Had my first cigar today.

[mretzloff]

I have been curious for a while and decided I would try one. The guy at the cigar store recommended a $6 Romeo y Julietta. It was nice an relaxing and took close to an hour to burn down to the label. I think it was $6 well spent.

I think I messed up a little with the lighting but I got an even burn then.

What strength is the Romeo y Julietta? What country are they usually from?

 

[Mr Peat]

I have been curious for a while and decided I would try one. The guy at the cigar store recommended a $6 Romeo y Julietta. It was nice an relaxing and took close to an hour to burn down to the label. I think it was $6 well spent.

I think I messed up a little with the lighting but I got an even burn then.

What strength is the Romeo y Julietta? What country are they usually from?

They are mild. Depending on which line you are talking about. Generally:

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Mild to Medium
Wrapper: Indonesian
Binder: USA/Connecticut
Filler: Dominican

 

[ClubmanRob]

I have been curious for a while and decided I would try one. The guy at the cigar store recommended a $6 Romeo y Julietta. It was nice an relaxing and took close to an hour to burn down to the label. I think it was $6 well spent.

I think I messed up a little with the lighting but I got an even burn then.

What strength is the Romeo y Julietta? What country are they usually from?

Awesome Matthew! Romeo Y Juilieta is one of my favorite brands, if not my most favorite. It's considered a medium/mild blend. The original R&J is Cuban in origin, but here in the states they are made in the Dominican Republic. The tobacco range from Dominican, Nicaraguan, Peruvian, Sumatran, Indonesian, and some Mexican and Connecticut binders.

EDIT: Beat me to the punch.

 

[40boy]

Probably not a bad cigar for a mild starter selection.
Most R&J are made in the Dominican Republic.

Did it come in a tube with a gold band, or in cellophane with a red band?
Other good mild cigars to look at are CAO Gold, an 5 Vegas Gold. There are many others, but these 2 I've smoked and enjoyed, and they are not too expensive. Probably slightly less than the R&J.

 

[mretzloff]

Awesome Matthew! Romeo Y Juilieta is one of my favorite brands, if not my most favorite. It's considered a medium/mild blend. The original R&J is Cuban in origin, but here in the states they are made in the Dominican Republic. The tobacco range from Dominican, Nicaraguan, Peruvian, Sumatran, Indonesian, and some Mexican and Connecticut binders.

EDIT: Beat me to the punch.

Is Romeo Y Juilieta a type of cigar or is it a brand?

And I guess I lied in that tobacco poll when I said I would never try smoking. Oh well, I got it out of my system

 

[Leche]

RYJ is a brand and as pointed out already they are mild to medium strength. Generally, but not always, the darker the wrapper, the stronger the stick. And the older the stick (if it was well cared for) the smoother and more complex the smoke will be. Matthew cigars are awesome and there is a lot to learn you will. It should be pointed out that there are two brands of RYJ; Dominican Republic and Cuban, the later being more rare in the states obviously. Key members left the factory and fled Cuba when Castro took over setting up shop in the DR. IMHO the DR sticks are better than the Cuban ones.

 

[Mr. 66]

Is Romeo Y Juilieta a type of cigar or is it a brand?

And I guess I lied in that tobacco poll when I said I would never try smoking. Oh well, I got it out of my system

Yer hooked forever!

 

[AndrewWiggin]

If you enjoyed the Romeo y Julieta, try an Ashton Classic, the classic is a great mix, it's a little milder but it's a spectacular smoke. Ashton Majesty is the best Classic mix, the shape is a bit thicker than a Churchill with a great draw; it will run about $12.

 

[Parataxis]

I have been curious for a while and decided I would try one. The guy at the cigar store recommended a $6 Romeo y Julietta. It was nice an relaxing and took close to an hour to burn down to the label. I think it was $6 well spent.

I think I messed up a little with the lighting but I got an even burn then.

What strength is the Romeo y Julietta? What country are they usually from?

