Blind Review: Diamond Crown Maximus Toro #4
The Newman Family has been in the cigar business for over a century. Their commitment to their tobaccos as well as family is known in every tobacco growing country. So it is no surprise that the Newman’s have had a long and storied relationship with another legendary family; the Fuentes. When they came together to create the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown cigar the reception was phenomenal. In 2003, another collaboration was developed in the Diamond Crown Maximus. This cigar used a dark Ecuadorian wrapper cultivated by the Oliva family.
With these three families involved in one cigar, you can only imagine what was produced. Here is my blind review. Enjoy!
Blend Specifics
- Cigar Reviewed: Diamond Crown Maximus Toro #4
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian El Bajo Sungrown
- Binder: Dominican
- Filler: Dominican
- Size: 6 x 50 toro
Appearance & Construction
The Diamond Crown Toro has a dark maduro wrapper with a few veins along the sides. Aesthetically it is a well rolled cigar from the top to the foot. To the touch the DC is a bit spongy throughout without a specific soft spot in one area. The foot of the cigar smells of wood and forest floor.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
As I clip the Diamond Crown Maximus, the cold draw is of earth and the same subsequent wood and forest floor notes as the foot produced. Using my long cedar strip I light the cigar and am greeted with earth and cinnamon on the tongue. The wrapper seems to transition from sweet to salty on the finish with each puff. As the smoked billows, leather and oak emerge and the retrohale tingles the nose with ginger and graham cracker. The DC in its first third was a medium bodied experience.
As the Diamond Crown Maximus progresses there are charry notes along with toast and oak. I smoke at a medium pace so as not to create a fast burn rate, but the char and bitterness continue. The ash is solid white and the burn line spot on. The finish is incredibly salty, which reminds me of the salty sea air on the beach down my block. This salinity overwhelms the toast and oak which are the Maximus’s secondary flavors. Throughout the second third, the cigar maintains a medium bodied profile.
The final third of the Maximus #4 gives way to more leather, salt and a creamier profile. The charred notes dissipate and the Diamond Crown Maximus goes from coffee and cream to citrus that lingers on the palate. The DC’s profile moves to a medium-to slightly full bodied smoke that sneaks up on me. The leather develops as a result, with espressos bean and a savory finish. The intense saltiness of the first half has taken a backseat and the Diamond Crown Maximus ends with more espresso and an oaky character. Overall this cigar was a medium to full bodied smoke.
Conclusion
Having smoked Diamond Crown Maximus cigars since their inception seventeen years ago, I’ve always enjoyed the profile and quality of the tobaccos. Some sizes in some years where not as impressive as others, but they never fell too short to ever dismiss. The salinity in this cigar hurt the score as it was a bit overwhelming even though I enjoy some salt in my cigars, especially in some Cubans. Having smoked this blind I was able to go purely on taste profile which as I’ve said is fun for me as it forces you to focus and appreciate what you are experiencing. The three Families of the Newman’s, Fuentes and Oliva’s have shown how they can highlight their various tobaccos and blends and if you haven’t smoked a Diamond Crown Maximus they are worth seeking out.