#nowsmoking: Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua Bully

#NowSmoking: Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua Bully (5″ x 50 Robusto)

#nowsmoking: Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua Cigar Review – Bully

Size: 5″ x 50
Strength: Medium-Plus
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Connecticut Seed (aged over 3 years)
Binder & Filler: Vintage Nicaraguan grown on Plasencia’s estate farms

Where It’s At

First, give me the back story. . .

The Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua cigars selection turns the iconic brand into a Nicaraguan puro in this latest line extension. What we have here is a second collaboration between Plasencia Cigars and Altadis U.S.A. – they also combined efforts on the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Nicaragua cigars – using tobaccos from the Plasencia family’s private stocks. The highlight of the blend is the Connecticut seed, shade grown wrapper grown in Nicaragua which has been aged more than three years.

Although Plasencia has grown different strains of Connecticut-seed tobacco for a number of “mass market” cigars, the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua line is the first premium brand to use this particular varietal of Nicaraguan-grown, Connecticut-seed wrapper. As it is done in the United States, this Nicaraguan strain was grown under cheesecloth tents, which filters the harsh rays of the sun, producing a light brown wrapper leaf.

Rafael Nodal, Head of Product Capability for Tabacalera USA, worked on the blend with Nestor Andrés Plasencia for almost two years to achieve the final blend. According to Nodal, Plasencia had been growing this particular Connecticut-seed varietal in Nicaragua for several years on an experimental basis, but this Connecticut Nicaragua selection is the first Romeo y Julieta 1875 brand to be made and sold with this special wrapper.

“Getting to work with the Plasencia family on this cigar which uses a Connecticut seed wrapper grown in Nicaragua, is for me an honor,” said Nodal. “Having the opportunity to take the Romeo y Julieta consumer on a journey of discovering new flavors and new experiences, is a real privilege.”

The Romeo Y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua is presented in the following four sizes in boxes of 25 with the exception of the Magnum, which comes in a box of 20:

• Bully (5″ x 50)
• Toro (6″ x 50)
• Churchill (7″ x 52)
• Magnum (6″ x 60)

The MSRP will range from $7.20 to $8.35.

Let’s talk construction. How well is it made?

About as good as it gets. Virtually flawless, the Nicaraguan wrapper is blonde enough to pass for a U.S. Connecticut Shade; much lighter than some other Nicaraguan-grown, Connecticut wrappers I’ve seen lately (see the PSyko 7 Nicaragua). The cigar was also well-packed with no soft spots, and had a comfortable feel in the hand. The wrapper also offered a slightly sweet aroma. Both of our caps clipped-off in a perfect circle, revealing an effortless draw with cold draw flavors of salt, leather, and nuts in the pre-light. Jared referred to it as “trail mix,” which wasn’t that far off the mark.

So, how does it smoke? 

Dense, velvety smoke gushes from this cigar, offering a smooth, toasty and cedary treat with some pronounced saltiness, plus leather, and a hint of sweet tobacco to start. Jared picked-up a slight floral note in the mix, as well, while we both found the finish long and peppery. The smoke was medium in strength in the first act, and not as sweet as we expected.

The second act was similar to the first – salty, woody, and nutty with a peppery finish, as the first major change-up revealed a steady increase in the cigar’s sweetness and cedar flavors. The body also ramped up to medium-plus, while remaining especially creamy and well-balanced.

The aroma was sweet and woody with a subtle floral essence, while retrohales were peppery, but not overwhelming.

The burn was dead even revealing firm, almost entirely grey, nickel stack ashes. No issues or relights were ever required.

By the last act, the body remained medium-plus, but the strength had clearly moved into the full strength spectrum. Not in a heady way, just noticeably more potency. The saltiness subsided, while the cedar continued to dominate, resulting in a medium-bodied, full-strength cigar with a mostly toasty-woody and semi-sweet flavor profile with a long, spicy finish.

What are the primary flavor notes?

Cedar, salt, leather, sweet tobacco, nutmeg, and peppery spice with a subtle floral essence.

So, is it complex?

Very much so. This cigar had some interesting flavor shifts as well as tangible movements in the cigar’s body and strength.   

What drinks can I pair with it besides coffee?

We paired the cigar with Jack Daniel’s Gentleman’s Jack double-mellowed whiskey. It’s very smooth, but fairly sweet. Jared felt the whiskey overpowered the blend for him. I thought it would add some missing sweetness to the cigar, but the cigar eventually became sweeter on its own. Perhaps a plain Jack Daniels or a less sweet Bourbon would be more appropriate, but I wouldn’t absolutely rule the Gentleman’s Jack out. Jared, who prefers beer pairings, thought it would go better with Shock Top.

(Find more cigar and drink pairing combinations here.)

Tell me who this cigar is for. 

Primarily, cigar smokers with at least a year or more of experience. Jared called it, “A beginner’s cigar with an edge.” I would tend to agree being that this Robusto was excessively smooth, balanced and mostly medium in body, but a little experience would help in terms of picking up this Romeo’s more complex attributes.  

Bottom line: Is it humidor worthy? 

For sure. Altadis and the Plasencia family did a great job on this cigar. Like the cigars featured in our Connecticut Resurgence article, the Romeo 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua Bully deserves a slot there, too. And at well under $10, plus the fact that this cigar comes in a box of 25, makes it a terrific value. For the cigar smoker who loves the flavor of Connecticut wrapper and a taste for Nicaraguan puros, this blend has it all.

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