Diamond Crown Natural by J.C. Newman - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

JC Newman makes some absolute banger cigars, so when they add a cigar to the Cigar Rights of America pack I pay attention. The Diamond Crown Natural represents JC Newman's collaboration with Carlos Fuente Jr., created in 1995 to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary when most businesses were still figuring out email. This was the cigar that revolutionized the industry by introducing 54 ring gauge as standard sizing - what's now considered average was genuinely large for the '90s when 50-52 was considered hefty. Stanford Newman's goal was simple: make the best cigar in the world where price and time were no object, which is the kind of mission statement that either produces excellence or spectacular failure with no middle ground. The proprietary CFW (Connecticut Fermented Wrapper) undergoes five years of aging and double fermentation, which is more patient than most relationships last these days.

BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE or DIAMOND CROWN HERE

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Diamond Crown Natural (Classic)

Master Blender: Carlos Fuente Jr. collaborating with Stanford Newman - When two cigar dynasties decide to prove they can make something genuinely premium instead of just charging premium prices

Size: Various (54 ring gauge standard across line)

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Connecticut Fermented Wrapper (CFW) - proprietary 5-year aged, double-fermented

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Caribbean and Central American blend

Price: Super-premium territory (availability through CRA pack 2024)

Aging: 5 years on wrapper alone

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Slightly tight but manageable

Burn: Consistent throughout

Smoke Output: Average production

Ash: Solid grey formation

Slightly tight draw provides just enough resistance without requiring PerfecDraw intervention or lung capacity training. The silky wrapper feels exactly like premium Connecticut Shade should - buttery soft with that golden-brown hue that screams "I cost more than your daily lunch budget." Average smoke production means you're not hotboxing the room but you're also not struggling to see if it's still lit. Solid grey ash holds respectably before surrendering. Made at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia in the Dominican Republic, this demonstrates what happens when the Fuente family rolls cigars for someone else's ultra-premium brand rather than their own portfolio. The 54 ring gauge that seemed revolutionary in 1995 now feels quaint in an era where 60+ ring gauges are common and people smoke cigars that look like they should come with structural engineering reports.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: CREAM AND HAY FOUNDATION

cream, sweet tobacco, hay

Cream dominates immediately alongside sweet tobacco and hay that provides grassy earthiness. The opening is refined and approachable - exactly what Connecticut Shade is supposed to deliver when done properly. This pairs amazingly with coffee, complementing morning routines without overwhelming your palate before noon or requiring you to clear your schedule for nicotine recovery.

SECOND THIRD: CASHEW VANILLA COMPLEXITY

cashew, cream, cedar, vanilla

Cashew takes center stage as cream persists and cedar provides woody backbone. Vanilla arrives adding sweetness that elevates the profile beyond basic Connecticut territory. This section shows what five years of wrapper aging and double fermentation accomplish - complexity and balance that justify the premium positioning without feeling like you're just paying for marketing.

FINAL THIRD: CHARRED ELEGANCE

Charred cedar dominates while leather provides classic cigar character and cashew maintains nutty presence throughout. The finish is composed and clean, ending exactly when it should rather than limping to the nub. This concludes the experience with refinement that matches the opening promise.

BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE or DIAMOND CROWN HERE

🏆 THE VERDICT

A- TIER

Flavor: A

Construction: A-

Availability: C+

Price: B

Final Rating:

Exactly what a Connecticut Shade should be. The Diamond Crown Natural delivers refined complexity through cream, cashew, vanilla, and cedar without aggressive strength or overwhelming spice. Pairs amazingly with coffee, making it ideal for morning or early afternoon smoking. The slightly tight draw prevents a perfect construction score, but overall execution matches the super-premium reputation.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

The Diamond Crown Natural proves that JC Newman's 100th anniversary celebration wasn't just commemorative marketing but genuine quality achievement. Five years of wrapper aging and double fermentation create smoothness and complexity that separate this from standard Connecticut Shade offerings. The collaboration between Stanford Newman and Carlos Fuente Jr. produced exactly what was promised - a super-premium cigar where price and time were genuinely no object. At A- tier, this represents Connecticut Shade excellence that justifies premium positioning through execution rather than just fancy packaging and heritage branding.

TLDR: Five-year aged Connecticut Fermented Wrapper over Dominican guts that delivers refined cream, cashew, and vanilla complexity - proof that when cigar dynasties collaborate seriously, results match the pedigree.