Connoisseur’s Corner: Romeo y Julieta Fabuloso (1985)
It’s surprising how little this “A”-sized cigar tastes like cedar, seeing how it spent so many years in a cedar box. Instead, this is a nutty, fruity smoke, with light hints of peach tea that transition to more festive, concentrated notes of dried apricot and fig paste. There’s some lavender on the mid-palate that plays off the nutty foundation of almonds and hazelnuts. At more than nine inches long, the Fabuloso is easily a two-hour smoke. —Gregory Mottola
This is a spectacular, well-aged Churchill with a beautiful, brownish-red wrapper. The burn and draw are absolutely perfect. At the outset, there’s a touch of light, bitter cocoa and earthiness on the front of the palate, and then as it warms up, the mid-palate turns to black pepper with a soft, smooth earthy finish. This 33-year-old cigar still has plenty of life left. —Gordon Mott
This thick, eight-inch-long smoke was rolled in Miami, back when La Gloria Cubana was a tiny brand made in a small factory in Little Havana. The wrapper is toothy, with dots of plume, and despite being close to 30 years old, the cigar has plenty of flavor. It’s rich and earthy, with notes of German chocolate, a bit of coconut and a nutty finish. A medium-bodied, pleasant taste of the past. —David Savona
This is an old-school lonsdale, a slim and elegant smoke that is no longer part of the Partagás portfolio. The wrapper has that reddish colorado hue that’s so alluring, and it has a fine draw. Floral at first, the old smoke takes some time to wake up. When it does, it has the flavor of a cup of cappuccino, creamy and rich with a smattering of cinnamon. Well made, elegant and beautifully balanced. —David Savona
