Finally getting around to finishing my Diesel reviews.  Today's subject is the Unlimited.  In the big sampler pack I was given, this was the second selection I tried and after plowing through three of them, I decided it was time to put my thoughts to the blog.  Let me get to the review and stop blathering on....

Construction: As with all of the Diesel products, the Unlimited is flawlessly put together.  The wrapper leaf is a nice uniform red-brown with a few veins and a nice triple cap.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Out of the cello, the Unlimited gives off plenty of cedar, oak, and leathery scents.  Despite the 54 ring girth it cuts easily and the draw is perfect.

Light and Burn: I was able, by some miracle, to light this behemoth with matches outside today.  Three did the trick.  The burn line is almost perfect - couple of minor corrections but nothing too terrible.  The ash is white and solid. 

Tasting: Again, I find myself trying to rank the Diesel I am smoking in terms of favorites....and honestly, if I were able to do so, I would put this one near the top.  It starts off with a wonderful leathery woody kick laced with a really great toasted tobacco flavor.

The first third kicks in full throttle.  Personally, I think the Unlimited is the most powerful in the line.  The main flavor is leather, as with all of the Diesel cigars, but this one also adds some cedar, roasted nuts, and black coffee to the mix.  I think these smoke a bit faster than the rest of the line as well.

The second third doesn't let up at all - in fact it seems to ramp up even further.  I love full bodied cigars and this one is one of the fullest around. It doesn't try to blow you away nor does it have a one-dimensional fullness to it.  In fact the strength and flavors are perfectly balanced.  There is a slight oak, and creaminess to this section as well.  It does slow down in the second third too.

The final third is here.  My last Unlimited - for now at least.  I am getting a ton of leather as before with hints of cinnamon, coffee, cedar, and oak.    I got a very slight flavor of something like dried apple in there too but it was very minor.  Overall an excellent smoke.

Value: A box of the D.5 cigars will run you around $80 online.  That is about $4.50 a stick.  Easily worth every cent.

Final Thoughts: I remember when the Edge came on the market and it was lauded as the strongest cigar you could find....well, since then, the market has exploded with full bodied smokes that make the Edge look like a walk in the park.  Diesel really does a fine job at this, as you can tell from the countless reviews out there.  The Unlimited is a very manly cigar.  I can't think of a better way to describe it.  The leathery core is delicious and the smoke is aromatic and dense.  There is a bit too much power for a first-of-the-day smoke here but after a big meal or on a nice cool evening, it certainly hits the spot.  Granted, I am sitting on the porch in 83 degrees of July sunshine and it hits the spot now too.  I highly recommend this cigar.  But novice smokers should beware.

Wrapper: Honduran Ligero
Binder: Nicaraguan Ligero
Filler: Nicaraguan, Mexican San Andres

Strength: Full

Size: 5.5 x 54

  Big chunky Diesel beauty!

The band is the standard Diesel design in a nice deep red

Look at that toothy wrapper!