Diplomaticos No.1 Hunters & Frankau House Reserve 2003/2019
📌 Brand: Diplomaticos
📌 Line: No. 1 Hunters & Frankau House Reserve 2003/2019
📌 Size: Lonsdale (6 1/2" × 42 - Cervantes)
📌 Weight: 12.3 g
📌 Age: Vintage 2003 / Released 2019
📌 Origin: Cuba
Tasting Notes
Cedar – Elegant and mature foundation
Honey – Soft aged sweetness
White Pepper – Delicate retrohale spice
Leather – Refined, lingering finish
First Impressions
The cigar shows beautiful age with a silky wrapper, slight colorado hue, and refined appearance. Construction visually looks excellent, though the cigar feels slightly firm toward the head. Pre-light aroma reveals cedar, old leather, honey, and aged tobacco. Cold draw is noticeably tight, already hinting at restricted airflow.
Smoking Experience
First Third – Opens with classic aged Cuban elegance — cedar, honey, and soft leather immediately stand out. Smoke texture is smooth but limited due to the tight draw.
Second Third – White pepper and deeper aged tobacco notes emerge, giving the cigar more character and refinement. However, the restricted draw continues to hold back smoke production and flavor intensity.
Final Third – The cigar remains refined and balanced with mature leather and cedar, though the tight draw prevents the richness from fully opening up.
Pairings
Alcohol – Hine Antique XO Cognac (France) - Elegant dried fruit, oak, and soft spice perfectly complement the cigar’s aged Cuban profile.
Tea – Aged White Tea Cake (Fuding, China) - Honeyed sweetness and delicate maturity beautifully mirror the cigar’s refined aged character.
Music Pairing
“Recuerdos de la Alhambra” – Francisco Tárrega
Delicate and refined, reflecting the cigar’s aged subtlety.
Final Thoughts
Diplomaticos No. 1 Hunters & Frankau House Reserve delivers beautiful aged Cuban elegance with cedar, honey, and leather complexity. Unfortunately, a tight draw limits the cigar’s ability to fully express its richness and refinement.
Final Score: 8/10
Why not a 10?
Restricted airflow reduced smoke output and prevented the cigar from reaching its full potential.
Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.