Limited Performance: Camacho Corojo Diploma

Touted as a strong smoke, the Camacho Corojo Diploma (natural) is anything but, and is alarmingly one-dimensional. I was so disappointed in the unbelievable blandness of this cigar that I almost gave up after two inches.

However, I stuck with it, because even a bland Camacho is twice as good as a your average cigar. Eventually, the third inch began to produce some warmer, peppery flavor. The last inch peaked with some moderately potent steak-like fullness, just enough to make me wish that the entire cigar had smoked this way.

This might be a case of "one bad cigar" from the bunch, but I'll probably not buy another. They are somewhat expensive (box for $150 or so) and I was lucky enough to receive this one from a friend.

On the whole, a disappointing Camacho. If you like the Fuente/Upmann type of naturals or have tried and liked the similarly mild Camacho 1962 series, you might enjoy the Diploma. However, the 1962 is a much cheaper smoke and for my money a better cigar. To be honest, you'd be best off buying a box of Jericho robustos, which are equal in strength, smoother in flavor, good from beginning to end and--guess what--one-fifth the price of the Corojo Limited.

Stay away from all the above if you are hoping for the meaty fullness that I've come to treasure in my favorite Camachos such as SLR, Maduro, Coyolar, and even the Candelas. Great strong smokes that are worth every penny.

You Got Lonsdale on My Camacho! (Corojo Cetros)

Postscript: Second tasting - 3/22/08 - My second Camacho Corojo Cetros performed well in a closed-door environment. Good easy draw, but slight trouble getting an even burn for the first two inches. The taste was good, reminiscent of Padron Londres (also a lonsdale), but with a bit of molasses in the mix. Not a "wow" cigar, but a serviceable one. Both times this cigar failed to deliver a warm, fat sweet spot which I've come to expect from the fatter, robusto-sized Camachos. It went out a little to soon, with 1.5 inches left, but I decined to relight. I knew its best moments were behind it. Somewhat of a disappoinment, but a pleasant experience overall.

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First tasting:
This one seemed so unlikely that I just had to bid on it at the Famous auction site: the Camacho Corojo Cetros (natural) - in a lonsdale size. Camacho? Lonsdale? How do you cross heavy metal with a string quartet?

Very well, it turns out. Like most lonsdales, the Camacho Corojo Cetros was a bit milder than it's fatter-ringed brothers. But tasty, fine-burning, and quality-holding until the last inch. Unfortunately, it was breezy outside the night I smoked this, detracting from the cigar-smoking experience. When the wind sucks the smoke out of your mouth, you're getting robbed of flavor. I'll smoke another one of these on a tranquil evening - and I'm guessing the report will be hands-down excellent.

Now to wax philosophical: There's something about the lonsdale shape that I like. Because it's narrower and longer, you get a cooler, less concentrated smoke, but with a pleasingly dusty, powdery consistency.

Then they get strong in the middle, much like a fatter cigar, but still with a certain amount of airy restraint. You don't feel like a hog when you're smoking a lonsdale. You feel dignified, yet fully compensated flavorwise.

I think I'm on the beginning of a lonsdale kick. Bidders, beware!
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