ROMEO by Romeo y Julieta

The 94-rated #3 cigar of 2012, according to Cigar Aficionado!

Companies in the modern cigar industry often need to make choices about their balance between tradition and experimentation. There’s a wealth of cigars that are certified classics that don’t really need to change at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? These cigars will be stocked in our humidors till the day we get put into a humidor of our own. But even companies with deep roots can benefit from working with new techniques, new leaves, and new approaches to blending. Variety is still the spice of life, and there are humidors out there that hold hundreds of cigars. There’s room for time-tested classics and also cigars that follow more modern trends, or that offer something completely different.

The Romeo by Romeo y Julieta cigar can be described as a move in a new direction, while still displaying many of the qualities that have made RyJ one of the most popular brands in the world. Those familiar with Romeo y Julieta blends will notice right from the start that this ain’t your daddy’s Romeo. Instead of the usual band with gold medallions from tasting competitions won in the late 1800s, this Romeo has a distinctly modern look. Gold foil, a daring red background, and bold lettering signal that this is a cigar at home in the modern industry marketplace. But do the flavors deliver? Is it an interesting smoke?

You betcha.

As we said above, this one pulled in an amazing 94 rating from Cigar Aficionado, putting it right at the top of the cigars tested in 2012 at #3. The Top 25 list often features some of the legendary cigar making families, but also showcases hot new blenders who are taking cigars in delicious new directions. Smaller boutique runs are perfect for experimentation, so it makes sense that hard working blenders are coming up with special smokes each year. This stick proves, however, that the giants of the cigar world can also focus in on quality and make a worthwhile new premium smoke.

The outside of the cigar features a dark and oily Ecuador Habano wrapper with some nice toothiness. Inside, you’ll find a Dominican binder and Dominican Olor and Piloto fillers. The combination leads to a front note of cedar and sweet wood when you first smell the aroma coming off the stick before lighting. Once you get it fired up, you’ll get a good quantity of medium bodied smoke with flavors of savory leather, a core of balanced red and black pepper, and a pleasant sweet raisin finish that lingers as you go from one draw to the next.

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