Appearance and Construction (14 of 15 points possible)
Nicely made smoke, dark, oily and devoid of large viens. This is suppose to be a sumatra leaf wrapper, but it looks like a broadleaf maduro(almosted dyed but it never came of on my lips or fingers). Im not saying I'm a wrapper expert but its just my opinion and observation. Prelight aroma after cut was of cederay tobacco and leather accents. Prelight draw seems like this is going to be a mild cigar and reveals a good draw. Nice eye catching band also.

Flavor (18 of 25 points possible)
On the first couple of puffs I got a toasty earthiness, some charcoal and very, very, very little spice. The aroma was alright with a woody, cinnamony aroma. Not alot going on in the flavor or complexity department here. Im an inch through with core flavors of leather, earth, and a little woodiness. There does at times seem to be a dried pepper flake underlying in the blandness. Its pepper flavor without no burn, bite, or spiciness. I'm at halfway now and the flavors are pretty much the same and the complexity is still lacking. The only thing that has changed is the presence of some all-spice or something that lingers on the palate. Flavors seem mute and almost disappear at times. Towards the end the flavors get a long unappealing muddy finish.

Smoking Characteristics (24 of 25 points possible)
Nice draw, even burn, and the smoke was always cool smoking. I could be getting a bit more smoke through every draw, smoke is ample but it could be more. Ash is nice and firm and hangs on till I nock it off at about 1 3/4". Upon examination of the cherry I find no tunnels or holes in the fire, so I dont know whats causing the minimization of smoke in the draw. No hole in the wrapper either.

Overall Impression (28 of 35 points possible)
Besides the construction and burn theres not alot to get exited about (IMO)!! Flavors could've been more pronounced and more complex. The cigar never lives up to its hype, name, and false advertising of "Tabacos Picantes". I was expecting something along the lines of an Oliva Master Blend or a JDN Antano. This cigar was boring, bland, and medium bodied. I smoked it to the finish just for the reviews sake. Very disapointing and nothing special, just an overpriced smoke that I would of pitched half-way through if it wasnt for the review.

Overall score-84

Thanks for a good review Stogie. You have to teach me someday how you can recognize flavors. I been smoking cigars for a long time, but still when it comes to describing the flavor I am a complete noob.

good review Stogie!

Too bad they sucked!!

I guess mine will age a while. Thanks stoge!

Thanks stoge. Another winner from this years RTDA! I guess I won't even bother with this one. It seems to be getting pretty ho-hum reviews by almost everyone who tries it.

Thanks guys!!! PMP dont even waste your money on it, it dont have the flavor profile you like at all.

Thanks Stoge - took your recommendation on the HDM but will pass on this Diablo.

No Problemo MCNut! Always glad to assist.

I think I'll stay away from this one.

HeHeHe! I think you might get one in a package in the future!!!

Uh Oh... I have heard about you and your conquistadors stogie. Is this a new way to punish your pals?

Now what did I do to piss you off?

I would never punish my pals! Only the best for you two.

O.K. I'll NOT let them age for a while. I noticed a strong ammonia smell in my NC humi this morning. I started sniffing around and it was the 3 Diablos. Just gifted them to a co-worker. They must be waaay to young to be spewing ammonia smell into my humi. Glad I caught it and they weren't in there all weekend. If anyone has these sitting around trying to get a little age on them, give them a sniff. I though it was some AF ST's I put in there before Thanksgiving. Took about 3 weeks for the Diablo's to turn. Yuck.

Some cigars are young, just because they give of a ammonia smell is no reason to become alarm and throw them out. I had some Punch rare corojo that were very young when I got them, took about 3-4 months before they were smokeable. Sometimes its just best to sit on them and try them after most of the ammonia smell dissipates. The Diablos on the other hand are already medium bodied so I doubt if aging will help these any.

Stoge, I just smoked one (1/2 of one) last night with my co-worker. Granted, this was following a RyJ Churchill, but I wouldn't call the Diablo medium bodied. The draw was easy and there was an incredible amount of no flavor smoke. I detected zero spice or pepper or any other flavor. It's just a smoke. They should bundle these and sell them for a buck a piece. I gave up half way through. It just wasn't worth the time. It's not a dog rocket, because that would imply the cigar has SOME kind of flavor. And being young and spewing ammonia fumes, you'd think it would be a little harsh or green. Nuthin'. Like suckin' air.

quote:

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Originally posted by silverzone:
I been smoking cigars for a long time, but still when it comes to describing the flavor I am a complete noob.

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Me, too. The other night I was enjoying an Occidental Double Maduro and was thinking of how I'd describe its taste in a review. And I couldn't think of anything to compare it to -- not coffee, not nutty, not creamy -- WTF you'd call it, I really like it. And of course that's what really matters. But it would be nice to be able to review it so others understood what I tasted in it. (I read one review today of the ODM that said "leathery." That doesn't sound good in and of itself, and doesn't describe how the cigar tasted to me, either.

Good review Stoge. Sounds like yet a another new brand that's not worth trying. Glad there's plenty of smokes out there already that I like.