The Romeo y Julieta Reserve Corona comes rocking a 45 ring gauge and 5 5/8" length, packing Nicaraguan-Honduran filler tobacco wrapped in that dark, oily Nicaraguan leaf. At $209.27 for 27 sticks, this Honduran-made smoke breaks from RyJ's usual Dominican production - proper warning for rookies stepping into medium-full territory.
First Third: Straight-up black pepper punch with cedar undertones. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite the dark wrapper. Retrohale shows flashes of raisin sweetness that vanish quicker than my last paycheck.
Mid Section: Earthiness takes over with damp soil notes. Smokability improves - less frequent touch-ups needed. Watch for occasional bitter tang when puffing faster than 45-second intervals.
Final Stretch: Nutmeg and leather combo kicks in hard. Smoke gets chewier around the nub. Nicotine buzz creeps up on you like bad credit - manageable but demands respect.
Rolled at La Flor de Copán's Honduran facility using hybrid curing techniques. The maduro wrapper gets triple fermentation - first in Estelí pilones, then Danlí cedar rooms, finishing in San Pedro Sula's coastal climate. Gurkha Royal Blend and CAO Brazilia share this production line.
Dry box for 36 hours pre-light. Pair with espresso or Dr Pepper - the sweetness balances RyJ's earthy core. Use V-cut to manage tight draw issues reported in 2023 batches. Better after 18+ months aging compared to fresh rolls.
