Romeo y Julieta was probably the first line of cigars I really started to like when I began my “smoking years” at the tender age of 21. They always remind me of how I was brought into the world of smoke and leaves (and by that, I mean the legal kind). Since, I have found countless other brands that have I have been rather exclusive with, but since I’ve been experiencing a broader appeal for medium/full body cigars, I felt a need to re-visit with a brand I’ve always regarded as elite.
Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve cigars come with a Nicaraguan wrapper and binder, and Nicaraguan and Honduran filler. The size I chose is the Belicoso, which is box pressed and has a ring gauge of 52 and is 6 1/8″ long. It felt very tight, had an oil gleam to it, and had no visible blemishes of any sort. It definitely had a medium body smell to it, and it was described as medium to full body so I was interested to see where this ended up going. I didn’t get any indication of heavy spice initially from the aroma. I definitely was looking forward to this one.
Lighting & First Taste:
It was a little hard to draw during the initial lighting, but lit up really easy. The toughness could be from being box pressed. The initial taste was very smooth and creamy. If this was considered a medium body, somebody forgot to tell it that. There was a good dark chocolate peppery taste to it, and also just a hint of sweetness. It produced a lot of smoke, which I always like.
Smoking the Cigar:
It burned like a dream. I didn’t have to touch it up once, and it was still producing a lot of smoke. One of the best burns I’ve had in a really long time although it seemed to burn a little too quick. The ash was a bit loose, but not too bad. The sweetness was being drawn out more and now it felt much more like a medium body.
The Finish:
There was a little bit of a kick that came back towards the end of the cigar. I was definitely able to taste more of an oak/dark chocolate creamy blend. I smoked it pretty much through the stub and had to take the band off. I was very pleased with this cigar, and felt that Romeo y Julieta have another winner on their hands. It was a very relaxing experience and could put this on a special list of after dinner or special occasion cigars. Beginners would find this a pleasant cigar and it would not shy away any experienced aficionados either.
Band & Packaging:
I liked how the cream and brown band looked on the cigar. The oily sheen made it look quite tempting. I saw no visible flaws and it kept together well during the smoke.
Rating:
8.0 out of 10 puffs
