Romeo y Julieta, 1960's Romeo : Review

[CaptainQuintero]

52 x 164

Romeo /Perfecto

I bought this cigar a good year ago intending for it to be the end of my search for the mythical "old Romeo" flavours, the flavours people mention of cigars from the early 1990's and before seem almost gone from the habano world. I think I've had flashes of the flavours, deeper and more intense floral notes but not harsh bitter herbs; soft and dense.

I picked to smoke this as I'm on a much needed break, the night is an easy 20c, still air and things seem right to light up.

Lighting up with a soft flame the cigar was quite muted for the first couple of draws then as if remembering what it was made to do burst into life, a beautiful mellow floral sweetness, like rose petal but closer to Turkish delight. I love the vitola, even though similar in size I find piramides too large to enjoy but this shape; tapered at both ends into a classic perfecto, seems manageable.

The draw is spot on, how Cuba still struggles to get parajo shaped cigars drawing consistently correct today never mind perfectos yet fifty years ago could get a perfecto...perfect is slightly baffling.

The Turkish delight floral nature continues into the second third as it is joined by a beany herbal flavour, not quite Cohiba but certainly related. Having it in a cigar with no creamy nature is a pleasant change. A flavour I haven't found in RyJ before is sugary sweet honey, it's folded in the flavours of the cigar like a great Greek yoghurt breakfast. Certainly something I would like to see in modern RyJ.

Walking along with my girlfriend, the cigar was secondary but I still couldn't ignore the intensity of the flavours. they are big flavours, strong but not harsh, in fact not a single note of bitterness or harshness has come out so far. The final third is a mixture of the first and second yet a deep fruit come to the front, I would say cherry but it isn't the cherry of the modern RyJ Wide Churchill, it's a dense and mellow fruit, almost syrupy or fortified wine in nature.

I think I have found what older smokers describe when they try and put into words of how such a major brand, the most famous in the cigar world used to put out consistently, and how far the fall has been. It certainly is nothing like anything that I have smoked during my time in this hobby from the modern RyJ catalogue and this is where usually someone would say but the modern brand has it's positives. But to be honest, these old blends that I've been lucky to try really are night and day, no similarities in blend, class or construction. I only hope that someday, somehow these old blends are brought back.

98/100

[CUBANO]

Thanks for the review

[Rye]

Nice review! This sounds similar to the old 70's RyJ I reviewed a little while back. I agree about the old blends coming back. It would be nice.

[Optic101]

Very nice review Captain. Yep would be great to have some of the old style back.

[sheppsea]

Very nice review, I've always found RyJ very underwhelming so its good to see there is a reason it got famous in the first place

[subport]

Thx for the review mate. Nice pic!

[ErikB]

Great review, thank you

[finecigar]

Awesome cigar review.. Loved this. I've had a similar sublime experience in the flavor with an old romeo! ?

[dowjr1]

Prez picked me out a box of the RJ Churchills a while back that he described as the best in a few years. I am just keeping em down for a while so they can mature. Pretty pumped about them even though I won't touch em for a long time.

[Skyfall]

Great Pics

[Mr.T]

Great review and what a wonderful setting for such a smoke

[armmmmm]

I have an opportunity to get my hands on a RyJ Cazadores from 1987. What are everyones thoughts on this? Should I be jumping all over this?

[CaptainQuintero]

I have an opportunity to get my hands on a RyJ Cazadores from 1987. What are everyones thoughts on this? Should I be jumping all over this?

If you trust the seller and want the cigar then go for it no one can guarantee you anything with new or old cigars but all experience is experience. Could be wonderful too!

[LGC]

The only guarantee is that you will be buying a cigar. If stored properly, and of a good blend, it should be a great cigar. I would ask to see the box and cigars if possible.

[CaptainQuintero]

Found a few more pics on my phone that I must have missed :s

edit-never mind, TapaTalk is being a sulky teenager :/