Stogie Reviews: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Robusto

16 Jan 2008

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Robusto If cigars won awards for beautiful wrappers, this Romeo y Julieta would be a big-time contender. The light brown, thin Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade tobacco is definitely ready for its close-up.

Unfortunately, the rest of this five inch by 52 ring gauge cigar isn’t on the same plane. Not that there is anything particularly wrong with it; it just isn’t particularly exciting or memorable.

The draw was fine, and the smoke was thick and white. The finish was almost non-existent. I did experience some burn trouble in the first third, but it righted itself without being touched up.

The line utilizes a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, creating some complexity as flavors shifted throughout the length of the stick. The cigar exhibited what I think of as a fairly typical Connecticut spice and some cedar.

Altadis describes the Reserva Real as “a rich and aromatic smoke that will arouse the desires of even the most demanding cigar connoisseur.” I don’t feel I’m all that demanding, and I managed quite easily to keep my desires in check.

Again, this is by no means a bad cigar. At about $5 a stick, though, I think there are many more enjoyable sticks available.

Our rating system describes a cigar achieving three out of five stogies as “pretty respectable.” That’s where I rank this one: three out of five stogies.