Video review HERE.
Diesel Grind, a line sold by Cigars International and also distributed by Meier & Dutch is now joining the General Cigar portfolio. The cigar was showcased at this year’s 2017 IPCPR Trade Show.
Diesel is a brand that is made by AJ Fernandez and has been in the Cigars International/Meier & Dutch portfolio for several years. Since both business units are owned by General Cigar’s parent company Scandinavian Tobacco Group, the transition of the Diesel Grind line on the surface was quite easy. As a part of the transition, Diesel Grind will now become a brick and mortar exclusive.
Diesel Grind features a Nicaraguan binder and filler and is wrapped with a Habano leaf. The cigars will be offered in three sizes in 20-count rustic wooden boxes. The cigar is described as a powerful, but smooth smoke. The cigar is positioned as a value-priced cigar priced from $5.99 to $6.99.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Tabacalera Fernandez)
Vitolas Available
Robusto: 4.88 x 50 ($5.99 SRP)
Toro: 6 x 50 ($6.49 SRP) REVIEWED TODAY
Torpedo: 6.12 x 52; ($6.99 SRP)
The cigar is well made and has an average feel in the hand for a cigar of this size.
The cigar is a medium to dark brown and well made. The test draw after cutting the cap was a bit firm. The initial flavors were a sweet, very tangy orange citrus, caramel, with a light black coffee base. The black pepper was very good and rated at an 8.
2 inches in (29 minutes) the citrus notes seem to be morphing into a sweet cedar. The caramel notes are now more of a dry cocoa flavor. There also seem to be brown sugar notes with a touch of butter. The cigar has changed from a sharp, tangy citrus to a sweet cedar with dry cocoa. It turned much darker. The pepper remains very good. The cigar is medium bodied and leaning toward medium to full bodied. The finish has the flavor of the dry cocoa and black coffee with some lingering black pepper. 
With about 2 inches remaining (54 minutes) I no longer had the dry cocoa notes. The cigar sort of reverted back to the beginning stages with a tangy orange citrus with orange peel flavors which gave the cigar some bitterness. The caramel notes are still there to help with the sweetness but it is somewhat down at this point. The pepper remains very good. There is a nice black coffee base. The cigar is medium to full bodied now. The finish is much sweeter now with caramel notes. 
The cigar lasted 1 hour 19 minutes. It stayed on the previous track with the bitterness from the orange peel increasing. You still had the orange citrus and caramel notes but the orange peel bitterness was the lead flavor. The pepper remained very good and the finish was unchanged. This cigar started out like a world beater but changed after a couple inches and started to lose steam with me. While this is a decent AJ cigar it would not be considered my favorite but at this very good price point it should be given a shot. 
Score: 89
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