The Diploma is one of the top-flight, Corojo-wrappered cigars from Camacho. The wrapper was delightful, dark, and delicious-looking. It had some strange looking bumps protruding through the binder or filler layers that made the wrapper look like a minefield, a good-tasting one I hope. Time to light up.

The cigar was solidly wrapped and yet was a bit difficult to light. The filler layer was two-colored, or was unevenly matured (I can’t be sure). The stick had a perfect draw, though burned unevenly at first. The foot of the cigar was not wrapped tightly and so the cigar threw a flaky, inconsistent ash at first. The aroma of the wrapper was feint, yet pleasing.

I have tasting several of the corojo wrapper cigars from Camacho and I must say that I am a fan of the flavor, it is deep, rich and satisfying. The Diploma, along with the other limited offerings, is made from the top leaves of the corojo plant, which receive more sun, and plant stress, and result in a more intensely flavorful wrapper.

The body is medium to full and the tobacco flavor is “in your face” from the outset. The richness of the tobacco begs you to keep your palate fresh with water or scotch. The ash was a bit flaky through the first third, due to the looser wrap towards the foot, or from the lack of time for the marrying of the tobaccos, or both. The ash is also darker than most non-Cuban cigars and reminds me of several Cubans that I wished I had smoked (of course Cubans are not legal in the U.S. so I can only guess at this. About a third through the smoke, I encountered a dreaded “hole” that sometimes appears in cigars and causes them to burn unevenly. The hole caused my smoke to sputter and burn out. When this happens I typically let the cigar cool and then tap out the ash and relight. The cigar lit up and proceeded to burn perfectly throughout the remainder of the smoke.

This is a really nice smoke that is rich and strong. It’s a bit one-dimensional at this point. I think that aging in a proper environment will improve this cigar, I can’t wait for the next rating.

~Doc