Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Diamond Crown Maximus Robusto No. 5 is medium brown with some darker freckles and there are some thick, raised veins present. The seams are smooth and the caps well applied. The band is the traditional design for the line. The aroma from the wrapper is rich earth and cedar while the foot brings bread, stewed fruit and some spice. The pre-light draw brings stewed fruit and cedar along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, rich earth and some black pepper. At a quarter inch in, some dark roast coffee joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar, rich earth and mild black pepper. At an inch in, the toasted cedar and rich earth are even up front. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and rich earth are even up front, with the black pepper just ahead of the middle of the profile and the dark roast coffee just behind the middle of the profile. The strength was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the rich earth drops back a bit. At a quarter inch in, the black pepper has mellowed a fair amount. The retrohale remains toasted cedar, rich earth and mild black pepper. At an inch in, the earth loses some of its richness. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth that’s a bit dry now. The dark roast coffee remains just behind the middle of the profile and the black pepper is a bit further behind it. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the overall profile has become a bit dry based on the delivery of the cedar and earth. At a quarter inch in, some dark cocoa powder joins the profile. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and earth with a bit bolder black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the toast level of the cedar up front becomes a bit heavier with the dry earth right behind. The dark roast coffee is in the middle of the profile with black pepper and dark cocoa powder a bit behind. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on through each third.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, rich earth and some black pepper. Some dark roast coffee joined in a bit later. The second third saw the earth fall back a bit and the black pepper mellowed quite a bit. Later, the earth lost some of its richness and became a bit dry. The final third saw some dark cocoa powder join in. The Diamond Crown Maximus Robusto No. 5 had a nice start with a good combination of flavors. As the earth and pepper fell back in the second third it took a step down and remained at that level the rest of the way. I didn’t find this vitola quite as engaging as the Toro, but it still maintained portions of that experience. I wouldn’t necessarily come back to this size, but the line does offer some good vitolas.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.85

Cost/Point

$2.47

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Diamond Crown Maximus Robusto No. 5