Diplomáticos No. 1

Country: Cuba
Vitola de Galera: Cervantes (commonly referred to as Lonsdale)
Size: 6 1/2" x 42 (165 x 16.67 mm)
Box: FJN Jul05

It is sad that Habanos stopped rolling this vitola last year. Maybe the reason is that more people now in the world tend to smoke larger RG cigars. Anyway, this stogie is from the last box from a local LCDH that I grabbed last year with just a few sticks remaining in it, at about $14 apiece – not a bad deal for a B&M I guess.

Appearance/construction: 12 /15.
It doesn't look perfect, but appearance is not bad at all. The surface of the nearly vein-less wrapper isn't smooth, though compensated by beautiful Colorado color and slightly oily, sheen. Classic triple cap and straightly cut foot are there. With my previous experience with the sticks from this box I knew there might be draw problems, so after clipping the head (which required no efforts) I checked the draw. I could feel it's not easy, so I did some rolling and squeezing for a while. It wouldn't give in as much as I'd expect from a well rolled stick, but there was no adverse effect on the wrapper after that. So this means it's well constructed and my humidor did a good job keeping it that way. The ash was gray, with no flakes, but tended to crook a little and I could feel it wouldn't stay for long, so I was knocking it off every 1/2" or so.
So I'm deducting points for less than perfect appearance, for being too tightly packed, and for not so great ash.

Flavor: 24 /25
I haven't smoked too many cigars that had mild to medium strength, but full body of flavors. Diplo No.1 is one of these cigars. Just excellent. Complemented my morning coffee in a great fashion. There was nothing special in the unlit draw, maybe because it was tight. But after lighting it up... The 1st third gave some fresh cedar wood, and a touch of spicy pepper. After a puff or two I felt if I were to blind test this guy, I could tell immediately it's a CC - very accentuated unmistakable Cuban twang. In the second third there were lots of leather and nutty tones, with aromatic wood keeping the background. The last third was again woody, some spice and not a slightest hint of harshness - I smoked it to the nub with great pleasure well after finishing my coffee.

Smoking characteristics: 23 /25
My "actions" with the unlit cigar apparently helped – the draw was good (though could be a little better). Toasted the foot with a regular butane lighter, and the burn wasn't problematic, though I did have to fix it a couple of times. So I'm taking off a few points.

Overall Impression: 33 /35
Excellent smoke. I think this cigar would be enjoyable for rookies and experienced smokers alike – I recommend it to everybody, if you can get it.

Total: 92

P.S. Diplos are awesome...

nice review VO...

I totally agree with you that Diplos are awsome.. the #2 and the #5 are amongst my favs.. I haven't smoked a #1 in many years.. but after reading your review, I'm really tempted to go and light one up..

thanks for sharing

Thanks for the great review. It is a shame this cigar was discontinued, and, the #3. Maybe Habanos wants to focus on making more Montecristos now, especially with recent high ratings in CA.

quote:

Originally posted by chrisguinther:
Maybe Habanos wants to focus on making more Montecristos now, especially with recent high ratings in CA.

I don't think habanos puts too much enphasis on cA ratings... in fact, I don't think many people actually do.. well except for the posers of course.. (look at me, I'm smoking a 92 rated cigars )

they just discontinued it because as VO said, not too many people are smoking lonsdales these days.. the market seems to be shifting towards big ring guage cigars, whether short or long.. just look at the popularity of the CM5 Magico, Monte PE and the HdM PR..

quote:

the market seems to be shifting towards big ring guage cigars

It's definitely going that way in the CC market with the 2008 new releases all being at least 48 ring gauge. Interestingly, here in the US, lots of NCs are adding the longsdale line, including Illusione, Oliva Serie V, and Davidoff. See article on CA: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Fea.../0,2344,2322,00.html

quote:

Originally posted by salibas007:


they just discontinued it because as VO said, not too many people are smoking lonsdales these days..

i love me some lonsdales

The lonsdale is one of the most underrated vitolas - and Diplos are one of the most underrated marcas.

To me, a well-made lonsdale has all the flavor of a larger ring gauge cigar without the discomfort of a large ring gauge. Not to mention they're elegant as hell.

hey scott.. for once, iagree with you..

quote:

Originally posted by Scottological:
The lonsdale is one of the most underrated vitolas - and Diplos are one of the most underrated marcas.

To me, a well-made lonsdale has all the flavor of a larger ring gauge cigar without the discomfort of a large ring gauge. Not to mention they're elegant as hell.

I agree! I do smoke robustos and, ok, a good churchill is a great time, but my favorite ring is 40-44, and I love a lonsdale, corona, or petite corona more than anything. They are my regular smokes. I've always thought of the corona as THE most important vitola, the pc and lonsdale being two important variations - sad to see some of them going away.

you know what... I think diplomatico is the only marca I have not tried!! I have tried the guantanemera, JLP crap, but not Diplo! guess what my next buy will be... The last 2 years I have moved to smaller rings, mainly petit coronas, lonsales. I like the elegance and comfort to smoke them, also find their taste a bit less complex, but more refined.

I recently had a #2 comparable to a Monte#2 a little lighter on the pocket.

Nice review!

I'm hoping the day comes when the pendulum swings back as far as ring gauge goes. It's been sad to see some terrific cigars on the chopping block:

Partagas Coronas
Bolivar Coronas
SLR Lonsdales
RG Lonsdales
RA 898
RA Coronas
Upmann Lonsdales
Diplomaticos No. 1

And many others. All great cigars, all gone. I can only hope that by the time I smoke through those I have aging, that they'll have become available again...

On the bright side, there are still some good choices still being rolled in the thinner ring sizes.

quote:

Originally posted by SHEEPSHEAD BAY:
I recently had a #2 comparable to a Monte#2 a little lighter on the pocket.

Ooooo, watch out with that statement. A certain someone from the Monte #2 thread will think less of you for making that statement!!