Romeo y Julieta 1875 Love Story
Size – 4.5 x 46 (Perfecto)
Age – 3 months
Cost – $5
Wrapper – Natural (Indonesia)
Construction – A nice lookinig, symmetrical cigar in an interesting shape. The cigar was slightly uneven in feel, having a few firm spots. The wrapper also cracked in one spot as I was squeezing the cigar.
Burn – With other love story vitolas I have had no problems getting the stick going thanks to the nipple end. I had the opposite experience with the RyJ 1875; it was quite difficult to light but once it hit the wider part of the perfecto, burn was much improved – even and slow.
Ash – Very light grey, almost white. Compact and held snug in 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was very tight until the burn reached the widest part of the cigar. After that it was smooth sailing with a nice easy but not loose draw, producing a moderate amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – The prelight flavors of earthy tobacco and grass led into a very smooth, mild blend of flavors after the light – a creamy blend of earth, wood and tobacco with just a bit of sweetness. The gentle flavor profile hides a surprising medium body; I was expecting a very mild cigar which this is not. The second half of the cigar had similar flavors, but a bit more intensity and some tingling spice. It also picked up a touch more sweetness on the finish.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 7/10
Value – 6/10
Drink – Ice water
Notes – Romeo y Julieta are a very well known brand in the cigar world and are probably the daily cigar of many many aficionados. For a younger and relatively new cigar smoker like me, they are often overlooked for blends by “superstars” like Pepin and Patel. I’m glad to have received the 1875 in a sampler because it is a pretty good smoke, but it had a few construction problems and more importantly it shares a price point (and vitola) with the much better Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story.
Reviews
46 Ring, 7/10, Arturo Fuente, Cigar Review, Medium, Natural
Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Factory Seconds Natural
This inexpensive, unbanded second of the Arturo Fuente 858 is a bit of a mystery to me, as the banded cigar normally sells for only $5. The smoke is a tasty, rich blend of sweet tobacco and mocha with a hint of cedar and peanut. The aroma is excellent, almost intoxicating. If you’re willing to overlook some construction issues such as small wrapper flaws, a slightly loose cigar that creates flowery ash and has an overly easy draw, you will find a very tasty cigar at an unbeatable price. Thanks to my co-worker Rocky (no, not that one) for the sample cigars!
Mini Review Grade: B-
Mini Review
Arturo Fuente, Cigar, Grade B-, Mini Review, Natural, Toro
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Size – 4 x 49
Age – 2 months
Cost – $5
Wrapper – Cameroon
Construction – A well executed perfecto with a great looking and flawless wrapper leaf.
Burn – The nipple-ended perfecto shape leads to an easy light and a slow, even burn.
Ash – Very light grey with mottled charcoal colored ash.
Draw & Smoke – Slightly firm draw and a medium amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – Just after lighting, the sweet and rich flavor of the wrapper came through clearly. The cigar quickly moves into the thickest part (49 ring) which allows the flavors and aroma of the filler to come through – smooth and rich tobacco and wood with a wonderful aroma that included honey, sweet tobacco and a slight hint of chocolate. As the cigar moves into the second half, the wrapper flavor gradually starts to take back over, and the cigar gets even better. The body of the Hemingway Short Story may be on the mild side but the flavors are anything but.
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating – 10/10
Value - 7/10
Drink – Sierra Nevada 2009 Early Spring Beer
Notes – My local tobacconist quipped once that he could sell as many of these cigars as the distributor would send him, and I can see why. The flawless construction and burn, delicious wrapper and the smaller ring gauge to highlight it, combined with the fantastic room aroma and the changing profile of the perfecto as it progresses through different thicknesses leads me to present this cigar with my first 10/10.
Reviews
10/10, 49 Ring, Arturo Fuente, Cameroon, Cigar Review, Mild/Med