H. Upmann No.2 , Diplomaticos No.2, Montecristo No.2, comparison and which ones best?

[hin00n]

Hello,

I've smoked some Montecristo No. 2's in the past, and was wondering how the Upmann and Diplomaticos No. 2 compared. I'm a big enjoyer of the piramide vitola and wanted to hear others' impressions of these two compared to the Monte 2's and each other before buying a box.

 

Thank you,

[Habanoschris]

This is an interesting question and I suspect you'll get different opinions based on personal tastes and other variables.

I love Monte 2 but my input is biased on having had numerous well aged boxes of these over the years. For me, Diplomaticos can also be quite delicious too, rich and have chewy smoke with savory sour dough & baking spice type notes.  As for Upmann No. 2, I am guilty of smoking through a box (about 8 years ago) that was too young and so only getting hints of their potential.   

For what its worth, some other pyramids I love are Sancho Panza and Romeo and Julieta.  I had an incredible few R&J Belicosos last fall that are fresh in my mind, and they prompted me to re-up & pick up a new box of 25 from our beloved store here in December. They had a very viscous & complex mouth feel and refined rich flavors. 

 

😚💨  just my 2 cents 

 

p.s. Have you tried the Partagas Number 2?  If not, don't sleep on it either...very good too 👌 lol.  

[Lt4-396]

For me it's D#2 > HU#2 > MC#2.

The Diplo is so unique and I've yet to come across a bad box, wish I could say the same for the MC#2. The mid 22' run of the HUs are very, very good. I personally think that EPO run is going to give the LUB 14s a run for their money in a few years. If all priced similar, it's the D#2 every time for me.

Don't sleep on the BBF, RyJ Beli, PSP#2, VR Unicos and the Nudie #2. All fantastic blends and each bring something different to the table.

[hin00n]

2 hours ago, Habanoschris said:

This is an interesting question and I suspect you'll get different opinions based on personal tastes and other variables.

I love Monte 2 but my input is biased on having had numerous well aged boxes of these over the years. For me, Diplomaticos can also be quite delicious too, rich and have chewy smoke with savory sour dough & baking spice type notes.  As for Upmann No. 2, I am guilty of smoking through a box (about 8 years ago) that was too young and so only getting hints of their potential.   

For what its worth, some other pyramids I love are Sancho Panza and Romeo and Julieta.  I had an incredible few R&J Belicosos last fall that are fresh in my mind, and they prompted me to re-up & pick up a new box of 25 from our beloved store here in December. They had a very viscous & complex mouth feel and refined rich flavors. 

 

😚💨  just my 2 cents 

 

p.s. Have you tried the Partagas Number 2?  If not, don't sleep on it either...very good too 👌 lol.  

The only other piramide I've smoked out of Cuba was the BBF, which is also a very fine cigar. I'm keeping an eye out for Partagas and Romeos as I hadn't bought many of their cigars when I was buying previously. I've never had a Sancho Panza cigar. My favorite brand is Punch, so I don't know how they'd suit my tastes. I have some 898s and Mantuas I'm holding onto for special occasions, and the 48s were the first box I smoked entirely through. 

The only NW piramide I've had was a Balmoral Connecticut Anejo XO (coronas were better though), unfortunately that line got discontinued due to poor sales. Darn shame too, those were by far the best non-Cuban cigars I've ever smoked, nothing else even remotely comes close. La Aurora Camaroon is probably the next best I tried. I still have some of their special releases, unfortunately you can't find their connecticuts anymore.

[Jimmy2]

All recent 3 are great as of late get a 5’ver of each you won’t regret. Love them all.

Dip 22/23 have been simply amazing rich med to full flavor !! No time for long time aging 6 months to a year good to go )! Yes they are that good ! 

HU #2 excellent rich flavor bombs Med strength … 22/23 boxes Amazing ! Good to go! 

Both My fav Torps…

Monte #2 been very good 22/23 strait Monte flavor enjoyable but not my top Torp...been very consistent.

Smoked a couple of Monte #2 from 19 was good but have to say 22/23 are better a different level just day and night for me.

[NSXCIGAR]

I predict an equal amount of votes for all three, although maybe the Dip will get slightly less because they can be a bit elusive and not as many people have tried them. 

[hin00n]

I've heard from a trusted source that these three vitolas contain the same blend, and that the only difference between them is the color grading. Upmanns get the lightest wrapper leaves, Montecristos the darkest wrapper leaves, and the Diplomaticos get the wrapper leaves that don't fit either brand. 

[Li Bai]

3 hours ago, hin00n said:

Upmanns get the lightest wrapper leaves, Montecristos the darkest wrapper leaves, and the Diplomaticos get the wrapper leaves that don't fit either brand.

Well, my dip 2s have the darkest wrappers although it's almost a tie with my Upmanns. My monte 2s and Partagas have the lightest wrappers but I've seen all kinds of shades in all of them over the years, fwiw.

Imo, Upmanns are a bit above Montes in terms of flavours and Montes are stronger.

Love them both.

[hin00n]

3 hours ago, Li Bai said:

Well, my dip 2s have the darkest wrappers although it's almost a tie with my Upmanns. My monte 2s and Partagas have the lightest wrappers but I've seen all kinds of shades in all of them over the years, fwiw.

Imo, Upmanns are a bit above Montes in terms of flavours and Montes are stronger.

Love them both.

Interesting, perhaps my source was incorrect.

[coug28]

15 minutes ago, hin00n said:

Interesting, perhaps my source was incorrect.

That’s a guaranteed certainty based on your note above that he/she thinks they’re the same blend, just different wrapper shades. Just a plain silly assertion from anyone who has literally any experience smoking the cigars you mentioned. 

