My Weekend Cigar Review: Romeo y Julieta 1875 Vintage Lote
An Homage to Romeo’s Roots for a Special Occasion
Back in March of this year, Altadis U.S.A. debuted a new limited-edition cigar to their bestselling 1875 selection, the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Vintage Lote. What’s a lote? The first definition for “lote” in Spanish is “plot,” as in a plot of land, but it also means “batch” which could relate to tobaccos or finished cigars—either way you’re good.
What’s also good about this Edición Limitada vitola is that it was blended by the renowned Grupo de Maestros as an homage to Romeo y Julieta Cigars’ roots. The recipe called for a Nicaraguan Habano 2000 wrapper and a U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf binder with Dominican and Pennsylvania fillers. After rolling, the finished cigars sat patiently in Tabacalera de Garcia’s cedar aging rooms for six years until it was time for their 2024 debut. Made in just the one size, a 6¾ x 48 Double Corona, the Vintage Lote release was limited to 4,000 10-count boxes.
Cigar Details:
Factory: Tabacalera de Garcia – Dominican Republic
Size: 6¾” x 48 Double Corona
Body & Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habana 2000
Binder: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican Piloto Seco, Pennsylvania Double Ligero
Flavor Profile: Medium-bodied with woody, nutty, and sweet-spicy layers
Presented in boxes of 10
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Vintage Lote Cigar Review
The Romeo y Julieta 1875 Vintage Lote had a rich-looking presence and was expertly rolled. The Habano 2K wrapper had an attractive brown leather belt appearance, finished with a triple seam cap. When sniffed, the wrapper had a combination of fresh hay and flowers. The cap cut cleanly, permitting a good draw with a sweet tobacco flavor.
The cigar lit easily, starting off with an even burn and plenty of thick smoke. The initial flavors were a mix of nuts and sweet tobacco with a peppery finish. Medium in body, I got a mostly nutty and woody smoke with some lingering pepper on the finish.
By inch one, the burn remained even, the cigar settled down, and the peppery finish began to fade. Nutmeg and cinnamon arrived, but the top flavors were still woody, as in cedar, and nutty. I also picked up some nuanced sweetness which was balanced by a tart element.
Farther along, the cigar was consistent in terms of its body, strength, and burn as the cedar layer became more apparent. I also began to smell cinnamon in the cigar’s aroma.
As the burn crawled evenly toward the midsection the flavors were well-balanced and much brighter, too; for instance, the nutty flavor was clearly toasted almonds to my palate.
In the final inches of my Vintage Lote some of the underlying sweetness remained. The top flavors were earthier and spicier, but for the most part, the cigar remained smooth and balanced with a lightly spicy finish.
Was Romeo y Julieta 1875 Vintage Lote Weekend Worthy?
I found the Romeo y Julieta to be a pretty elegant cigar overall. I've been a fan of the 1875 line for a long time, and the Vintage Lote did not disappoint in terms of its medium body and creamy smoke. There were also some nice change-ups which kept it interesting.
Even more interesting is that I’m not a big fan of Pennsylvania tobacco. And since I didn’t know the blend information until after I smoked it this surprised me. Maybe it was the way the double ligero was fermented and aged, not to mention the six years of extra again after rolling. Fortunately in this case, I think it added more flavor than strength.
I found the Romeo y Julieta Vintage Lote to be a welcome departure from the rest of the 1875 line. And compared to many other celebration and special occasion cigars, it’s priced fairly. All-in-all, this 1875’s a keeper.
Please Note: Gary’s review was based on his experience and that your mileage may vary.