Diamond Crown Black Diamond Marquise (2022)

J.C. Newman

• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Havana)
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic
• Length: 5 1/4 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 56
• Vitola: Robusto Extra
• MSRP: $20 (Box of 20, $400)
• Release Date: August 2022
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Original Score: 91

In 2013, J.C. Newman announced that it planned on reimagining the Diamond Crown Maduro, including changing the name to Diamond Crown Black Diamond. While it took three years, J.C. Newman eventually released the Black Diamond with an updated blend, new name and new packaging. In 2022, Drew Newman—who will succeed his father and uncle as the next leader of the Newman family’s cigar company—decided it was time to update the company’s El Baton and Diamond Crown Black Diamond lines. Once again, that called for new packaging and updates to the blend. This time, it didn’t take three years to complete.

Newman said he wanted to make the Black Diamond stronger. That’s not what stands out to me as the notable change between the 2013 iteration and the 2022 version; the latter is just better. The old version wasn’t exactly mild, and I don’t think the new one is either—full in flavor and around medium-plus in strength—but the more remarkable change is how much better the flavor profile is. It’s a somewhat traditional experience in the sense that there are clear transitions from start to finish, but the number of flavors that the Black Diamond has and the quality of those flavors are much improved. — Charlie Minato.