Birth in 1966: The First New Public-Sale Brand After the Cuban Revolution

In 1966, Cubatabaco (the predecessor of Habanos S.A.) decided to tailor a new brand for the French market. At the time, Montecristo was already one of the most famous Cuban cigars in the world, with a high price positioning. The French importer hoped to introduce an option with a similar style but a slightly lower entry threshold, satisfying French gentlemen's passion for Cuban tobacco.

Diplomaticos was therefore born - named after "diplomacy", highlighting Cuba's diplomatic ambition during the Cold War to break through the American blockade. One important historical positioning needs to be clarified: although Cohiba had entered production earlier at the El Laguito Factory (1966), before 1982 Cohiba was used only as a diplomatic gift and was never publicly sold. Diplomaticos therefore became the first new brand officially launched for the public commercial market after the Cuban Revolution.

The first-generation Diplomaticos launched five sizes, with specifications corresponding exactly to Montecristo No.1 through No.5. Its blend was also based on a Vuelta Abajo tobacco formula, slightly toned down - using a lighter-colored Colorado Claro wrapper to create a milder, brighter profile than Montecristo, matching the French preference for elegant and refined taste.

José Martí Factory: Montecristo's Symbiotic Cradle

Diplomaticos shares the same factory with Montecristo - the José Martí Factory in Havana (historical factory code: JM; modern Habanos box-code system: ECA). This factory is known for its top-tier technical standards, and the elite masters who make the Piramides figurado are all trained here.

The José Martí Factory requires Torcedores who roll Piramides to pass strict craftsmanship certification - the tapered pointed head of a Piramides is far more difficult to master than a straight-sided Parejo: the wrapper must be stretched evenly to cover the entire conical surface, and the slightest mistake can cause lifting or cracking. For this reason, Diplomaticos No.2 is made in the José Martí Factory by only the finest masters authorized to roll it.

From Seven Sizes to One: The Brand's Path of Refinement

In 1976, the brand expanded to seven sizes, adding two slender Lancero-style cigars corresponding to Montecristo Especial and Especial No.2. During its peak in the 1970s and 1980s, Diplomaticos was marketed across Europe as "the Frenchman's Montecristo", building a loyal customer base in markets such as France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

However, after entering the 21st century, Habanos S.A. continued to streamline its product lines. After around 2010, the only regular-production item remaining under Diplomaticos was No.2. This decision reflected Habanos' brand strategy - concentrating resources on flagship items to ensure consistency in quality.

Diplomaticos No.2: The Surviving Aesthetic of Piramides

Diplomaticos No.2 specifications: 156mm (6 1/4 inches) × 52 ring gauge, a Piramides figurado, exactly the same size as Montecristo No.2. However, the two have subtle differences in blend design:

• Wrapper: Vuelta Abajo Colorado Claro, naturally glossy, slightly lighter in color than Montecristo
• Strength: Medium to Medium-Full
• Burn time: Approximately 75-90 minutes
• Flavor direction: Centered on woody aroma, leather, and roasted nuts; a creamy sensation appears in the middle section, while the final section presents complex pepper and coffee aftertaste

Since 2012, Habanos S.A. has begun launching Diplomaticos Edición Regional (regional editions) for specific markets, including Switzerland, Germany, Russia, the Asia-Pacific region, and others. These regional editions usually use different wrappers or slightly adjusted blends, giving collectors additional reasons to collect them.

W Cigar Bar Appreciation Perspective

For members of the W Cigar Bar gentlemen's club, Diplomaticos No.2 offers an extremely interesting opportunity for "horizontal comparison" - within the same factory, the same size, and different brands, one can appreciate how Cuban masters create entirely different personalities through subtle blending differences.

Montecristo No.2 is often called "one of the greatest cigars in the world", while Diplomaticos No.2 is the understated brother living in its shadow - a little less strength, and an extra measure of elegance. Some seasoned European collectors even prefer Diplomaticos: under certain aging conditions, it can even display a rounder complexity than Montecristo.

From a market-strategy perspective, "reducing to one size" is Habanos' smart brand stewardship - Diplomaticos No.2 receives a far lower allocation in the global Cuban cigar distribution system than Montecristo No.2, and its scarcity has instead strengthened its collectible value.

Conclusion

The story of Diplomaticos is a brilliant fable of brand evolution in the world of Cuban cigars: from a seven-size series tailored for France to today's single No.2 standing alone. It is not disappearance, but refinement - in the hands of the top masters at the José Martí Factory, the tapered head of the Piramides carries sixty years of French elegance and Cuban craftsmanship. The Diplomaticos No.2 in the W Cigar Bar collection is sourced through the four official channels, and every box comes with an original factory authenticity label. If you are interested in appreciation and a horizontal comparison with Montecristo No.2, you are welcome to reserve a private-room appreciation session.

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Sources: Cuban cigars from the four official channels (PCC authorized distributor, official Cuban state store, Swiss general distributor, Spanish general distributor).

LUBINSKI accessories official website: https://cigarclub.tw/

Appreciation reservation: https://share.google/d9NIeFEetij9qWKj0

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W Cigar Bar Gentlemen's Cigar Lounge, written and planned by Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai.