#nowsmoking: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Toro

#nowsmoking: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Toro Cigar Review w/ Rafael Nodal

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Cigar Review – Toro

Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez – Estelí, Nicaragua.
Size: 6″ x 54
Strength: Medium-plus
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Binder & Filler: Nicaragua (Estelí, Condega, Jalapa)
Price: $9.03 (at press time)

When the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real selection was released in 2003, it was a major breakout for its use of a Nicaraguan-forward blend. Now, with the release of the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua, the blend has gone puro. This new line consists of an all-Nicaraguan leaf recipe with specially-aged tobaccos grown on AJ Fernandez’s estate farms in Jalapa, Condega, and Estelí. It also signals another collaboration between Fernandez and Tabacalera USA‘s Head of Product Capability, Rafael Nodal.

“My goal with this cigar is to take the Romeo and Julieta Reserva Real adult consumer on a journey of flavors and aromas using these Nicaraguan aged tobaccos,” said Rafael Nodal. “It is more complex and fuller in body than the original Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real made in the Dominican Republic, but it is not too strong.” Rafael also indicated that the way in which the tobaccos are bunched is particularly important in terms of achieving the flavor and aroma he and AJ were looking for.

Another reason for adding an all-Nicaraguan Real to the line was to build on the strong success of the Dominican-made Reserva Real. So, for those who enjoy the original and bestselling Reserva Real, but want more of that spicy Nicaraguan seasoning, the Reserva Real Nicaragua should be right in the pocket.

All Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua cigars are handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Estelí, Nicaragua and presented as follows:

Each size is also available in 5-packs.

Beautifully. The Jalapa-grown wrapper has an attractive color and sheen throughout. The cigar itself was well–packed offering a perfect draw which revealed cold flavors of salt, leather, and a lingering spiciness on the order of Red Hots candy.

My sample, and my second for this review, started off a little salty, leathery, and smooth with an ample amount of pepper. At about half an inch in, the pepper started to fade, and some slight nuttiness emerged. I thought I picked up a faint hint of graham cracker, but it was more evident in my prior sample. From there the cigar rounded to a very creamy, medium-bodied smoke with a well-balanced mix of earthiness, leather, woodiness, and spices. From the mid-point on, there were some subtle changeups, too. And although the cigar did advance in body and strength in the last act, the smoke remained smooth and never dove over the top.

A rich-tasting, smooth-smoking, and aromatic affair, with a mostly spicy complexion underscored by base notes of earth, leather, wood, and white pepper on a long spicy finish. More subtle flavors of cocoa, graham cracker, and espresso also take a few cameos.

Rafael and I both agreed that a refined, sweeter rum would be an ideal mate for the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Toro. Rums like Zacapa and Diplomático are both good matchups. If you want to go mixed, a well-made Mojito will do nicely. Bourbon will work, too, and Rafael – admittedly “not a beer guy“ – seemed to like the Estrella Damm Barcelona he was having at the time of our review. But go for the rum with this cigar.

(Find more cigar and drink pairing combinations here.)

As I noted above, the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua is the made-to-order follow-up to the Dominican-made Reserva Real. Especially if you want more of that dark, earthy and spicy Nicaraguan character. It’s certainly bolder, yet every bit as smooth. For fans of AJ Fernandez cigars, the Toro has his fingerprints all over it, too – earthy and spicy with a long peppery finish. Plus, at under $10 the price of the Toro is extremely fair. Additionally, the per-stick price drops even further in the 5-pack. For that savory, late afternoon or after dinner cigar the Romeo Reserva Real Nicaragua Toro checks all the right boxes.

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