Diplomáticos history - The young Habanos brand of the revolutionaries

The Diplomáticos story does not begin in the 19th century like that of many other Habanos brands. It starts directly after the end of the Cuban revolution - and it is a little sister of the famous Montecristo.

The Diplomáticos brand logo: a royal-looking carriage with papers underneath, some of which are tied up in rolls.

Introduction

The Diplomáticos story begins around sixty years ago. This Habanos brand was launched in 1966 - and its name initially misleads many cigar lovers. When you hear Diplomáticos, you quickly think of diplomatic gifts or cigars intended for heads of state. Brands such as Cohiba or Trinidad are indeed closely associated with such diplomatic traditions. But the Diplomáticos story tells a completely different story.

The Diplomáticos No.2: this cigar is the only one remaining from the brand's original range. It enjoys great popularity.

A brand from the time after the revolution

The Diplomáticos story begins in 1966 - and thus in a special phase of the Cuban cigar industry. It is just as old as the Cohiba brand. Both are among the brands that were newly created after the victory of the Cuban revolution.

After the revolution in 1959, all cigar factories were nationalised. The former owners had left the country, but work in the factories usually continued without interruption. Many of the traditional brands simply continued to be produced.

At the same time, however, there was a desire to create new brands. This endeavour was also supported by Fidel Castro himself and other revolutionaries. For a passionate cigar smoker like him, the idea of developing new brands was particularly appealing. This is how Cohiba was born - the brand that was Fidel's personal favourite from the very beginning. Trinidad followed a few years later, officially in 1969. Both brands were initially used primarily as gifts: for heads of state, governments and personalities from diplomatic circles.

Even after the revolution, many people, including Fidel Castro, wanted new cigar brands. This led to the creation of Cohiba, Trinidad and Diplomáticos (Source: Adargelio Garrido de la Grana: “... we shall call them Cohiba. A Legendary Pleasure”, ISBN: 01500-1500).

Against this background, the name Diplomáticos almost seems like a logical continuation of this tradition. But this is exactly where the Diplomáticos story takes a different direction.

The little sister of the Montecristo

The history of Diplomáticos shows that the brand was probably not intended as a diplomatic gift cigar. Instead, a different concept was pursued. Diplomáticos was intended to be something like Montecristo's little sister: a brand with similar formats, but at a slightly lower price. It is also often mentioned that it was intended for the French market in particular.

This proximity to Montecristo was evident when the brand was launched. The original range consisted of five formats - just like Montecristo. Accordingly, they were labelled Diplomáticos No. 1 to Diplomáticos No. 5.

The range was expanded in 1976. Two further formats were added: Diplomáticos No. 6 and Diplomáticos No. 7, which corresponded in size to the Montecristo Especial No. 1 and No. 2 formats. Unfortunately, these two cigars were only available for a very short time. Production of these two formats was discontinued just a few years later.

The yellow colour of the Diplomáticos boxes is not dissimilar to the yellow of the Montecristo boxes. Diplomáticos used to be known as the little sister of the Montecristo brand, because they were similar in size but cheaper.

The current face of the brand

Over the decades, the brand's range has become smaller and smaller. Today, only one format from the classic portfolio remains: the Diplomáticos No. 2. This format in particular has built up a genuine and loyal fan base throughout the Diplomáticos history.

Diplomáticos No. 2 is a pirámide - a figurado that tapers at one end. With a ring gauge of 52 and a length of 156 millimetres, it is one of the classic large formats in the world of Habanos.

Compared to the Montecristo No. 2, it is considered to have a somewhat milder flavour. Some aficionados even describe it as the mildest Pirámide ever. It is precisely this milder characteristic that makes it particularly attractive to many aficionados.

Every cigar ring, including those of the Diplomáticos brand, is made by hand. Just as the entire production of Cuban cigars, the Habanos, is handmade, totalmente a mano.

The revival for the 60th anniversary

In 2026, the Diplomáticos story reaches a new stage. To mark the sixtieth anniversary of the brand, a new cigar will once again raise awareness of it. This new release bears the name Diplomáticos Cancilleres. Canciller is the Spanish word for chancellor. However, it is not yet known what meaning this name could have in connection with the brand.

The production name - the Vitola de Galera - is Centro Fino. The format has a length of 130 millimetres and a ring gauge of 50, making it similar to a slightly longer Robusto. Interestingly, this format only exists in the range of another Habanos brand: Vegueros, where it is also called Centrofinos.

Diplomáticos reinforcement in 2026 for the brand's 60th birthday: the Diplomáticos Cancilleres.

Regional editions and new popularity

Another important part of the Diplomáticos story lies in the so-called Edición Regional. In recent years, the brand has become particularly well known because importers of Habanos around the world have often chosen Diplomáticos for these regional editions.

An Edición Regional is a limited special production that is only ever made for a specific country and only for a specific year. These limited series have contributed to the Diplomáticos brand being recognised more strongly again in many countries.

The Diplomáticos brand is often chosen for an Edición Regional. There are now almost twenty different ERs (as of 2026).

Where are Diplomáticos cigars made?

Where exactly the Diplomáticos brand cigars were produced in the first decades is not clearly documented. As the little sister of the Montecristo, it could possibly have been produced in the H. Upmann factory on Calle Amistad No. 407. However, this assumption has not been confirmed. It remains an assumption within the Diplomáticos story.

Today, Casa Matriz - the brand's parent company - is the traditional La Corona factory on Avenida 20 de Mayo in Havana. Cigars from other well-known brands are also produced there, including Hoyo de Monterrey, San Cristóbal de La Habana, Romeo y Julieta, Por Larrañaga and Cuaba.

The factory where Diplomáticos brand cigars are made: The La Corona factory on Avenida 20 de Mayo in Havana.

A quiet but successful story

The Diplomáticos story is not a loud, dramatic story. It does not tell of legendary founders or spectacular historical events. And yet this brand has won a firm place in the hearts of many aficionados in recent years. Diplomáticos No. 2 in particular is considered by many aficionados to be an underrated classic among Habanos. Sometimes it is the quieter brands that stay in the memory the longest.

The Diplomáticos brand cigar rings with the memorable logo.

Sources

Min Ron Nee: AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF POST-REVOLUTION HAVANA CIGARS, Hong Kong 2003, ISBN 978-3980930826

Adargelio Garrido de la Grana: “... we shall call them Cohiba. A Legendary Pleasure”, ISBN: 01500-1500

Here you will find the Diplomáticos Manufaktur

If the live folder does not work, please click here for Diplomáticos Manufaktur.

Picture credits

• Claudia Puszkar
• Habanos S.A.

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References

• Min Ron Nee:
  • “AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF POST-REVOLUTION HAVANA CIGARS” / Hong Kong 2003, ISBN: 978-3980930826

• Instituto de Investigaciones del Tabaco Cuba:
  • „The world of Habanos“ / Havana 2013, ISBN: 978-959-7212-08-9

• Adriano Martínez Rius:
  • “Habano the King” / Barcelona 1998, ISBN: 84-930387-1-7

• Adriano Martinez Rius:
  • “The Great Habano Factories” / Barcelona 2005, ISBN: 84-609-4024-1

• Orlando Quiroga:
  • “El Habano al rojo vivo” / Havana 2002

• Enzo A. Infante:
  • “Havana Cigars 1817-1960” / Neptune City 1997

• Eumelio Espino:
  • “El Habano - De la semilla al puro en 539 pasos” / Madrid 2019, ISBN: 978-84-09-07091-6

• Alexander Groom:
  • “El Habano Moderno” / Helios House Press 2022, ISBN: 978-911683-05-6

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