Diplomaticos no.4

This is an intriguing little mareva with quite a different flavour profile from its cousin the Montecristo No.4. Whereas the latter could be the tip top cookies and cream of the cigar world, the Diplomaticos is more of a chef-designed palate cleansing sorbet: subtle floral nuances of darjeeling played around a leather and cedar core. If you want to take some time out for a half hour or so and concentrate on a cigar, pull this understated petit corona out of the humidor.

And to add to the aura of this cigar, one should say that it will be an ephemeral experience: production of this particular vitola was cancelled this year, so beyond this box we might never get to try it again. It would probably respond well to ageing, but hey - ars longa, vita brevis.


30mn-50mn smoke.
Size: Mareva (aka Petit Corona)
Length 12.9cm. Ring gauge 42.
Strength: Light Medium-bodied
Drink match: Tricky. Try smoking it first and then decide - tea or sherry or [something that doesn't overpower the complex flavour]?
From box dated Mar '09.

Brand: This brand was introduced in 1966 as essentially a second, value line of the Montecristo brand, primarily aimed at the French market. One of the few Havana brands which is exclusively devoted to handmade cigars, the sizes and names essentially mirror the Montecristo nomenclature and for many years, the Diplomaticos line was produced at the old Jose Marti factory, as was most of the Montecristo range.