Partagas Corona/Bolivar Corona/Diplomaticos #4

[ChanceSchmerr]

Today was a gorgeous day on the west coast, so the only thing to do was to head downtown to the waterfront for some Coronas I've been meaning to try! For those who are familiar with the Victoria, BC area, I was down at Beacon Hill Park, from there to the waterfront along Dallas Road.

First Up - Partagas Corona from 2002

The Initial draw was decent, a little tight, but nothing too bad. A bit of pepper on the tip of my tongue. This cigar won't win a beauty contest, but the taste is what i'm after, and I'm not disappointed. Smooth tobacco tastes from the start, with a hint of pepper and a wonderful creamyness highlight the opening third of this cigar. I'm really enjoying it as I stroll in the park. As it transitions towards the middle third, the cream taste lessens, replaced for a few minutes by some nice tea notes. Right on the tail of the tea is a peppery note, that a re-clip of the head only strengthens. For the rest of this very nice smoke, the pepper reigns, but never over-powers, and the wonderful smooth pepper-tobacco taste that I associate with Partagas puts on a great showing. Medium to Full bodied, This was a great smoke, the draw was a little tight but definitely managable. 90/100

Next up - Bolivar Corona, 2006

This cigar feels quite firm. I clipped the end and tested the draw, whoa - tight one! Gave it a whirl, and this one is as plugged as they come. I massaged and pinched as best I could, but after a half inch of futility, I had to put it down. What flavours I did get were Bolivar, all the way, grassy spice. This one gets a DNF (in honour of the olympics going on across the strait!)

Finally - Since I've had lots of plugged cigars lately, I never travel without a backup - so, the Diplomaticos #4 from a Czar sampler gets it's chance.

This cigar also won't win a beauty contest, but the draw is everything the Bolivar was not. Easy draw, good cocoa flavours pre-light. With some fire at the foot, this cigar makes up for the Boli in an instant - loads of smoke, and those Diplo flavours I love - coffee with a bit of cocoa and a sweet tobacco taste. The cocoa and coffee subsides, but that sweet tobacco remains to the end, as I take a seat in the park and enjoy the fine scenery. It may be February, but it's awesome to spend winter days in a park of green! 90/100 on this one too.

Sorry about the lousy quality of my pictures - Cell Phone camera!

[Buch0]

Cheers for the review mate.

The Diplo #4 is in my top 3 favourites and very rarely disappoints. Spot on with the cocoa and coffee, on their day you will get many a chocolate notes amongst it aswell. There is something with this brand that is matched by no other, sometimes I think that it is the fact the cigar tastes like it looks? The darkish/velvety wrapper and chocolate/cocoa/coffee tastes. It looks like the Diplo had a slight box press which I love and think is synonymous with the marque.

Great cigar which is quite underrated.

[Wil]

Cheers for the review!

Recently had the opposite experience! Shocking Diplo 4 (plugged) replaced with a very nice Upmann PC. Agree on the Diplo marque though. Got a Diplo 2 lined up for this weekend

[thechenman]

The only Diplo that I have truly enjoyed on a repeat basis is the No. 2...the 4 is touch and go for me, and the 5 has just not done it. Still the No. 2 more than makes up for it.

[Bartolomeo]

Great review and thanks for sharing!

Bart™