Meet the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Reserve Maduro Robusto - a box-pressed stogie dressed in oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. This Dominican-made smoke packs Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and Dominican fillers into a 5x50 robusto format. At $187 per box of 27, it's positioned as a premium maduro upgrade from the original 1875 line. The Grupo de Maestros blending team behind Montecristo and H. Upmann worked their magic here, creating what many call a "chocolate-dipped flavor bomb".
The cold draw serves dark chocolate notes with a whiff of barnyard. Upon lighting, burnt caramel sweetness dominates with black pepper spice on the retrohale. Thick smoke production coats the palate - expect espresso grounds and raisin undertones. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite the broadleaf wrapper's reputation for uneven combustion.
At the 1-inch mark, the profile shifts to roasted almonds and cinnamon stick. The Nicaraguan filler brings earthy undertones - think damp forest floor after rain. Retrohale reveals baking spices (clove, allspice) with a creamy texture that balances the full body. Ash holds strong in 1-inch segments.
Approaching the band point, mineral notes emerge alongside saddle leather bitterness. Savory umami elements (think soy sauce reduction) interplay with lingering dark fruit sweetness. Watch for nicotine kick - the Peruvian leaf content delivers noticeable strength. Pair with sweetened black coffee to counterbalance.
Rolled at Tabacalera de García (world's largest cigar factory), these use a triple-fermentation process. The Connecticut Broadleaf undergoes 18-month barrel aging before wrapping Dominican Piloto Cubano binder and multi-origin fillers. Boveda packs maintain 69% RH in sealed boxes.
