Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Diesel Vintage Series Robusto Gordo is a dark matte brown and has some lightly raised veins. The seams are a bit raised and the top cap has lifting edges. The band is dark brown, gold and white and denotes the brand and line. The aroma from the wrapper is smoky wood and some earth while the foot brings cedar, earth and spice. The pre-light draw is a dry mix of cedar and earth along with some floral notes and there is a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted oak, earth and bold black pepper. At a quarter inch in, a mellow cocoa note joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted oak, dry earth and mild black pepper. At an inch in, the black pepper mellows slightly. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper a bit further back and a cocoa note in the background. The strength was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper mellows a bit more and the cocoa note has departed. The retrohale remains toasted oak, dry earth and mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is up front, with earth a bit behind and the black pepper now in the middle of the profile. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the black pepper mellows a bit more. At a half inch in, the black pepper is now very light. The retrohale remains toasted oak, dry earth and mild black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted oak is a bit ahead of the earth with black pepper in the back half of the profile. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted oak, earth and bold black pepper. A mellow cocoa note joined in fairly quickly. Later, the pepper mellowed a bit. The second third saw the pepper mellow some more and the cocoa note departed. The final third saw the pepper mellow to the back of the profile. The Diesel Vintage Series Robusto Gordo started with a nice profile as the mellow cocoa note provided a welcome support note. Once that dropped out in the second third, the profile took a step down and remained that way the rest of the way. This blend is pretty on par with the Natural version of the line and these two cigars are probably my favorites from Diesel. But even with that being said, they aren’t good enough to really make me want to come back to them. The price is great, so they are easy to try though to see what you think.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.30

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Diesel Vintage Series Robusto Gordo