Pre-light Experience

One of the first things I notice about the cigar is the length. At almost 7 and a quarter inches, it covers some real estate. The cigar has a uniform medium brown wrapper. There are a few slightly visible veins that appear as if they are very fine black lines that criss-cross the wrapper. There are also a multitude of tiny dark brown/black dots all over the wrapper. The head is in the typical 109 fashion where it’s tapered like a torpedo but rounded off instead of pointed. The caps are very nicely applied. The aroma from the wrapper is a faint barnyard and the foot gives a light sweet hay. The pre-light draw gives a mellow fruit sweetness, maybe plum.

Pre-light Experience

The Diplomaticos Bushido has an absolutely gorgeous colorado red wrapper. The cigar feels like fine sandpaper. The bunching and roll feels slightly loose with no soft spots and uniformed. The “conde 109” style head is perfectly executed. Pre-light experience of nosing the wrapper tells floral perfume, barnyard, cedar and slight white pepper spice. Foot aromas of sweet hay, cedar and white pepper spice. Cold draw tells a dominant floral perfume, slight hay and lip tingling white pepper spice.

First Third

The initial draws are very mellow. A little bit of creamy coffee in the mouth and creamy wood on the retrohale. A light spice joins the creamy coffee in the mouth and the woodiness on the retrohale becomes more defined as a light spicy cedar. About 3/4 of an inch in, the creaminess fades back and the coffee is now more of a straight black coffee. An inch in and everything is still smooth and mellow. A little bit of spice parked on the back of my tongue and a little on the retrohale, but still mostly light black coffee in the mouth and creamy cedar on the retrohale. The retrohale begins to lose the cedar and become straight cream. The coffee in the mouth begins to be replaced by woodiness. Some pepper begins to make its way into the retrohale which adds some nice complexity. The coffee begins to come back in the mouth to mix with the woodiness. Nearing the end of the third, a bit of minerality makes its way into the retrohale. The strength in this third was right between mild and medium.

First Third

First thirds flavor profile shows a balanced, nuanced, medium body and strength smoking experience. Upon first light, interplay of floral perfume, barnyard, coffee and cream, graham crackers, cedar, medium bodied tannins, minerality and slight white pepper spice. Through the retrohale, the white pepper spice and floral perfume is intensified. The finish is clean with lingering notes of cedar, coffee and cream and white pepper spice. About two inches in, the aforementioned notes are still prominent except for two things: 1) the white pepper spice is ramped up providing a fuller mouth feel 2) sweet cream and cedar intensifies.

Second Third

As this third begins, the coffee and woodiness continue in the mouth. The retrohale has dropped the minerality and is now primarily creamy with a bit of wood. Small little pockets of minerality pop in and out of the mouth and retrohale as the third progresses. About 3/4 of an inch into the third, the woodiness ramps up both in the mouth and on the retrohale with the cream becoming secondary. Mid way through the third, the minerality has picked up to even out with the wood. Further in, the minerality drops back and the wood becomes primary again. The retrohale is very creamy with the wood in the background. The minerality picks up again and slight amount of bitterness comes in to mix again with the woodiness. The strength in this third was also between mild and medium.

Second Third

Second thirds initial 1.5 inches is a continuation of the latter part of the first third. Still balanced and nuanced flavors of floral perfume, barnyard, coffee and cream, graham crackers, cedar, mouth watering levels of tannins and minerality. After the 1.5 inch mark, the cigar shows noticeably increased levels of strength (now reaching a medium plus as the nicotine is giving me a slight head buzz) and body (knocking on medium pluses door). There is also an increase in the white pepper spice, but now more of an oily type of spice. In addition to the spice, increased levels of cedar, tannins and minerality, which provides greater deepness of flavors.

Final Third

As this third begins, the woodiness is now more defined as oak and is carrying a char with it. The retrohale is also oaky with a bit of spice to it. There is a little bit of black tea that is making itself known on the retrohale. Some earthiness is presenting itself in the mouth to go along with the wood and some minerality is back on the retrohale. Mid way through the third, the earthiness fades away and is replaced with minerality. The retrohale is woody and creamy. The strength in this third was just a bit higher than mild/medium.

Final Third

The beginning two inches of the last third is a continuation of the latter part of the second third. Still mouth watering, medium plus strength notes of oily white pepper spice, rich tannins and minerality, coffee and cream, barnyard, cedar, graham crackers. Towards the last 2 inches or so, the cigar’s body picks up, creating a medium plus experience. Also, the cigar becomes less creamy and sweet, namely providing an interplay of mouth watering oily white pepper spice, barnyard, cedar, rich tannins and minerality.

Burn

The burn was very good through the first two thirds with just a bit of wave but always staying in point. In the final third, the cigar got soft and I had to perform a couple of relights.

Burn

Burn in terms of ash was average. Although the ash held on strong and tight averaging 1.5 inches, at various points the cigar did not burn in a uniformed manner. Further, one re-light was needed. Burn in terms of rate, was a bit of a let down. The cigar burned fairly fast (assuming due to loose roll), taking just a little over 70 minutes to finish this lengthy cigar.

Draw

The draw was just a bit tighter than I prefer, but nothing too drastic that caused any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

This cigar was pretty mellow with primary flavors of wood, cream and minerality. There were a few other minor flavors that came in and out, but overall, not too complex. Not being complex isn’t really an issue as the flavors were good. With the size of this cigar and the smoking time, some more complexity would be welcome, but it was enjoyable. This cigar could be enjoyed at any time of day and I could see this being a great smoke to have on the beach or by the pool if you have a good amount of time where you are just really relaxing and kicking back. Definitely a cigar worth trying if you can come across some.

Draw

Draw was perfection. Just the right amount of tug.

Overall

Habanos S.A. once again hit it out of the park with another fairly recent Diplomaticos regional. Although showing quite a bit of youth within the second and last third, give it 3 to 5 years and the cigar will become a classic and will fire on all cylinders. Even now, being so young, the cigar already shows tremendous flavors, depth, balance and finish.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.87

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.60

Scoring System