外交官

The First Commercial Cigar Brand After the Revolution

If Cohiba is the cigar of the Revolution (though it was produced in secret for 16 years before public sale), and Montecristo is the cigar of literature, then Diplomáticos is "the first truly commercially sold cigar brand after the Revolution" - born in 1966, the same year as Cohiba, but entering the commercial market 16 years earlier, created for the elegant balance sought by the French market.

The story begins in 1966 at Havana's José Martí Factory. At the time, Cohiba had just been established, but it was reserved only for Castro's private use and diplomatic gifts, and would not be commercialized until 1982. Diplomáticos was founded in the same period in 1966, but as a completely new brand that was immediately sold commercially - so from the standpoint of historical positioning, Diplomáticos is truly "the first commercial brand after the Revolution".

Why Was It Created for France?

Its founding purpose was very specific: to provide the French market with a "value version" of Montecristo.

At the time, France was one of the largest European markets for Cuban cigars. But French cigar culture traditionally favored milder cigars (Quai d'Orsay is another typical example). Cubatabaco thought: why not make a sister brand for the French that was "slightly lighter than Montecristo and slightly lower in price"?

Thus Diplomáticos was born. Its design logic was very clear:

• Produced in the same factory: both it and Montecristo were made at the José Martí Factory (the former H. Upmann factory)
• Same numbering system: the No.1 to No.5 formats corresponded exactly to Montecristo No.1 to No.5
• Same tobacco-growing region: all used top-grade Vuelta Abajo tobacco
• Slightly lighter blend: suited to the French preference for milder cigars
• Lighter wrapper color: visually more elegant as well
• Slightly lower price: a typical "value version" positioning

The brand name "Diplomáticos" reflects the Cuban government's 1966 strategy of conducting cultural diplomacy through cigars - especially toward the European market. The blend was designed to pair with Champagne, foie gras, and French desserts - a cigar for "diplomatic occasions."

The Original Seven Formats

The five original vitolas of 1966 (formats exactly the same as Montecristo No.1-5):

• No.1: Cervantes (6½" × 42, Lonsdale)
• No.2: Pirámide (6⅛" × 52)
• No.3: Coronas (5⅝" × 42)
• No.4: Marevas (5⅛" × 42, Petit Corona)
• No.5: Perlas (4" × 40)

In 1976, No.6 (Laguito No.1, 192mm × 38) and No.7 (Laguito No.2, 152mm × 38) were added - corresponding to Montecristo Especial No.1 and No.2. But they were discontinued in the mid-1980s, making them the brand's rarest early products.

2006-2010: A Major Wave of Discontinuations

Diplomáticos went through a continuous wave of discontinuations rarely seen in the cigar industry:

2006: No.1 and No.3 were discontinued at the same time. Diplomáticos No.1 (Cervantes Lonsdale) had enjoyed nearly legendary status for 40 years - this discontinuation broke the hearts of countless aficionados.

2010: No.4 and No.5 were discontinued at the same time. From then on, the Diplomáticos regular production line had only one surviving model, No.2 - a situation that has continued for 16 years to this day.

This "decapitation-style discontinuation" instead created a rarity effect for the brand. Min Ron Nee noted in Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars that this "secondary" positioning ironically made Diplomáticos even more sought after because of its smaller production volume.

At the 2021 Bond Roberts Cuban cigar auction, a box of old Diplomáticos No.1 (aged version) sold for USD $1,105 - today, industry estimates suggest that the same box may have doubled in market value by 2024.

Diplomáticos No.2: The Sole Survivor

Diplomáticos No.2 (6⅛" × 52, Pirámide) is the brand's only current regular production model - and also its soul.

It is a classic Cuban torpedo format, regarded as the third Cuban Pyramid masterwork alongside Montecristo No.2 and H. Upmann No.2. Medium to full in strength, but slightly softer than Montecristo - cream, toast, nuts, and balance.

A Diplomáticos No.2 aged for 5-10 years is the "dark horse" first choice for many Cuban Pyramid aficionados - less expensive than Montecristo No.2, smaller in production, smoother in flavor, and more collectible. In Cigar Aficionado ratings, Diplomáticos No.2 has received 89-92 points multiple times.

Edición Regional: The Brand's Rebirth

Since 2012, the main output of Diplomáticos has shifted toward Edición Regional - the regular series has only No.2 left, but limited RE releases have appeared every year, instead becoming the brand's rebirth strategy.

Major RE list:

• Colección Privada RE España 2012 (Petit Robusto, 50 × 102, 5,000×10) - the first RE
• Bushido RE Asia Pacífico 2014 (Nro.109, 50 × 184, 2,000×25) - the brand's most sought-after RE
• El Embajador RE Países Bajos 2015 (Edmundo, 52 × 135, 5,000×10) - exclusive to the Netherlands
• Excelencia RE Cuba 2015 (Robusto, 50 × 124, 7,000×10) - domestic Cuba release
• El Diputado RE Belux 2018 (Montesco, 55 × 130) - exclusive to Belux, the first new cigar band
• Norteños RE Canadá 2018 (Robusto, 50 × 124, 6,000×10) - Canada
• Ammunition RE Phoenicia - Lebanon/Middle East

Bushido: Japanese Bushido and Cuban Cigars

Bushido RE Asia Pacífico 2014 is the brand's most sought-after RE - and behind it lies a little-known historical story.

