking experience.
I rate the Diesel Whisky Row Sherry Cask at a 95.