There is wrapper color variation from claro to Colorado Maduro within each of the 3 no. 2s you listed. Monte and Dip 2s usually can be darker, yes. Yet plenty of each have lighter wrapper color. Upmann 2s also vary in shade and can certainly have darker wrappers - Colorado rosado being the best shade wrapper for smoking experience of the Upmann 2, at least IMO. I lean toward the Upmann 2 overall. Feel it also ages much better than the Monte 2. I have less experience with the Dip 2, but it is a solid cigar. Just never one that blew me away. 

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, hin00n said:

I've heard from a trusted source that these three vitolas contain the same blend

Fire your source. 

[hin00n]

16 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Fire your source. 

Will do, out of a cannon and into the sun.

[GVan]

I'm a DIP #2 fan-boy. The current box I'm working is a LGR-DIC-18. About every third one gets a strong capsicum flavor that I do not get in any of the other three you have asked about. Such a unique flavor always has me searching for more Dips since as said above they are pretty elusive. My personal preference aside, probably the best smoking CC in my "Ready Now" collection is a box of MSU-Nov-18 Monte #2's. Absolutely outstanding cigar - minimum of a 94 pointer on every one coming out of the box - creme bombs and incredibly smooth. Wish I had more of each!

[SCgarman]

I have had all three and prefer the Upmann#2 far and beyond the other two. Monte is wildly inconsistent and to my taste the Dip had no distinct personality. The Partagas P2 would be my second choice. 

[RDB]

These are all fairly prestigious cigars, so in theory all should be good. Obviously they are very different blends - although blind tasting and box variation can make it much harder to tell. I like them all, and good examples can be great (had a fab M2 last weekend). If I had to pick one it would be the Unicos, because it’s so unusual in the portfolio.

[Gamehawker]

These are all great cigars with at least 3 - 4 years of age on them (I honestly feel around the 5 years of age on them they go into another level and become an amazing cigar).  

I would rank them including the ones that you were asking about and some other torpedos/pyramids that I have smoked with at least 3-4 years of age on them.

H. Upmann No. 2

VR Unicos 

Partagas P2

Montecristo No 2

Diplomaticos No. 2

 

[Jerryvonkramer]

2 hours ago, RDB said:

These are all fairly prestigious cigars, so in theory all should be good. Obviously they are very different blends - although blind tasting and box variation can make it much harder to tell. I like them all, and good examples can be great (had a fab M2 last weekend). If I had to pick one it would be the Unicos, because it’s so unusual in the portfolio.

Does anyone know why the No 2s are "prestige" cigars? How did it come about that the pyramids had that aura?

[BrightonCorgi]

Seems incomplete without including the VR Unicos & Partagas.

Partagas P2 is my favorite of current production. Never liked them 20 years ago, but whatever they changed was for much better. One of the best regular production Partagas today.

Upmann No.2 are the most consistent and straightforward tobacco taste. Generally is my go to for this vitola.

VR Unicos can be the best of the format, but generally cost a few bucks more and I have more brand loyalty to Upmann.

Montecristo No.2 is the one to buy when you can pick your box or is a known good box code. They haven't lived up to legend 20 years. Not chasing them.

Diplomatic No.2...I have never had one worth buying a box. Smoked many that looked like a work of art, but did little to impress. I look forward to be wowed some day, but doubt that'll happen with this cigar.

[Ford2112]

I've never had an Upmann pyramid. There are so many of the marque that I like I've never bothered to try these. Monte 2 is Monte 2. I used to seek them out. Now I'd go Diplo 2 every time over the Monte 2. I have never had one disappoint. 

[Li Bai]

8 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

I've never had an Upmann pyramid. There are so many of the marque that I like I've never bothered to try these. Monte 2 is Monte 2. I used to seek them out. Now I'd go Diplo 2 every time over the Monte 2. I have never had one disappoint.

I'm a big fan of Upmann myself and the N°2 in particular is a mind-blowing cigar when it's on, you should definitely try it! For the same reasons as you, I've never chased Connie As, Bs and 2s (I've had a few and consider these expendables) but I would really miss the pyramid if it was to be discontinued.

You're in for a GOOD surprise 👍

[gormag38]

I'm with alot of the others here in saying that HU2 is my pyramid of choice. Then it's probably a Party P2. The dips I have smoked have been good, but nothing too extraordinary imo. Montes have a chance to be special, but are WAYYYY to inconsistent. I really think that Monte 2s would benefit from being rolled at a mother factory, much like HU2s and (to a smaller extent) Party and Dip are. 

[JoeyBones777]

I've not had the Dip 2 but I have had a decent amount of the Upmann 2 and Monte 2. My opinion may be weird here but, a 5 year old Monte 2 from 2012 was the best cigar I ever smoked! That said, Upmann 2's seem to be more consistently good and require less time down to get there. If I were planning on buying between the 2 right now, I would buy Upmann 2 if doing so blind or Monte 2 if I know a great box code and can find it.

[SUP8333]

I reach for the Dip 2 more often then not, look at the lowering levels of the box and settle for a HU2 instead. Wish I could find more Dip2s from my sources. 

[teamrandr]

Unicos

[karp]

Many opinions 🤔

My two cents:

HU taste like tobacco until you age them.

Monte are inconsistent but can be chocolate bombs. Can be spectacular.

Partagas are solid and ok but not outstanding.

Diplo and Vegas Unicos are really interesting unless you get a mediocre box which can happen. Then they are bad!

It’s a roll of the dice… but Monte is the biggest payoff.