Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Adds 505 Nicaragua
Altadis U.S.A. is dialing up the famed Placencia cigar family to produce its first-ever, Nicaraguan-made Romeo y Julieta cigar. Romeo 505 Nicaragua, named after Nicaragua's calling code, will the Romeo by Romeo y Julieta line, an incarnation of the main non-Cuban Romeo y Julieta brand.
The new blend, made at Plasencia Tobacco S.A. and composed of tobaccos from three of Nicaragua's well-known growing regions, includes a Habano-seed wrapper and binder from Jalapa and a mix of fillers from Jalapa, Estelí and Condega. Romeo 505 Nicaragua is offered in four sizes, all of which are box pressed: robusto, measuring 5 1/2 inches by 50 ring gauge; toro, 6 by 52; Churchill, 7 by 50; and piramides, 6 1/2 by 54. Each cigar will cost around $10, depending on the size, and come packaged in boxes of 20.
Astute observers of the Romeo y Julieta portfolio may the RyJ by Romeo y Julieta, which debuted in 2013. It consisted of only Nicaraguan tobaccos, but it was produced in Honduras, making Romeo 505 the first all-Nicaraguan Romeo y Julieta produced in Nicaragua.
The Romeo by Romeo y Julieta line was created by Altadis in 2013 as a fuller-bodied offering to the mild Romeo y Julieta brand. Romeo 505 Nicaragua is the third offshoot of the Romeo line, following Romeo Añejo, which showcased a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, and Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Aging Room, a collaboration cigar between Altadis and Rafael Nodal of Boutique Blends.
This is third time in recent years that Altadis has called upon the Placencias for its Nicaraguan tobacco. First was for the Montecristo Espada in 2014 and then Espada by Montecristo Estoque, which debuted at last year's IPR trade show in New Orleans.
Romeo 505 Nicaragua has already shipped to select retailers and will begin a full-scale rollout in September.
