Review of Diesel Crucible Cigar

Diesel Crucible is a new limited edition cigar released in April 2021 (not the same Crucible sold by Cigars International back in 2012). These new Crucible cigars were blended by AJ Fernandez and made in Nicaragua with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler tobaccos. Diesel Crucible is available only in a box pressed Toro size (6 x 52), which is priced at $9.99 per cigar. For more information about these cigars, please see the press release.

The sample Diesel Crucible Toro cigar started off with a very pleasant and smooth medium-to-full bodied tobacco flavor, along with just a very modest sweet peppery taste (which was more noticeable in the second sample). The initial puffs on this cigar surprised me, not because of the actual flavors that were present, but because of those that were missing. There were not any initial strong blasts of pepper and extra bold flavors that characterized the previous release of Delirium in Diesel's Elixir series. At least in my opinion, Crucible is tamer and much more balanced and enjoyable than Diesel's Delirium cigar.

I really enjoyed the first 30 minutes of the Diesel Crucible. The smoke was very smooth with a somewhat nutty flavor and hints of spice in the background. I rate the first half of the cigar with an excellent 4.5 points on a 5-point scale. However, the cigar got a bit stronger during second 30 minutes, and the excellent flavors began to slowly degenerate. Although the strength had ramped up during the second half, the cigar was still not overpowering, and the flavor was now worthy of “only” a very good 4-point rating.

It took me one full hour to smoke the Diesel Crucible Toro down to two inches remaining. During that time, the cigar had a great draw, held a medium-to-long ash, and had a mostly even burn. Only one minor touch-up was applied before the half-way point, and one relight was needed at the 45-minute mark (but two relights were needed for the second sample).

Overall, I rate the Diesel Crucible cigar with a superior rating of 4.25 points on a 5-point scale. Although this is my highest initial rating of the three cigars in Diesel's Elixir Trilogy, I did enjoy their first Hair of the Dog cigar about as much, but only after it had spent more time in the humidor. Therefore, it is certainly possible that the Diesel Crucible could also get even better with age.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer.