Cigar Reviewed: Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask

Smoked at: Rhode Island, USA

Cigar notes: Overall a very well balanced full-body cigar. The first third is very good with a nice balance of dark woods and dark stone-fruits (think cherries or plums). This is very representative of what I envision would come from the sherry cask and bourbon barrels. The second third introduces a little bit of spice which compliments the flavor notes that carry from the first but overwhelms some of the subtle sweetness that is carried by the sherry cask notes (not necessarily in a detrimental way). I did notice a slight mocha/coffee note in this portion. The final third was very woody and full of black pepper notes with some pretty heavy spice. Overall it was well balanced throughout even though the pepper and spice became a bit much for my pallet at the end.

Pairing with the Rye (Short Mountain Distillery's Red Pecker Rye):

After doing a bit of background on what I should expect with the cigar's flavor profile, I decided to go against the expected pairing (a sherry cask bourbon) and pair it with this rye that I am familiar with. It's a 5-year-old Rye from a distillery in Tennessee. It has very similar cherry and coffee-forward flavors layered on top of herbal spice. These flavors complimented the entire cigar from the first puff to the last and will definitely be drinking it again the next time I get this cigar.