You may have heard the story of President John F. Kennedy sending his press secretary, Pierre Salinger, out to buy a stockpile of Cuban cigars the night before he signed the Cuban embargo into law. You might have wondered if the story was true, or simply an urban legend.

Well, it is true.

Here, courtesy of Janson media, is some archival footage in which the late Pierre Salinger recounts the incident in his own words Just click on the player (you might have to click twice if you are using Internet Explorer) and you’ll learn some things not only about that incident, but about some cigars smuggled into the White House after the embargo became law:

More about the Cuban Petit Upmann and President Kennedy’s favorite cigar below the fold.

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Summary:

A mild to medium-bodied, maduro cigar with a rough-appearing and veiny wrapper that is oscuro-dark black. Those looking for a “wicked touch of spice” in their cigars should probably look elsewhere however…and that probably explains why this cigar has gone from being a promising devil to a ghost of Halloween past.

Those of you familiar with my cigar reviews should know that this one is a bit different. The Diablo line has been discontinued by the manufacturer due to low sales. If you want to try this cigar, you will have to hurry, search out the few suppliers who still have it in stock — and it will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you.

So, why the review?

As I said, I’m doing something a little different here. This review is the first installment in a two part series. The first part, which you are reading, will review the cigar independent of its marketing campaign and hype. Think of it as similar to a blind tasting — or as similar as I can possibly make it.

The second article, which will follow, will focus on the question of “what went wrong,” and I frankly find that question quite interesting. Hopefully, so will you.

When the Diablo line was introduced, there was much fanfare and a well-coordinated guerilla marketing campaign that a lot of time and effort went into. The cigar was created by a really talented blender, and is really not a bad cigar at all. Despite that, only a little over a year later, the cigar is history. Considering that it was backed by one of the major companies in the industry, I think that the Diablo story deserves a second look.

So, enjoy the review today and come back for the post-mortem soon.
 

Background Information:

A medium-bodied cigar with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, an oily Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a filler made of a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican Piloto Cubano (cuban seed) Ligero tobacco. From cigar master-blender Daniel Nuñez, and manufacturered by General Cigar at their Dominicana factory .

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Summary:

A solid cigar that delivers excellent flavor in a mild to medium-bodied smoke. Never bitter, never harsh, always flavorful — but one dimensional and much milder than its dark Oscuro wrapper might lead you to expect. Very sensitive to humidity as well, and its finicky nature loses it points because of the effect it has on draw, burn and flavor. Still, a very good cigar and a definite step up from the regular Onyx line.

Background Information:

This beautiful 7 inch, 50 ring gauge, figurado is long for a traditional Belicoso. It is a mild to medium-bodied cigar with an Oscuro Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder. The filler a blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian tobaccos. Manufactured by Tabacalera de Garcia Ltd. in the Dominican Republic for Altadis.

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Summary:

This is a very good mild to medium bodied cigar and is becoming one of my personal favorites. Creamy and smooth, it is never harsh. There is a rich nuttiness to this cigar, mingled with coffee, chocolate and woodsy tones and a spicy complexity throughout. A perfect smoke when you’re in the mood for something lighter that isn’t at all bland.

Background Information:

At 6 1/2 inches with a 52 ring guage, this is a fat Belicoso. It is a medium-bodied cigar with an African Cameroon wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder. The filler an exceptional blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran and Peruvian tobaccos. Manufactured by Fabrica de Tabacos La Flor de Copan at their factory in western Honduras for Altadis.

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