Romeo y Julieta
Cigars

Founded in 1875 Cuba and named after the titular characters in Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Romeo y Julieta Cigars are one of the most recognizable and well-known premium cigar brands ever made. A favorite of the legendary statesman Winston Churchill, Romeo y Julieta Cigars are the favorite of aficionados across the country.

Founded by Inocencio Alvares and Manin Garcia in 1875, Romeo y Julieta Cigars were off to a hot start from the beginning. Between 1885 and 1900, Romeo y Julieta cigars won countless awards and accolades in numerous competitions, which are still proudly displayed on every box of Romeo y Julieta Cigars. However, Romeo y Julieta Cigars would soon see a meteoric rise in popularity around the world.

In 1903, Alvares and Garcia sold Romeo y Julieta Cigars to Jose “Pepin” Rodriguez Fernandez. Fernandez was the former boss of the famed Cabanas factory, and he was obsessed with Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. A man of high class and a socialite, Fernandez traveled all across the United States and Europe promoting Romeo y Julieta Cigars to the world’s wealthy. He even had a racing horse named Julieta.

With Romeo y Julieta Cigars’ popularity among members of high society, many customers had requested Fernandez create custom bands for their cigars. Over 20,000 unique and personalized bands were made for wealthy clients around the world, including Winston Churchill. Churchill was such a huge and public fan of Romeo y Julieta Cigars its main size was renamed in his honor, creating the famous Churchill vitola.

Fernandez would never see the turmoil that was soon to come for his beloved Romeo y Julieta Cigars. He passed in 1954 at the age of 88, and ownership passed on to his son. Five years later, Castro’s Communist Revolution swept across Cuba, and Romeo y Julieta Cigars, along with countless other Cuban brands, were nationalized by the Cuban government.

The younger Fernandez would keep the Romeo y Julieta Cigars trademark going in the U.S. until his passing in 1978, when the brand came under the purview of Hollco-Rohr. Romeo y Julieta Cigars were then made by the Quesada family in the Dominican Republic at MATASA for nearly 20 years. In 1998, Hollco-Rohr was spun into Altadis U.S.A. and was moved to Tabacalera de Garcia, where it remains today.

Although Romeo y Julieta Cigars has changed hands a few times, it still retains that same dedication to quality and luxury that made it a favorite among aficionados across the country. Today, they are blended by Rafael Nodal and the talented Grupo de Maestros.

Some of their top lines include the Romeo y Julieta 1875, the Reserva Real, and Romeo y Julieta Crafted by AJ Fernandez all blended to please the most discerning palates.

Still unsure what to choose? We have come up with a fantastic Romeo y Julieta buying guide to help you pick your favorite blend. But whichever one you choose, make sure you order your Romeo y Julieta Cigars online right here with JR.