I’ve been waiting to try this cigar from the house of JC Newman for 3 years. Finally I purchased a stick from Kastros, Delhi…
Before The Smoke
The Black Diamond comes after nearly 4 years of its initial mention, holding high expectations. I hunted down the stick at a local retailer in New Delhi, India. As we all know, most of the cigars are twice the USD retail price in India. The color of the wrapper varies from a light coffee to a rich velvet brown with it being lighter in the middle of the cigar. Evident veins running throughout the cigar
The caps are applied very well and it’s hard to tell if there are two or three, based on the rigidity I would say two caps. I have a fascination with blue, as we all know, this grabbed my attention immediately. The blue and silver brand offsets the brown on the cigar well.
A gentle sniff, gives you soft notes of hay, coffee and a mild pepper. The foot brings the same flavours, with an additional smell of wheaty bread and fresh cut grass. The pre-light draw is a mix of cedar, grass, and a yeast bread.
THE SMOKE
1st Third
The cigar begins with a cinnamon, cherrys, earthy mix. Slowly developing into more robust spice, hay and mustiness.
The ash isn’t even, though the waves are attractive, I can sense the flakiness.
As the 1st Third comes to a end, the spice begins to faint, with a more fluid tobacco flavour taking prominence, the grass and cedar have become a subtle undernote. Strength and body is medium
2nd Third
A warm burn has started, with mild yet occasional push of spice and the earthy element seems to be within the spice. While the draw is mildly creamy, flavour remains more spicy than the 1st Third and the earthiness slowly moves from the post draw top mid palate to a more back palate. The 2nd Third is mainly a teasing pepper spice and cedar on the palate.
The profile towards the latter part of the 2nd third picks up a heat and char. The ash also started to whisper away and I had to touch up the cigar a few times. Strength and body remains medium.
Final Third
The final third saw a continued lace of flavours the spice in the background, allowing the cinnamon and cherry and aged wood notes to continue up front.
Easing toward the last inch the profile continues becomes much richer somewhat to my surprise a little harsher, edging far more towards my expectations. Complementing the flavours much better a well rounded and mild yet flavour full finish. Had to touch up the cigar in between, the ash also remained light and wispy
The Burn
The burn wasn’t perfect from the start, with flaking and an uneven flow but at the same time far from being a problem. The colour of the ash was nice, it was only in the 2nd Third the cigar burnt a little too hot for comfort.
Despite the flaking ash and touch ups, the burn wasn’t bad.
Overall
The Diamond Crown Black Diamond was to me and expectations, supposed to be a wholesome cigar. Alas, the flavors are not blended, inconsistent and lacklustre.
The Final Third showed some promise but a little too late. Build and Draw was good and on par with most JC Newman Cigars.
Overall, I found the experience to be less than average.
With each stick being sold at 2500 INR in India, it is not a cigar I will go hunting for, at the same time. I remain open to trying this cigar again, at some point, maybe…
- Vitola: Robusto Extra
- Length: 5.25″
- Ring Gauge: 56
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Wrapper: Connecticut Sungrown
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Dominican Republic
- Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
- Blender: Undisclosed
- Price: 2500 INR
- Release Date: November 2016
