Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Diesel Whiskey Row Founder’s Collection Raceking is medium brown with some thick, lightly raised veins. The seams are slightly raised and the head is pretty well finished. There are two bands, with the primary being gold and denoting the brand and sub-line. The foot band is pastel peach and blue along with gold and denotes the line and sub-line. The aroma from the wrapper is musty earth with cedar and light spice. The foot brings breadiness, cedar and spice. The pre-light draw brings bread, stone fruit sweetness and some light cedar and earth along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with earth, black pepper and toasted cedar. At a quarter inch in, the black pepper is exhibiting a very long finish. At three quarters of an inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile. The retrohale is an even mix of toasted cedar, earth and black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, a light meatiness becomes present. As the third comes to a close, the earth and black pepper are even up front, with the toasted cedar just behind along with some creaminess and meatiness in the background. The strength was slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third is a continuation of the first third. The retrohale remains an even mix of toasted cedar, earth and black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the earth takes a slight lead in the profile and creates a bit of an overall dryness. At an inch and a half in, the toasted cedar increases to become even with the earth. As the third comes to a close, the earth and toasted cedar are even up front, with the black pepper a bit behind and some creaminess and meatiness in the background. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the black pepper mellows a bit. The retrohale remains an even mix of toasted cedar, earth and black pepper. At an inch in, the toast level becomes pretty heavy. As the cigar wraps up, the heavily toasted cedar and earth are even up front, with the black pepper a bit behind and some creaminess and meatiness in the background. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout and the ash held on through each third.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with earth, black pepper and toasted cedar. A light creaminess joined in a bit later and then some meatiness after that. The second third saw the earth take a slight lead in the profile and things became a bit dry. Later, the toasted cedar increased to become even with the earth. The final third saw the pepper mellow a bit and the toast level became pretty heavy. The construction was absolutely perfect. The Diesel Whiskey Row Founder’s Collection Raceking had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the earth, toasted cedar and black pepper. This is a very heavy profile and not subtle at all, which is what I believe Diesel smokers enjoy. It’s just not my thing unless it can do it elegantly, which this cigar does not. Fans of the brand will enjoy this, but it’s not a cigar I’d return to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$2.78

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Diesel Whiskey Row Founder’s Collection Raceking