Romeo y Julieta Fabulosos No. 2 Cigar Experience Review
Every year, Habanos releases the “Colección Habanos”. A very limited edition cigar that comes in a beautiful book humidor. The 2016 edition of that was the Colección Habanos 2016 Volumen XIV, Serie B Romeo y Julileta Fabulosos No. 2. Each of the numbered book humidors come with 20 cigars.
Recently, we held an exclusive Macallan single malt whisky tasting, which were paired with three Habanos cigars. During the evening each and every guest present was in absolute awe of one of the cigars we offered. It was the cigar I am reviewing at the moment. Being the organizer of the event, I could not light up the Fabulosos No. 2 that night, but I did put one aside for some one on one time with the beast. The time has come.
THE BRAND – ROMEO Y JULIETA
The Romeo Y Julieta marca is one of the prestigious and best-selling from the Habanos portfolio. The brand was first launched in the 1850s by Inocencio Álvarez Rodríguez and José “Manin” Garcia Garcia. In 1903, a socialite by the name of “Don Pepin” purchased the factory. By the 1950s, it became an internationally recognized cigar brand. Don Pepin was avant-garde for his presentation and printing methods, producing cigar bands that had 100% pure gold foil.
Romeo y Julieta did release a cigar named “Fabulosos #2” in 1985 measuring up at an impressive 47 ring gauge by 9 ¼ inches. That is the exact same size as the classic Montecristo A; a Gran Coronas.
ABOUT THE CIGAR – ROMEO Y JULIETA :: FABULOSOS NO. 2
BOX DATE: LGR DIC 2017
SIZE: 52 X 7.5 inches.
FACTORY NAME: Double Robusto
1st Part
The unlit cigar aromas are just fantastic! If it smells like anything barn like you know it will taste great. That’s a concept that is hard for non-cigar smokers to comprehend, but well we all know it’s true. In terms of flavor, it is soft, elegant tobacco for the first half inch. The strength profile is mild. This large cigar is well rolled and has a perfect and even draw.
2nd Part
The flavor and strength has not evolved much. Considering the ring gauge and length of the cigar, it does continue to draw exceptionally well. I am hoping more flavor will commence soon.
After about 20 minutes of smoking the cigar there are some distinct notes on the palette, producing a sweetness similar to a pound cake.
3rd Part
The size of cigar carries the assumption that it would last for approximately an hour and a half to two hours. My trusty little chronograph reading is at 45 minutes, with the cigar already down to his last few inches. It has been smoking very, very easy, but also quite fast. The big flavor burst I was anticipating has not shown up yet.
The ending of the cigar offers some intensity, and that sweet tobacco flavor from the initial puffs have returned.
SUMMARY
To say the cigar was disappointing would not be fair. After all, we enjoy cigars because of the experience it gives us, not because of the tasting notes we write in a review. From a purely cigar smoking experience, it was very delightful. Anytime you pick up a bigger size cigar, you feel good about having the opportunity to smoke it. These are not your everyday cigars! From the perspective that this is a very rare and special cigar, the expectation level was very high and some more flavors and evolution on the cigar would have been nice.
SCORE
Construction: 10 on 10.
Flavor: 7 on 10.
Evolution: 5 on 10.
Overall: 7.5 on 10
PAIRING SUGGESTION:
White wine Riesling would match the cigars smoothness.
A crisp, citrus-y champagne or sparkling wine would also pair nicely.
For Beers – a blond Pale Ale like the St. Ambroise Pale Ale.
Porto – a white porto I believe would marry nicely with this cigar.
Thank you for reading! Feel free to leave comments.
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