Cigars/Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Cuban?
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Question
Hello Mr. Yee,
I was given a gift from a friend who I believe is very knowledgable about cigars and works at my local cigar chop. He had just returned from a cruise and said he had bought some cuban cigars while there. He gave me a Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real and a Montecristo. The Montecristo has Habana on the band, but the Romeo y Julieta does not. I cant find a picture or even anything mentioned on the net about any Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real being made in Cuba. Do they even make the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real in Cuba?
Hi Chad,
No, the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real is not made in Cuba. The cigar is part of the non-Cuban Romeo y Julieta brand and is made with Nicaraguan filler and an Ecuadorian wrapper. Cuban Romeo y Julieta does not have a Reserva Real cigar.
Non-Cuban RyJ cigar bands are very similar to the Cuban cigar band. As you mentioned, there's an easy way to differentiate the two: The Cuban version will always have the words "HABANA" printed on the band. On the non-Cuban version, the year 1875 will always be printed in the center of the band instead of "Habana". The Cuban cigar band may also have the words "Rodriguez Arguelles Y C" or "Desde 1875" but they will always have the word "Habana" (or "Habana, Cuba") on them.
I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.
Regards,
James
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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