Is your location wrong, or have things changed significantly? R&Js are from Cuba, unless they sold you a knock-off (and at the price, they may have). The genuine article is generally slightly lighter than mid-weight. Really nice smoke.

 

[Leche]

Is your location wrong, or have things changed significantly? R&Js are from Cuba, unless they sold you a knock-off (and at the price, they may have). The genuine article is generally slightly lighter than mid-weight. Really nice smoke.

Dan,

There are two. The Cuban and the Dominican Republic. Several other factories did the same as when RYJ fled Cuba.

 

[Parataxis]

Dan,

There are two. The Cuban and the Dominican Republic. Several other factories did the same as when RYJ fled Cuba.

The Dominican Republic R&Js are knock-offs. The brand is owned by the Cubans (as with most of the other Cuban/DR cigars) and the trademark is recognized by such in every part of the world that doesn't have an embargo on Cuba.

In terms of quality, you simply can't compare single-country, terroir driven manufacturing to a product which takes stuff from around the globe, depending on price, IMNAAHO.

 

[ClubmanRob]

Is your location wrong, or have things changed significantly? R&Js are from Cuba, unless they sold you a knock-off (and at the price, they may have). The genuine article is generally slightly lighter than mid-weight. Really nice smoke.

Dan,

There are two. The Cuban and the Dominican Republic. Several other factories did the same as when RYJ fled Cuba.

The Dominican Republic R&Js are knock-offs. The brand is owned by the Cubans (as with most of the other Cuban/DR cigars) and the trademark is recognized by such in every part of the world that doesn't have an embargo on Cuba.

In terms of quality, you simply can't compare single-country, terroir driven manufacturing to a product which takes stuff from around the globe, depending on price, IMNAAHO.

Yeah, we've been getting the Dominican R&J's in this country for what, 15 years now? FWIW some of the Dominican R&J vitolas I find more enjoyable than the Cuban varieties. To call the Dominican varieties "knock offs" is quite a stretch, but whatever. By that extension, every single cigar manufacturer that has a plant in both Cuba and the "New World" is a knock off, which is pretty ludicrous.

 

[Parataxis]

Yeah, we've been getting the Dominican R&J's in this country for what, 15 years now? FWIW some of the Dominican R&J vitolas I find more enjoyable than the Cuban varieties. To call the Dominican varieties "knock offs" is quite a stretch, but whatever. By that extension, every single cigar manufacturer that has a plant in both Cuba and the "New World" is a knock off, which is pretty ludicrous.

That would be true if they were the same manufacturer. However, they're not. They're entirely seperate companies. It would be as if I started making a Canadian rum and called it 'Bacardi'.

So yes, most of the US available cigars that use the names of Cuban brands are knock-offs by that definition - and I, for one, don't have a problem with that definition; it seems reasonable to me.

When half of the Zildjian family moved across to Canada to start their own company, they didn't still call their cymbals 'Zildjian'. Recognizing that it was a new company, they dubbed themselves 'Sabian' - they competed on quality, not on trying to have the same name as the rest of their family.

 

[mretzloff]

If R&J is a brand, why do so many of them have different labels? Are there different types?

What is the proper way to hold and put out a cigar (that you intend to come back to later)?

EDIT: This is the cigar I smoked.

 

[ClubmanRob]

That would be true if they were the same manufacturer. However, they're not. They're entirely seperate companies. It would be as if I started making a Canadian rum and called it 'Bacardi'.

So yes, most of the US available cigars that use the names of Cuban brands are knock-offs by that definition - and I, for one, don't have a problem with that definition; it seems reasonable to me.

When half of the Zildjian family moved across to Canada to start their own company, they didn't still call their cymbals 'Zildjian'. Recognizing that it was a new company, they dubbed themselves 'Sabian' - they competed on quality, not on trying to have the same name as the rest of their family.

