Diplomatico No 1 July 05

[greenpimp]

Well it looked beautiful anyway. I hate that. Beautiful and tasteless.

[shrink]

On the strength of your prior review, I got a box of these (same code) from Lisa that have been superb. Rich 'paprika' spice, with loads of creamy cocoa and an orange peel zest to boot. I love 'em!

But, have you tried the early 2006 No. 3's? These are even better! More full-bodied, with even more cocoa and spice. Nice...

As I think of it, it isn't right to leave this great and discontinued lonsdale on such a disappointing note. It deserves a decent memorial, and worthy epitaph. Grab another one, Rob...

[lfg2nrg]

So when are they going on sale?

[phoenix]

» "Enrique....Can you taste that sweet paprika, that cream, that white

» pepper, that toasted tobacco, that medium bodied lushness.....no?.....Well

» neither the F""K can I!!!!!"

»

Bravo! Encore!

[El Presidente]

» So when are they going on sale?

Low blow

.....e-mail me

[shrink]

Just to make sure that mine hadn't gone south in the last six months, I pulled one out tonight. What a great friggin' cigar!

It roared right out of the gate, rich, full-bodied, and full-flavored, with peppery 'paprika' spice, and a deep, tangy, orange cointreau flavor that was as close to a flavored cigar that I've had out of Havana.

This magnificent cigar drew and burned perfectly. The smoke was thick, creamy, and lingered sweet and syrupy on the palate after each draw. The orange zestiness that was so startling a year ago has developed into a refined, aperitif-like quality that pervaded all the senses. Orange cointreau was in the aroma, on my taste buds, and slowly dissolved in my mouth like a fine liqueur.

Over ninety minutes, the cervantes remained on the strong side of medium-bodied, without a hint of bitterness or immaturity. All the way to a delicious nubbed finish. Superb! If you have the opportunity to grab a box of these unusual 'dessert' cigars, don't miss it. An easy 93.

[El Presidente]

Diplomatico No 1 July 05

I have alwasy been a fan of this cigar and have had some excellent examples over the past 6 months (all 05 stock).

The Dip 1 selected for review had all the hallmarks of a great Lonsdale; perfect construction, nice toasted tobacco and sweet paprika smell at cold. Cerrated the cap and there was again a tobacco and sweet paprika taste on the lips. Draw was immaculate.

At this point I was quite excited....stirring of the loins as it may. However when I fired up the beauty there was an immediate so-so lacklustre delivery of bugger all. Mild medium body, no discernible flavours outside of average tobacco...maybe some dirty cream. Little to no spice through the nose. The disappointment was that this flavour profile continued to the very end so I won't bore you with 1/3rd by 1/3rd descriptions, enough to say that it was mindnumbing.

As a cigar it wasn't bad enough to turf over the balcony but it was a hollow experience and a waste of an hour. The cigar experience of bad Chinese food. I wanted another cigar immediately.

One of the great Habanos mysteries is why a cigar can be "great" and yet another from the same box code, same Marque and vitola can be bloody awfull. I swear that it is a communist plot and a middle finger salute by nasty arsed blenders. How I would love to be at the La Corona factory with the blender of these "Diplomatico Lights" and force him to smoke one. "Enrique....Can you taste that sweet paprika, that cream, that white pepper, that toasted tobacco, that medium bodied lushness.....no?.....Well neither the F""K can I!!!!!"

Oh what a day it would be if we could all smoke our cigars on consignment. ......A magnificent Lonsdale I will pay $20...a great cigar $18....a good cigar.....$10...an average cigar SFA.

84/100 (for construction only). 3/6 smokerings.

Average at best however I have had stellar Diplomatico No 1's of the same code so go figure.