Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe #3

Origin : Cuba
Format : Petit Corona (Mareva)
Size : 129 x 16.67 mm
Ring : 42
Weight : 8,46 g
Box code : GEA OCT 07
Hand-Made
Price : ~7€ each
More info about purchasing Romeo y Julieta cigars...

Romeo y Julieta is a brand that never managed to impress me. Along with Cohiba, it is often mentioned by people who never smoke when they are asked about cigars. Cohiba, despite its higher price, deserves the recognition it has. Romeo y Julieta, on the other hand, is IMO a middling Cuban brand as even the Short Churchills which received a lot of praise didn't do it for me. This review is for the Cedros de Luxe #3, a petit corona that is, as I just said, quite an average cigar.

Appearance :
The #3 is stylishly wrapped in a cedar sleeve that bears the name of the cigar as well as the brand logo. It is definitely pleasing to the eye, unlike the wrapper which has some obvious imperfections.

 
Construction :
I smoked 5 cigars for this review and 2 were a real disaster. Although none were plugged (that's already a good point), the burn was random and the wrapper kept on trying to unravel. Once it became unbearable and I even had to put the cigar down (have a look at the picture below).

Flavor :
The smoke is very dry in the beginning - make sure you have a drink at hand. Flavor-wise, it's rather woody and not very complex - perhaps due to the cedar sleeve? I stumbled upon a few peppery notes in the second third where the smoke usually becomes smoother and creamier. RyJ Cedros de Luxe is medium-bodied and has average power, perfect for beginners. The finish is plain and simple - more cedar.

Value :
It's hard for me to justify the price of this cigar. Online and by box these can be found at less than $6 but I'd still think twice before getting another one.

Overall Rating :
Well, I think that this kind of construction difference is unacceptable on cigars that come from the same box. I am really disapponted especially because my recent experiences with Cubans from 06/07/08 were rather positive and I thought that most quality control & construction problems have been solved. Unfortunately, it turned out to be wrong. That being said, it's not the case for all Cuban brands. You can always count on Bolivar Bonitas or Partagas Shorts when you want to smoke a decent petit corona.