Zildjian wasn't taken over by a communist dictator who stole their factory out from under them. Technically, most Cuban cigars would be the true knock offs, since the people that owned the trademarks fled Cuba after Castro stole their farms and factories. They went elsewhere and continued making their cigars while Castro merely stole the names of the brands. This is one reason we still uphold the embargo, because after the revolution, the Cuban manufacturers came here.

I know it's nice that you can still get Cuban cigars legally in Canada, but don't call our Dominican R&J's "knock offs" as if they were counterfeit. They're the best selling cigar in North America, and there's nothing cheap, phony or knock off about them.

 

[Parataxis]

I generally hold my cigars by the ring - usually with a thumb and either my index or middle finger, but it's not a constant. (The rings were originally designed to be held - they keep sweat off the cigar, and any tobacco off fingers/gloves).

As far as putting them out, generally cigar etiquette is to let them die with dignity - no need to snuff them out, just put them down and they'll go out by themselves. If you want to smoke it again later, it'll still be there for you. =)

 

[ClubmanRob]

If R&J is a brand, why do so many of them have different labels? Are there different types?

What is the proper way to hold and put out a cigar (that you intend to come back to later)?

EDIT: This is the cigar I smoked.

The different bands denote different blends or lines. R&J is the brand, Reserva Real (or Havana Reserve, or Reserve Maduro, etc) would be the line, and the vitola (size and shape) would be whatever size of stick you have- Bully, Churchill, Robusto, etc.

 

[Parataxis]

Zildjian wasn't taken over by a communist dictator who stole their factory out from under them. Technically, most Cuban cigars would be the true knock offs, since the people that owned the trademarks fled Cuba after Castro stole their farms and factories. They went elsewhere and continued making their cigars while Castro merely stole the names of the brands. This is one reason we still uphold the embargo, because after the revolution, the Cuban manufacturers came here.

I know it's nice that you can still get Cuban cigars legally in Canada, but don't call our Dominican R&J's "knock offs" as if they were counterfeit. They're the best selling cigar in North America, and there's nothing cheap, phony or knock off about them.

Every country in the world, other than the US (and maybe a few of its satelleites; certainly all of Europe, South America, and Canada) recognise the trademark as belonging to the Cuban companies. I'm sorry that Castro kicked out the US-sponsored dictator, Batista, but that's the way history goes sometime.

Some of the manufacturers may have left, but many stayed. What also stayed is the land, the employees, the tobacco fields, and the brand.

I'm sorry that the term 'knock off' offends you, but that's generally the term used when a company uses another company's trademark, and tries to sell their goods by pretending to be something they're not (most DR cigars don't even still use a double-binder), rather than competing on quality. If their cigars are truly of better quality, then why not re-dub the company and proudly advertise them as internationally grown, DR cigars, rather than using Cuban names? If you prefer, we can call them 'Cigars of problematic trademark usage', but that takes a bit longer to say, no?

 

[Mr Peat]

All tobacco seeds thats Non-cuban usually started from tobacco seeds from Cuba at some point. I've even toured a Tobacco Farm in Honduras and have seen the production from just seeds to the long storage process. To sorting and making of the cigars. I saw it all and its just really cool to experience if you are into cigars like I am. I even got a chance to pick the binder, filler, and wrapper for a cigar to be made. It entailed 1 Wrapper, 1 Binder, and 3 fillers. They would tell you if it would work or not. If it didn't work, they would suggest something for you. I picked a perfect blend on the first try.

If you look at my Introduction thread of mine, you can go through all my pictures and find a bunch about tobacco to Moscow, Russia. If you enjoy cigars, I would say take the time and look at them.

 

[mretzloff]

The different bands denote different blends or lines. R&J is the brand, Reserva Real (or Havana Reserve, or Reserve Maduro, etc) would be the line, and the vitola (size and shape) would be whatever size of stick you have- Bully, Churchill, Robusto, etc.

Which blend of R&Y do you prefer? I though I would ask you because you said they are your favorites.