The Diplomaticos brand cigars were introduced to the world in 1966. They are one of the few Habanos brands exclusively dedicated to producing handmade cigars from the finest tobacco grown in the lush Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. The names and sizes are essentially copies of the Montecristo brand cigars. And just like most of the Montecristo cigars, the Diplomaticos brand line up is produced at the Jose Marti factory. They are described as having a medium to full body flavor.
Diplomaticos cigars were the first new line of Cuban cigars to be sold to the general population after the Cuban Revolution. The Cohiba brand was actually the first to be created after the Revolution, but they were reserved for the personal use of President Fidel Castro and as presents for important diplomats and guests. They weren’t available to the general public until 1982.
The reason for the creation of the Diplomaticos in 1966 was initially to offer a “value” version of the Montecristo. French consumers were the primary target market at the time. The line imitates the original Montecristo line up by offering five, hand made numbered sizes. The tobacco blend used for the Diplomaticos is slightly milder than the blend used in the Montecristo brand. It is believed this is due to the lighter taste preference of French cigar smokers. Today, the Diplomaticos are still priced a bit lower than their Montecristo counterparts.
The original line up of Diplomaticos first introduced consisted of five sizes named by number, just like the Montecristo. The No. 6 and No. 7 were introduced in 1976, and were produced in the same sizes as the Montecristo brand cigars known as the Especial No. 1 and Especial No. 2. However, the Diplomaticos versions were ultimately discontinued sometime during the middle of the 1980s.
The Diplomaticos brand cigars were originally packed in Semi Boite Nature boxes. The introduction of the standard dress boxes came about sometime in the middle of the 1970s.
Diplomaticos Line Up of Vitolas
This is a list of commercially sold Diplomaticos cigars, including their sizes and official factory name and slang name.
Vitolas made by hand:
- Diplomaticos No. 2 – measures 6.1 inches long (156 mm) x 52 ring gauge. The official factory name given to the cigar is the Piramides. It is commonly called the Pyramid by smokers. It uses a standard “A” band and currently is packed in a Dress Box of twenty-five cigars. This version was released during the 1970s. From 1966 to about the mid 70s, the cigars were packed in a Semi Boite Nature Box of ten cigars and a Semi Boite Nature Box of twenty-five cigars.
- Diplomaticos No. 4 – measures 5.1 inches long (129 mm) x 42 ring gauge. The official factory name given to the cigar is the Marevas. It is commonly called the Petit Corona by smokers. The cigars used a standard “A” band and were packed in a Dress Box of twenty-five cigars until the line was discontinued in 2006. This version was released during the 1970s. From 1966 to about the mid 70s, the cigars were packed in a Semi Boite Nature Box of ten cigars and a Semi Boite Nature Box of twenty-five cigars, as well as in a humidor containing one hundred cigars.
- Diplomaticos No. 1 – measures 6.5 inches long (165 mm) x 42 ring gauge. The official factory name given to the cigar is Cervantes. It is commonly called the Lonsdale by smokers. The cigars used a standard “A” band and were packed in a Dress Box of twenty-five cigars until the line was discontinued in 2006. This version was released during the 1970s. From 1966 to about the mid 70s, the cigars were packed in a Semi Boite Nature Box of ten cigars and a Semi Boite Nature Box of twenty-five cigars, as well as in a humidor containing one hundred cigars.
- Diplomaticos No. 3 – measures 5.6 inches long (142 mm) x 42 ring gauge. The official factory name given to the cigars was the Coronas. Commonly it was known as the Corona by smokers. The cigars used a standard “A” band and were packed in a Dress Box of twenty-five cigars until the line was discontinued in 2006. This version was released during the 1970s. From 1966 to about the mid 70s, the cigars were packed in a Semi Boite Nature Box of ten cigars and a Semi Boite Nature Box of twenty-five cigars, as well as in a humidor containing one hundred cigars.
- Diplomaticos No. 5 – measures 4.0 inches long (102 mm) x 40 ring gauge. The official name given to the cigars by the factory was Perlas. It was commonly called the Petit Corona by cigar aficionados. The cigars used a standard “A” band and were packed in a Dress Box of twenty-five cigars until the line was discontinued in 2010. This version was released during the 1970s. From 1966 to about the mid 70s, the cigars were packed in a Semi Boite Nature Box of ten cigars and a Semi Boite Nature Box of twenty-five cigars.
- Diplomaticos No. 6 – measures 7.6 inches long (192 mm) x 38 ring gauge. The official name given to the cigars by the factory was the Laguito No. 1. It was commonly called the Long Panetela – T by smokers. The cigars used a standard “A” band and were packed in a Dress Box of twenty-five cigars until the line was discontinued in the early 1980s. This version was released during the 1970s. From 1976 to about the late 70s, the cigars were packed in a Semi Boite Nature Box of ten cigars and a Semi Boite Nature Box of twenty-five cigars, as well as a humidor containing one hundred cigars.
- Diplomaticos No. 7 – measures 6.0 inches long (152 mm) x 38 ring gauge. The cigar was officially named the Laguito No. 2 by the factory. Commonly they were called Panetela – T by smokers. The cigars used a standard “A” band and were packed in a Dress Box of twenty-five cigars until the line was discontinued in the early 1980s. This version was released during the 1970s. From 1976 to about the late 70s, the cigars were packed in a Semi Boite Nature Box of ten cigars and a Semi Boite Nature Box of twenty-five cigars, as well as a humidor containing one hundred cigars.
Special Release Edition of the Diplomaticos Brand Cigars
In 2012, Habanos SA released a special regional edition of the Diplomaticos brand cigars. It was called the Edicion Regional Espana – Regional Spain Edition. Obviously, the release was targeted towards cigar smokers in Spain. It wore the standard “A” band as well as a special Regional Edition Spain band. Ten cigars were packed in Numbered Semi Boite Nature Boxes. In total, five thousand boxes of cigars were produced. The Colleccion Privada cigar was chosen for this special release. The cigar measured 4 inches long (102 mm) x 50 ring gauge. The official name given to the cigar by the factory was the Petit Robustos. Commonly the cigars were also known as the Petit Robusto.
The Diplomaticos brand cigars are considered by Habanos SA as a local brand and have a very small market share.
