Romeo y Julieta (cigar)

Romeo y Julieta is the name of two brands of premium cigar, one produced on the island of Cuba for Habanos SA, the Cuban state-owned tobacco company, and the other produced in La Romana, Dominican Republic for Altadis SA, a division of Imperial Tobacco.

The Romeo y Julieta logo

History

The Romeo y Julieta marque was established in 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Manin Garcia. The brand is the Spanish name for Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.

Between 1885 and 1900, the brand won numerous awards at different tasting exhibitions (as still evidenced by the gold medals on the brand's logo). However, the brand truly bloomed after it was acquired by Jose "Pepin" Rodriguez Fernandez, former head of the Cabañas factory in Havana, and his firm, Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia, in 1903. Being a very cosmopolitan man, Rodriguez constantly travelled across Europe and the Americas, actively promoting his brand, and entering his horse, the aptly named Julieta, in racing events across the world.

Dominican Romeo y Julieta

As a result of his salesmanship, the brand became exceptionally popular around the world among wealthy customers, many of whom demanded personalized bands for their cigars. At its height, as many as 2000 personalized cigar bands were produced for customers. The branded was also known at this time for specializing in figurado cigars, such as perfectos and pirámides, with over a thousand such shapes believed to have been in production.

Sir Winston Churchill was perhaps the brand's most famous devotee. The flagship vitola of the brand is named in his honor, a long 7" by 47 ring gauge cigar known as the Churchill.

After Rodriguez's death in 1954 (he was 88 years old), the revolution, and the subsequent nationalization of the tobacco industry, the brand was moved to La Romana in the Dominican Republic, where production of a Romeo y Julieta cigar for the American market continues today under the direction of Altadis SA. The Cuban government nationalized the brand and still produces and distributes it worldwide as one of its top-selling global brands.

Products

Vitolas in the Romeo y Julieta Line

The following list of vitolas de salida (commercial vitolas) within the Romeo y Julieta marque lists their size and ring gauge in Imperial (and Metric), their vitolas de galera (factory vitolas), and their common name in American cigar slang.

Hand-Made Vitolas

• Belicoso - 5 ¹⁄₂" × 52 (140 × 20.64 mm), Campana, a belicoso
• Belvedere - 4 ⁷⁄₈" × 39 (124 × 15.48 mm), Belvedere, a short panetela
• Cedro de Luxe No. 1 - 6 ¹⁄₂" × 42 (165 × 16.67 mm), Cervantes, a lonsdale
• Cedro de Luxe No. 2 - 5 ⁵⁄₈" × 42 (143 × 16.67 mm), Corona, a corona
• Cedro de Luxe No. 3 - 5 ¹⁄₈" × 42 (130 × 16.67 mm), Mareva, a petit corona
• Churchill - 7" × 47 (178 × 18.65 mm), Julieta No. 2, a churchill
• Corona - 5 ⁵⁄₈" × 42 (143 × 16.67 mm), Corona, a corona
• Coronita en Cedro - 5 ¹⁄₈" × 40 (130 × 15.88 mm), Petit Cetro, a petit corona
• Exhibición No. 3 - 5 ⁵⁄₈" × 46 (143 × 18.26 mm), Corona Gorda, a grand corona
• Exhibición No. 4 - 5" × 48 (127 × 19.05 mm), Hermoso No. 4, a corona extra
• Petit Corona - 5 ¹⁄₈" × 42 (130 × 16.67 mm), Mareva, a petit corona
• Petit Julieta - 3 ⁷⁄₈" × 30 (98 × 11.91 mm), Entreacto, a small panetela
• Petit Princess - 4" × 40 (102 × 15.88 mm), Perlas, a petit corona
• Regalía de Londres - 4 ⁵⁄₈" × 40 (117 × 15.88 mm), Coronita, a petit corona
• Romeo No. 1 - 5 ¹⁄₂" × 40 (140 × 15.88 mm), Crema, a corona
• Romeo No. 2 - 5 ¹⁄₈" × 42 (130 × 16.67 mm), Petit Corona, a petit corona
• Romeo No. 3 - 4 ⁵⁄₈" × 40 (117 × 15.88 mm), Coronita, a petit corona
• Short Churchill - 4 ⁷⁄₈" × 50 (124 × 19.84 mm), Robusto, a robusto
• Sport Largo - 4 ⁵⁄₈" × 35 (117 × 13.89 mm), Sport, a short panetela
• Wide Churchill - 5 ¹⁄₈" × 55 (130 × 21.83 mm) Montesco

Edición Limitada Releases

• Exhibición No. 2 (2000) - 7 ⁵⁄₈" × 49 (194 × 19.45 mm), Prominente, a double corona
• Robusto (2001) - 4 ⁷⁄₈" × 50 (124 × 19.84 mm), Robusto, a robusto
• Hermoso No. 1 (2003) - 6 ¹⁄₂" × 48 (165 × 19.05 mm), Hermoso No. 1, a grand corona
• Hermoso No. 2 (2004) - 6 ¹⁄₈" × 48 (156 × 19.05 mm), Hermoso No. 2, a grand corona
• Petit Pirámide (2005) - 5" × 50 (127 × 19.84 mm), Petit Pirámide, a petit pyramid
• Escudo (2007) - 5 ¹⁄₂" × 50 (141 × 19.84 mm) Gordito, a robusto extra
• Duke (2009) - 5 ¹⁄₂" × 54 (140 × 21.43 mm) Duke, a robusto extra

See also

• Cigar brands
• Romeo y Julieta (cigarette)
• Gerald Garson, a judge bribed, in part, with Romeo y Julieta cigars

References

• Nee, Min Ron - An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars (2003, Reprinted: 2005), ISBN 3-9809308-2-3

External links

• Official website of Habanos S.A.
• The Color and Complexity of Cuba's Cigars CNN, April 9, 2007