Sometimes it takes a return to the past to move into the future, and so it is with the Romeo y Julieta Viejo E cigar. For a famous legacy brand already firmly rooted in the history of cigars, this means stripping away all pretense and creating a frontmark where the only consideration is taste. No flashy packaging, no glitteringly rare and grown-on-one-tiny-farm-atop-a-volcano-by-an-old-blind-man-and-his-wife wrapper, no BS. Just quality longleaf filler from Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican beneath an unassuming but intensely flavorful Mexican San Andres Maduro outer covering, with each medium-strength 6” X 54 stick given a light press before being packed into simple cabinet boxes.
Even by Romeo y Julieta’s normally reserved designs, the minimalist gold with black lettering band that adorns the Viejo E seems a bit of an understatement for the perfectly applied, oily, and toothy San Andres Maduro wrapper smelling of hay and wood. From a cold test flush with cocoa and nuts, a lit Viejo vitola begins with a rush of black pepper and spice before mellowing into sweeter, creamier flavors. Leather, cedar, and caramel all flow to the palate through a draw that rewards slow, contemplative puffs. As the burn line marches towards the nub, rich cocoa and espresso make supporting appearances, but the overall profile remains smooth and friendly.
A solid cigar at any price, you’d be remiss to pass by the affordable Romeo y Juileta Viejo E without at least a second glance and a serious thought given to grabbing a box. Whether part of your morning routine with a cup o’ joe or as a solid companion to after dinner drinks, you’ll find plenty to like in these delicious sticks. Go for it.
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