Cigar Review: Romeo y Julieta Escudos LE 2007 (Cuban)

19 May 2011

I’ve had mixed results with Cuban limited editions over the years. On one hand, despite being a bit young (by Cuban standards), the Montecristo 2008 LE Sublime was one of the finest cigars I’ve smoked. Others, like the Cohiba Pirámides Edición Limitada 2006 (while not bad) were underwhelming given the high price.

With those mixed results in the background, I lit up a pair of these Romeo y Julieta Escudos Edición Limitada 2007 cigars. The gordito-sized smoke sells for around $450 for a box of 25 or around $18 each.

It’s a dark, rustic cigar (5.5 x 50) with a veiny wrapper. The Cuban puro’s exterior leaf is notably darker than other popular Romeo y Julietas like the Short Churchill or Churchill.

Like many Cubans, while not technically a box press, it picked up a slight press in the box while aging. Perhaps that’s because it’s slightly spongy to the touch.

Once lit, I found a powdery smoke that leaves layers flavor on the mouth. Earth, cinnamon, cocoa, tannins, warm oak, and coffee are all apparent. A green pepper flavor develops in the final third.

It’s a complex smoke that is firmly in the medium- to full-bodied range. While not the most balanced smoke, it is plenty interesting despite not changing in flavor much from start to finish.

Like many Cubans, construction was far from superb. One sample needed a few relights. The other didn’t, but had a chronically uneven burn and an unstable gray ash.

In the end, the Romeo y Julieta Escudos LE 2007 is fairly characteristic of the limited edition Cuban cigars I’ve smoked before. It’s very good, but held back by inconsistent construction and a high price. That’s why it earns a rating of four stogies out of five.