Diplomaticos No.2 (CDERW)

[ayedfy]

Diplomaticos No.2. Piramides 52x6⅛. Box code unknown, purchased as a single circa 2014-2015.

Opening third: black coffee (not bitter; more like a quality pourover). Burnt sugar sweetness, mild (~60%) dark chocolate. Fortified wine (dry sherry), crème brûlée, hint of cinnamon spice. Draw is easy, some burn corrections needed, light to medium bodied with layers of subtle complexity.

Middle third: the creamy sweetness is transforming into more of a cakey bread note (plain panettone, or do I just have Christmas on the brain?). Hint of cedar at first, with the woodiness moving forward as the cigar progresses. A lot of the sweetness pulls back through this middle, as does much of the complexity from the opening. Predominantly bread and wood with surprising flashes of citrus (lime juice). Body bumps up a smidge over medium, burn is tidier and ash holding firm.

Final third: unexpected savoury note emerging - pork crackling? After a somewhat dull stretch through the late middle there’s a pick-up, with a well-rounded fresh barnyard character enriches with sweet floral notes of honeysuckle and lavender. Chocolate returning at the end but unlike the dark chocolate from the opening, this is caramel-oozing milk chocolate (Caramello Koalas!). That sweetness briefly retreats for the savoury + barnyard notes to dominate, before returning alongside them for a fuller bodied ensemble finish.

The Diplo 2 has been one of my favourite regular production piramides, but I’ve never sat down to review one to identify its key qualities. I’m not sure how much closer I am after this to be honest, there were a lot of deviations and some confusion as you can tell. I also remember it being a bit fuller bodied when younger and I think age has softened this one a bit. But still a highly enjoyable smoke, would have scored higher without that dull patch through the late middle.

89/100

[ayedfy]

Also, check out that band misprint. I’ve seen a few wonky Diplomaticos bands before but this is probably the shonkiest.