JC Newman

June 25, 2017

Romeo y Julieta Belicoso by A. J. Fernandez (6 x 52)






Video review HERE.


(Description taken from CigarDojo.com website)
Santa Clara, Inc. is the distributor of the newly introduced Romeo y Julieta Crafted by A. J. Fernandez line of cigars. Romeo y Julieta Crafted by A. J. Fernandez is a collaboration between the Altadis U.S.A. Romeo y Julieta brand and Tabacalera Fernandez and is being crafted exclusively for Santa Clara, Inc.

A blend of the experience of Romeo y Julieta with the modern innovations of A. J. Fernandez, this exciting cigar is made in Nicaragua from the finest Habana 2000® Maduro wrapper, Nicaragua binder, and Nicaragua filler. 

“We are extremely proud to deliver to the market this collaborative project between two exciting entities. The blend they put together really makes a statement for both companies and I can’t wait to hear the customers reaction”, said a Santa Clara spokesperson.

Wrapper: Habana 2000® Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: Tabacalera Fernandez S.A. (Nicaragua)
Packaging: 20-ct boxes
Vitolas: 5
Price: $7.50 – $9.00


Vitolas available:
Robusto: 5 x 52
Belicoso: 6 x 52 REVIEWED TODAY
Toro: 6 x 52
Gordo: 6 x 60
Churchill: 7 x 50



The cigar is well made and dark but not nearly as dark as most maduros. The cigar has a nice feel in the hand.





I clipped only about 1/4 inch from the belicoso cap and the test draw was pretty good; not great but I figured it would open up a little after light up. The initial flavors were an orange citrus that reminds me of the Pez candy, a little sweet cream, and a little brown sugar. I say "a little" because those sweet flavors are matched and then some by the heavy worn leather and black coffee. There was also black pepper rated at an 8. The leather is by far the lead flavor in intensity. At this point there is plenty of sweetness but it is matched by the heavy leather notes.




About 1 1/2 inches in (22 minutes) and the burn is perfect. I would still say you have a sweet citrus as the main sweeter flavor but with the heavy leather it could also be called a sweet cedar. I don't have the sweet cream notes any longer but the brown sugar is still there. Black coffee continues to hold the base. The black pepper remains very good. The black pepper is also very good on the finish, which is one of an earthy cream with some light brown sugar notes. The cigar is medium to full bodied. I can start to feel the ligero. 





Close to the midpoint (39 minutes) there are roasted almonds in the mix of flavors. The sweet notes of citrus/cedar and brown sugar is still there but it's getting more subdued due to the increasing leather notes. The percentage of the notes is roughly 60 leather/coffee to 40 sweeter notes. The cigar is getting darker as it burns. In the mix of those flavors are now roasted almonds. The cigar is still medium to full bodied but leaning hard to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. 





 With 2 inches remaining (59 minutes) the black coffee notes have exploded! They are massive. They are equal to, or surpassing the leather notes. The sweeter notes are getting pushed to the background. The cigar is now full bodied. The cigar continues to turn darker.






As the cigar ended (1 hour 13 minutes) there were no changes from the last segment. The cigar is very full bodied now. There were lots of black coffee notes, generous amounts of leather, and modest amounts of sweet notes. The cigar continued to get darker and darker. This is quite a different A. J. cigar from recent ones I reviewed. While this was a good cigar I found myself thinking that I could not smoke it every day. This is a powerhouse from A. J. If you are someone who likes heavy leather and black coffee cigars with modest sweetness this is for you. These are available now.


Score: 91


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