The Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve was my first box of cigars ever, not counting 5-pack boxes. I purchased a 27 count box of Churchills online for a tiny amount over a hundred bucks. I have smoked enough of these (before I sold the rest) to know there is a stable consistantcy with both flavor and construction. Not everyone is exactly the same of course and may be a bit off here and there slightly but you can expect quality control from the rollers with this bunch.
Vitola: Churchill (7" x 54RG)
Price: $3-$4 +/- stick
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran
Aged in Humidor: Varies
(From right out the box on the first day to over a year)
(From right out the box on the first day to over a year)
Appearance and Construction:
Great! The box is well design and when you open it, each one in their own clear cellophane cover are lines up uniform like even heighted soldiers. Even the caramel complexion is smooth and uniform. It's not a toothy or veined up stick at all. The cap blends in so well as if part of the body. There aren't out of place leaf endings on the bottom where one lights it. What consistantcy!
The ash does not hold more than an inch or an inch and a half, nor is it a perfect cone. They do not have solid ash. The draw is absoluetly free flowing. On an occassional Churchill (because they are long) I might have to cut the cap twice, that is a little deeper to get a wider hole for that easier draw, but not on these sticks. I cut a pretty narrow opening and it provides a good draw. The nice draw could be due to the fact that they aren't rolled super dense, firm but not packed tight, no soft spots or flaws in the wrappers. Every aspect is really smooth, all the way down to the golden medallion looking band with "Reserve", as if reserved for VIP.
Tasting Notes:
Prelight aroma from the wrapper has a smooth earthy but with sweetened tea scent; combined with notes of tobacco leaf (without the burn) plus light hints of fermentation and a light hint of a piece of milk chocolate kind of mix. The cold draw is an enhanced version of that note. I toast the cigar in an even circular motion and it burns light and evenly. The first note of flavor is dark cocoa, damn it is robust and deep in tastiness. The only issue is that this taste does not stay throughout the entire stick. These notes of flavor come and go on the first third.
On the second third: that dark cocoa is still there going in and out but includes a tad of spicy tobacco flavor, not bitter at all. Yes like almost every other cigar, there is a duration where the burn brings a smooth and tranquil sail of flavor, this one definitely has that. It also brings sneaky hits of wood and leather notes, just like every other stick, it's just less so in the Romeo y Julieta Habana. The remainder third does not change much, though the end did lose quality but not by that much. The wrapper gave (only by a little bit) stronger strength than that of a Conneticut grown variety. Usually expecting Nicaraguan filler to be stronger, I guess that Habana seed blending soften this cigar up a bit.
If I use the word smooth to describe many aspects of this cigar, it wouldn't be over using the word because it fits the bill. Each aspect is smooth including the construction, appearance, draw, burn and flavor notes. It is a great value on the price. The only reason I rate this a 85 and not higher is because it's on the mediocre side, it does not stand out much. The lack of complexity and strength, though enjoyable traits, make it drop a few bars in points.
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