Romeo y Julieta Cigars

Romeo y Julieta is the well known name of two distinct brands of premium cigar. One of the brands is produced in the Dominican Republic for Altadis SA and the other cigar brand is produced by the state owned tobacco company on the island of Cuba for Habanos SA.

History

The Romeo y Julieta brand name was first created in 1875 by Mannin Garcia and Inocencio Alvarez. The men derived the name from the Shakespearian tragedy Romeo and Juliet. From 1885-1900, the Romeo y Julieta brand of cigars garnered several awards at various tasting exhibitions. The logo showcases these various wins. The brand shot to new heights of success in 1903 when it was purchased by Jose "Pepin" Rodriguez Fernandez. Fernandez was the former leader of the Cabanas factory in Havana Cuba, and was in charge of the firm Rodriguez, Arguelles y Cia. Rodriguez was the ideal cosmopolitan man who actively travelled throughout the Americas and Europe heavily promoting his cigars. He would frequently enter his horse named Julieta in various racing events throughout the world.

Due to his hard work and salesmanship, the Romeo y Julieta brand became wildly popular throughout the world, especially with the wealthy consumers who demanded a personal touch to their cigars. When the operation was at its peak, 2000 personalized cigar brands were manufactured and produced for their many customers. At this time, the brand began to specialize in Figurado cigars, for example piramides and perfectos and had over a thousand different shapes in production.

Sir Winston Churchill was a very devoted Romeo y Julieta cigar brand consumer. The primary vitola of this brand of cigar was aptly named in his honor. This cigar is a long 7" by 47 ring deep gauge cigar which is called the Churchill. The first United States female governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross is also a well known consumer of the Romeo y Julieta brand cigar.

When Rodriguez died in 1954, at the age of 88, the tobacco revolution was taking hold which led to a nationalization of the tobacco industry. The Romeo y Julieta brand relocated to La Romania in the Dominican. Currently, production of the Romeo y Julieta cigar brand continues in the Dominican for the American market and is controlld by Altadis SA. After the nationalization of the cigar industry by Cuba, the Cuban government continues to distribute and produce the brand where it remains one of the countries top selling brands worldwide.

Romeo y Julieta introduced a new addition in 2006 as the Robusto which is a short Churchill size that was first brought to the consumer a the 8th Annual Habanos Festival in Havana, Cuba.

The Romeo y Julieta brand cigar additionally produces three machine type made cigarillos including: puritos, clubs, and minis.
Romeo y Julieta Romeo no.3
Romeo y Julieta Romeo no.3
A box of Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills
A box of Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills

Vitolas in the Romeo y Julieta Line

The following is a list of the marque Romeo y Julieta brands and includes the size of the cigar as well as the ring gauge. Additionally, the vitola de galera or common / factory name of the cigar is included and that is followed by its colloquial name in the American vocabulary.

Hand-Made Vitolas

* Churchill - size: 7" x 47 (178 x 18.7 mm) Julieta, a churchill
* Belicoso - size: 5½" x 52 (140 x 20.6 mm) Campana, a belicoso
* Short Churchill - size: 4⅞" x 50 (124 x 19.8 mm) Robusto, a robusto or rothschild
* Exhibición No. 3 - size: 5⅝" x 46 (143 x 18.3 mm) Corona Gorda, a toro
* Exhibición No. 4 - size: 5" x 48 (127 x 19.1 mm) Hermoso No. 4, a robusto or rothschild
* Cazador - size: 6⅜" x 44 (162 x 17.5 mm) Cazador, a lonsdale
* Corona - size: 5⅝" x 42 (142 x 16.7 mm) Corona, a corona
* Petit Corona - size: 5⅛" x 42 (129 x 16.7 mm) Mareva, a petit corona
* Très Petit Corona - size: 4½" x 40 (116 x 15.9 mm) Franciscano, a tres petit corona
* Petit Julieta - size: 3⅞" x 30 (100 x 11.9 mm) Entreacto, a small panetela
* Cedro de Luxe No. 1 - size: 6½" x 42 (165 x 16.7 mm) Cervantes, a lonsdale
* Cedro de Luxe No. 2 - size: 5⅝" x 42 (142 x 16.7 mm) Corona, a corona
* Cedro de Luxe No. 3 - size: (129 x 16.7 mm) Mareva, a petit corona

Machine-Made and Hand-Finish Vitolas

* Romeo No. 1 - size: 5½" x 40 (140 x 15.9 mm) Crema, a corona
* Romeo No. 2 - size: 5⅛" x 42 (129 x 16.7 mm) Petit Corona, a petit corona
* Romeo No. 3 - size: 4⅝" x 40 (117 x 15.9 mm) Coronita, a petit corona
* Mille Fleur - size: 5⅛" x 42 (129 x 16.7 mm) Petit Corona, a petit corona
* Coronita en Cedro - size: 5⅛" x 40 (129 x 15.9 mm) Petit Cetro, a petit corona
* Belvedere - size: 4⅞" x 39 (125 x 15.5 mm) Belvedere, a petit corona
* Regalía de Londres - size: 4⅝" x 40 (117 x 15.9 mm) Coronita, a petit corona
* Sport Largo - size: 4⅝" x 35 (117 x 13.9 mm) Sport, a small panetela
* Petit Princess - size: 4⅜" x 35 (110 x 13.9 mm) Epicure, a tres petit corona

Edición Limitada Releases

* Exhibición No. 2 (2000) - size: 7⅝" x 49 (194 x 19.4 mm) Prominente, a double corona
* Robusto (2001) - size: 4⅞" x 50 (124 x 19.8 mm) Robusto, a robusto or rothschild
* Hermoso No. 1 (2003) - size: 6½" x 48 (165 x 19.1 mm) Super Hermoso, a large toro
* Hermoso No. 2 (2004) - size: 6⅛" x 48 (157 x 19.1) Hermoso No. 2, a double robusto
* Petit Pirámide (2005) - size: 5 x 50 (127 x 19.8 mm) Petit Pirámide, a petit belicoso

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