Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 5/8/2008

Question
In your expertise what is a comprable cigar to romeo and julietta vintage or
reserva real,only cheaper.

Answer
Michael,

Romeo Vintage is made with a Mexican binder and Dominican filler. Reserva Real is a little heavier blend with Nicaraguan binder and Dominican/Nicaraguan filler. The Vintage line retails for $7 to $11.50 and Reserva real is $4.50 to $6. The cigars have some similarity in taste, but there is quite a bit of difference in them.

You won't find a similar cigar priced much lower than Reserva Real among the national brands - that price range is already on the low end. However, if you look at some smaller or private label brands there are some great bargains. If you are interested, send me an e-mail to my private address at b.finck@finckcigar.com and I will give you some suggestions on some of our private labels that I think might be just what you are looking for.

If you are open to some non-Dominican cigars that are similar in character but not that close in taste to the brands you mentioned, I can recommend some Honduran and Nicaraguan made national brands that I think a good values.

Bill