Diplomaticos No. 1
Size: 165 x 42 ? Cervantes
Smoke time: 1hour 40mins
Box date: 03 Source: www.mysmokingshop.co.uk
Appearance: The cigar was nicely rolled with a pressed in-the-box square section. The smooth rich brown wrapper had a very light sheen with almost invisible seams and a very neat triple cap. To the pinch the Dippy felt well packed and sufficiently yielding along the barrel. Plain but purposeful, the stick carried the usual one-fits-all Standard ?A? band.
Construction: The pre-draw I thought a tad tight, and so for a while was the smoking draw, however it did loosen into the first third and was pretty much OK from the on. The burn wasn?t razor sharp but it wasn?t a problem either. The dark ash was nicely compacted and needed no attention. No relights, no corrections.
Flavour: The pre-draw aroma was gorgeous, strong barnyard with a hint of new shoes. The start was fresh grass but quickly changed to a delightfully dull (as in thud not in boreing) sour, tart citric taste not unlike under-ripe gooseberries over light woody tobacco. The taste strength (and throughout the smoke was medium). The first third also carried a few unexpected surprises with the base flavour suddenly supplemented with delicious notes of salty, bitter orange and sweet biscuit. In the second third the base flavours became progressively dryer and fractionally earthier but still retained their general sweet, woody tobacco over citrus quality, and occasionally this would be punctuated by softer notes similar to corned beef (honestly) and praline. The flavours coating my mouth at this stage were delicious and very refreshing. The last third was equally as good as the flavours deepened to become richer and nuttier and the body shifted from light to medium. Towards the end the flavour became light toasted tobacco softened by hints of mocha. A morning well spent I thought.
Overall: I was very impressed by this cigar, both in flavour and body. To me it?s an all round solid performer which doesn?t lack in the pleasant surprise department. It is a very good cigar and I would happily smoke one again and nor would I be ashamed to offer one to more discerning BOTL. Excellent IMHO. The downside to the Dippy 1 is it was discontinued by Habanos in 2006, but there's still a few around and I doubt you'll be disappointed for the trying.
Marks. An outstanding cigar, but the Boli Inmensas and Party 898 are better. I?m giving the Dippy 1 a 7.5. The Partagas 898 is still holding onto pole position.
Next. The Dippy?s stablemate. Montecristo No 1.
Size: 165 x 42 ? Cervantes
Smoke time: 1hour 40mins
Box date: 03 Source: www.mysmokingshop.co.uk
Appearance: The cigar was nicely rolled with a pressed in-the-box square section. The smooth rich brown wrapper had a very light sheen with almost invisible seams and a very neat triple cap. To the pinch the Dippy felt well packed and sufficiently yielding along the barrel. Plain but purposeful, the stick carried the usual one-fits-all Standard ?A? band.
Construction: The pre-draw I thought a tad tight, and so for a while was the smoking draw, however it did loosen into the first third and was pretty much OK from the on. The burn wasn?t razor sharp but it wasn?t a problem either. The dark ash was nicely compacted and needed no attention. No relights, no corrections.
Flavour: The pre-draw aroma was gorgeous, strong barnyard with a hint of new shoes. The start was fresh grass but quickly changed to a delightfully dull (as in thud not in boreing) sour, tart citric taste not unlike under-ripe gooseberries over light woody tobacco. The taste strength (and throughout the smoke was medium). The first third also carried a few unexpected surprises with the base flavour suddenly supplemented with delicious notes of salty, bitter orange and sweet biscuit. In the second third the base flavours became progressively dryer and fractionally earthier but still retained their general sweet, woody tobacco over citrus quality, and occasionally this would be punctuated by softer notes similar to corned beef (honestly) and praline. The flavours coating my mouth at this stage were delicious and very refreshing. The last third was equally as good as the flavours deepened to become richer and nuttier and the body shifted from light to medium. Towards the end the flavour became light toasted tobacco softened by hints of mocha. A morning well spent I thought.
Overall: I was very impressed by this cigar, both in flavour and body. To me it?s an all round solid performer which doesn?t lack in the pleasant surprise department. It is a very good cigar and I would happily smoke one again and nor would I be ashamed to offer one to more discerning BOTL. Excellent IMHO. The downside to the Dippy 1 is it was discontinued by Habanos in 2006, but there's still a few around and I doubt you'll be disappointed for the trying.
Marks. An outstanding cigar, but the Boli Inmensas and Party 898 are better. I?m giving the Dippy 1 a 7.5. The Partagas 898 is still holding onto pole position.
Next. The Dippy?s stablemate. Montecristo No 1.
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