Smoked: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Porto Real

Smoked at: Wetherington, Ohio

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Porto Real tubo panatela/lancero is made with Nicaraguan & Dominican filler, a Nicaraguan binder and covered in a smooth, soft sandpaper feeling, light tan colored Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper with barely visible small veins. It weighs in at 7 by 34.

The initial flavors are cedar, hay, earth, nuts and a sweet note. Oak becomes apparent with the cedar midway through the first third along with a very mild coffee note. By the second third, you can add cream, cinnamon and a floral hint to the mix. The cigar starts out mild bodied, medium strength and builds in both body and strength toward the finish, which I found a bit harsh and bitter.

The draw is tight – not uncommon with panatelas. I dare not risk using the Perfect Draw on a ring guage this small. A quick toothpick push opened it up a bit. It was still a little tight, but I could live with it – or smoke with it. The dark grey ash fell off several times. It provided reasonable smoke production. Once set on a port for a minute or more, the cigar constantly needed to be relit. This is one of my pet peeves with many panatela/lanceros. I’m tempted to say it’s a slow-burning cigar, but after my previous observation that could be somewhere between an oxymoron and stating the obvious. It took longer than usual to smoke – lit and unlit.

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Porto Real tubo panatela is a decent cigar. It just doesn’t rate with many Connecticuts I have smoked over the years. I would include Romeo’s Reserva Real Twisted on that list, although that cigar is often described as medium-full bodied with its barberpole of Habano and Connecticut. I find it more medium-mild. The Porto Real did not provide the same measure of enjoyment as the Twisted.