Famous Smoke Shop is expanding two of its exclusive Romeo y Julieta “House Of” cigar lines. The Romeo y Julieta Capulet and Romeo y Julieta House of Romeo selections are getting their own line extensions. The new cigars are Nicaraguan-forward renditions that are listed under Romeo y Julieta House of Capulet Nicaragua and Romeo y Julieta House of Romeo Nicaragua. While I don’t read much, I am a big fan of romance (just ask the ladies) so let’s get this love fest started!
CIGAR REVIEW #1 – ROMEO y JULIETA HOUSE OF CAPULET NICARAGUA
“Romeo y Julieta House of Capulet Nicaragua is designed to add a little extra gusto to the customer top-rated House of Capulet line. The original boasts a Connecticut Shade wrapper while the Nicaraguan blend is a puro that starts with a hearty Nicaraguan Habano 2000 capa over a core of specially-selected Nicaraguan tobaccos. The smoke is smooth, balanced, and robust offering fans of full-flavored Nicaraguans a tremendous treat at an impressively low per-cigar price.”
Size: 5 x 54 (robusto)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano 2000
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Jalap NIC/Special Nicaraguan
Price: $6.95 (while these samples were sent to us by Famous Smoke Shop for review, your can grab a box right now and save $20 off by using promo code TNCC20)
Faint aromas of hay and must are detected off the robusto’s medium brown wrapper once freed from its cello, while a toasted bagel essence can be found when sniffing the foot of the House of Capulet Nicaragua directly. There are no surface oils on the Habano 2000 wrapper leaf. The cold draw reveals very little with the exception of a slight mineral sensation. The cigar is firmly rolled with just the right amount of give when gently squeezed between two fingers.
1/2
Body: light/medium
Strength: medium
Crisp white pepper floods the nostrils upon ignition although it’s definitely on the inviting side of the spectrum as opposed to aggressive. Bold cedar backed by a splash of milk chocolate are the dominant flavors via the draw here early on. We’re less than an inch in to the smoking experience and a lead/graphite note has just joined the pepper on the retrohale.
Despite my use of adjectives such as “bold” and “peppery”, the Romeo y Julieta Capulet Nicaragua is a fairly gentle smoke at this point with all the flavors working well together. Construction is great with a smooth draw and copious smoke production. As a nice bonus, the light grey smoke pouring from the foot and head smells incredibly pleasant as well.
Around the 2” marker, the white pepper upticks slightly in strength but mostly stays in its lane and that increase augments both the cedar and graphite notes. A flavor reminiscent of Italian buttercream icing begins to arise on the backend of the draw around the same time. Having never smoked the original line of Romeo y Julieta House of Capulet cigars, I lack a comparison point but I am enjoying this offering quite a bit so far. The pepper strength takes another slight jump forward again as we approach the fifty yard line.
2/2
Body: medium
Strength: medium
Early in the second half of the smoking experience, the flavors continue working harmoniously together. The buttercream note has failed to fully develop which saddens me but I’m not going to stab myself with a dagger over it. “O happy dagger, This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die” A bit dramatic, am I right? A distinctive Nicaraguan mineral note has now joined the graphite and pepper via the retrohale
The band’s glue makes it difficult to undo; however, I’m able to fortunately slide it over the head of the cigar without it taking any of the wrapper leaf with it. The buttercream makes a resurgence here in the final act much like Juliet from her potion-induced coma. I had a similar Shakespearian experience once after drinking two 64 oz. bottles of Olde English malt liquor in college while watching the movie Tombstone for the fiftieth time that semester. But that’s a tale perhaps better told some other time. Or not told at all…
THE NUB
TNCC FINAL SCORE: 92
The Romeo y Julieta House of Capulet Nicaragua is a well constructed, enjoyable cigar that features distinct transitions in both strength and body over the course of its 73 minute duration. The flavors were all on point with the buttercream and mineral/graphite notes being the highlights. If you don’t retrohale this cigar you are certainly missing out on the full experience.
CIGAR REVIEW #2 – ROMEO y JULIETA HOUSE OF ROMEO NICARAGUA
Size: 5 x 54 (robusto)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Morron
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa & Estelí
Price: $6.82 (while these samples were sent to us by Famous Smoke Shop for review, your can grab a box right now and save $20 off by using promo code TNCC20)
“Romeo y Julieta House of Romeo Nicaragua also offers a bold smoking experience swapping-out the prior House of Romeo’s Ecuador Habano wrapper for Mexican San Andrés Morron. The naturally sweet wrapper encases a core of exceptional Nicaraguan Jalapa and Estelí tobaccos. The smoke offers a rich, chewy smoke that’s been compared to ‘biting into a juicy, perfectly cooked steak – satisfying, flavorful, and downright delicious.’ Adult cigar smokers who crave a full-flavored smoke loaded with dark, caramelized tobacco flavors will also appreciate this novel addition.”
1/2
Body: medium
Strength: medium
An aroma of dry earthiness is found on the Mexican San Andrés wrapper and there’s a rich sweetness found directly off the foot of the Romeo y Julieta House of Romeo Nicaragua. The cold draw reveals just a touch of mineral and nothing else. I really dig the Mount Union purple and white color scheme utilized on the cigar band, it fits the romantic nature of the “House Of” series quite nicely.
Upon torching the foot, sharp black pepper accompanied by a generous dose of oak pours through via the retrohale. That same oak sensation is detected on the draw joined with mild earth and a minimal amount of Nica mineral. The draw was a bit tight after the first few puffs but one more additional clip of the cap seems to open things up adequately.
The flavor profile does not change much throughout the first half of the smoking experience. Bold oak and black pepper spice are the dominant notes while the underlying earthiness and mineral components remain steady in the background. The Romeo y Julieta House of Romeo Nicaragua’s finish is a tad on the bitter side; however, sipping a glass of water helps temper the bitterness before it becomes too much of a negative.
2/2
Body: medium
Strength: medium/strong
Right before the halfway mark, a well-worn leather flavor emerges on the draw and the House of Romeo’s mineral aspect increases exponentially through the nose. The cigar’s overall strength increases slightly around that same time. Construction has been good with a relatively straight burn line that’s producing generous amounts of dark grey smoke.
While the flavor profile has shown little transitions or much complexity so far (certainly when compared to its sister cigar ~ the House of Capulet Nicaragua), the House of Romeo’s strength takes yet another leap forward with about 2” remaining to go.
If you like a super oaky cigar with some balls, the House of Romeo Nicaragua might be right in your wheelhouse. The cigar unfortunately begins to burn a bit too hot for my lips with about an inch or so remaining, so I give it one last kiss and put it to sleep in its tomb (or in this case my stinky ashtray). Look at me Mom, I can write just like Bill Shakespeare!
THE NUB
FINAL TNCC GRADE = 87
While I far preferred the House of Capulet offering, the Romeo y Julieta House of Romeo Nicaragua was far from a dud. Oak, earth, black pepper, and mineral are all represented well in this blend and, as I said above, if that’s a profile that you enjoy you should consider giving this cigar a shot. There are far worse ways you could spend 50 minutes of your life, especially at this favorable price point.
