Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Robusto

Named after Shakespeare’s literary masterpiece, Romeo y Julieta has been around since its start in Cuba way back in 1875. After becoming incredibly popular during the 20th century, they moved to the Dominican Republic due to the Cuban Embargo. Remaining one of the most popular brands in the world, Romeo y Julieta offers a number of lines, including this month’s Reserva Real, which is a little more hearty than others in their famous 1875 line. With a 91 rating from Cigar Aficionado, it’s impressed the press, as well as our tasting panel. Excellent in construction, the Reserva Real features a toothy, light, and oily Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut Shade wrapper. Underneath is a hearty and balanced blend of Dominican leaf and Nicaraguan ligeros that is secured with a Nicaraguan binder. This combination has primarily a woody profile with hints of wood, nuts, spice, leather and earth that will build in strength. Tangy, chewy, and bready, this mild to medium-bodied smoke is perfect for any time of day. Our panel recommends trying it with a pinot noir, or perhaps a sweet tea.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.