Its name comes from the Japanese spirit of Bushido, commemorating the 400th anniversary of Hasekura Tsunenaga's visit to Cuba in 1614 - he was the first Japanese person to visit Cuba, stopping there while traveling to Europe as part of the Keichō Embassy.

Habanos naming a Cuban cigar after "Japanese Bushido" is a symbol of Cuban-Japanese cultural diplomacy. This cigar remains a collecting focus in Asian markets (especially Japan and Hong Kong) to this day.

2025: The First New Regular Production Model in 30 Years

Diplomáticos Cancilleres was released in 2025 - the brand's newest regular production vitola, featuring the Standard band C design and a dress box of 25 cigars. It is the first new regular production model after No.2, 15 years after the discontinuation of No.5. It represents that Habanos has not stopped its long-term investment in the brand.

What the Chinese-Speaking World Should Know About Diplomáticos

For Taiwanese, Hong Kong, and Malaysian Chinese aficionados:

1. Bushido is a must-collect: with its Japan-market historical background and the cultural significance of commemorating the 400th anniversary of Hasekura Tsunenaga's visit to Cuba, a Bushido aged for 10 years is a sacred item for Asian collectors.
2. No.2 is the smartest "Montecristo No.2 alternative": its price is usually 15-25% lower than Montecristo No.2, production is smaller, and the flavor is similar but slightly smoother.
3. Aged old Diplomáticos No.1 (pre-2006) is a truly rare collectible: auction prices have already exceeded USD $1,000/box, and they will only become more expensive in the future.
4. Cancilleres 2025 is a new collecting point: its debut Standard band C design marks the starting point of a new era for the brand.
5. Authenticity identification: pay attention to the typeface of the "Diplomáticos" lettering on the cigar band - counterfeits often show deviations in letter spacing and background color details. The design difference between Standard band A and C is a key point for identification.

Why Diplomáticos Is "the Montecristo for True Insiders"

Diplomáticos is not a cigar for showing off. It does not have the luxury halo of Cohiba, nor the global fame of Montecristo.

But for truly knowledgeable aficionados, Diplomáticos is "a Pyramid more worth pursuing than Montecristo" - the same factory, the same tobacco, the same torcedores, yet smaller production, rarer REs, and greater collecting potential.

For master-level Cuban cigar aficionados, Diplomáticos also has two unique values:

• It proves that a "value brand" can also become a rare collectible - a brand once positioned as Montecristo's lower-priced version is today even harder to find than the original
• It is the cigar industry's most complete case of "cultural diplomacy" - beginning with the French market, commemorating Japanese history through Bushido, and spreading worldwide through national RE releases, Diplomáticos truly embodies the spirit of the "diplomat"

That "lower-priced Montecristo" designed for the French in 1966 has today instead become a rare choice for insiders - this is the irony and charm of Diplomáticos.

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Appreciating Diplomáticos at W Cigar Bar

Diplomáticos is one of the Cuban cigars that W Cigar Bar (located in Da'an District, Taipei City) continuously recommends to aficionados. The Diplomáticos series appreciation experience personally planned by "Cigar Prince" Wilson Tsai - from introductory regular production models to rare Edición Regional and Limitada - allows Taipei cigar lounge aficionados to fully understand the brand's context within an appreciation space at the level of a cigar dining lounge.

W Cigar Bar advances through four major official channels for Cuban cigars: PCC authorized distributor (Pacific Cigar Company), Cuban official state-run stores, Swiss sole agent, and Spanish sole agent - diversified official procurement and multiple authenticity certification chains. This is the most critical lineage for Taiwanese cigar aficionados in identifying authenticity. W Cigar Bar also provides multi-year aged versions (aged) for appreciation and collection, making it one of the few cigar dining lounges in Da'an District that combines orthodox Habanos lineage with aging depth. For Diplomáticos aficionados:

• Beginners: experiencing Diplomáticos No.2 at W Cigar Bar is the best entry point into this first commercial brand after the 1966 Revolution
• Advanced aficionados: W Cigar Bar's VIP cigar cellar service can preserve rare Edición Regional releases such as Diplomáticos Bushido RE Hasekura 400th Anniversary
• Collectors: W Cigar Bar regularly introduces limited Edición Regional and Edición Limitada Diplomáticos series

W Cigar Bible (bible.wcigarbar.com) is the cigar culture knowledge base of W Cigar Bar, created with full dedication by "Cigar Prince" Wilson Tsai, organizing the complete history, craftsmanship, products, and cultural stories of 60+ Cuban and non-Cuban brands.

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© W Cigar Bar｜This article was written and planned by "Cigar Prince" Wilson Tsai｜Located in Da'an District, Taipei City

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W Cigar Bible bible.wcigarbar.com｜This article is purely for educational purposes regarding cigar culture, history, and craftsmanship, and does not involve product sales promotion