Diesel
Whiskey Row

Attention whiskey lovers everywhere: The famed Rabbit Hole Distillery and master cigar blender A.J. Fernandez have come together for a once and a lifetime collaboration that yielded the ideal cigar for those who love pairing top-shelf smokes with top-shelf whiskeys. Diesel Whiskey Row is the first time that Fernandez has worked with a distiller and the first time Rabbit Hole has lent its secretive process out of lock and key so that it may form an integral part of the creation of Whiskey Row. A five-year-aged Ecuadorian Habano wraps around bourbon barrel-aged Mexican San Andres binder and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos, which give the cigar a distinct smoky caramel note. The filler tobacco hails from Ometepe, Jalapa, and Condega. The predominant flavor profiles here are one of oak, bourbon, spice, subtle sweetness, and a floral finish. The pairing recommendations for this cigar are a no brainer. The Rabbit Hole distillery produces some of the finest bourbons, ryes, whiskeys and more in the United States. For example, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye uses one of a kind malted grains and enters the barrel at a lower proof, which accentuates the flavor. These specialty charred barrels are only utilized in incredibly small batches. Rabbit Hole distillery was started by Kaveh Zamanian, a clinical psychologist who met and fell in love with a native of Louisville and, along with his wife, discovered a love of the region’s spirit culture. Zamanian took the highly unorthodox step of not simply rebranding an existing whiskey but crafting his own from scratch, which sets him apart from the modern whiskey landscape where many supposed boutique brands are merely masquerading as producers of other whiskeys. Rabbit Hole is defined by one word: creativity. “It’s something we all have within us,” the company says on its website. “It’s the fuel behind our hopes, dreams, and potential as a culture. It’s the catalyst behind our destiny. A path to discovery that leads us. For when we embrace it to the fullest, our true purpose is revealed. Ours was to make whiskey.” Diesel Whiskey Row made its debut in June 2018. Formatted in four sizes, each housed in 25-count boxes: Robusto, measuring 5 1/2 inches by 52 ring gauge; Toro, 6 by 54; Churchill, 7 by 49; and Gigante, 6 by 60. The line is expected to retail from $7.49 to $8.99. Shop Santa Clara today for the entire Diesel Whiskey Row line and also be sure to check out the Sherry Cask version as well for a slightly different twist on this incredible creation.