We may never know what started the infamous feud between Shakespeare’s Montagues and Capulets, but I can tell you the nature of the feud between Romeo and Alec. The Romeo I refer to is the cigar brand Romeo y Julieta, and Mr. Alec hails from the Alec Bradley Cigar Company in America.
Alec Bradley has been in the cigar business for over 20 years. Not that impressive when you compare it to Romeo who has been in the cigar world for 140years. However, Alec is hastily making up for lost time. The American cigar company has launched over 20 different kinds of cigars, while Romeo is around the 10 cigar mark. Today I am going to do a comparison between Romeo y Julieta Reserva and Alec Bradley Cigar Company New York.
First up is the Reserva. This stogie is made with tobacco from Honduras and Ecuador plus a Connecticut wrapper. R and J cigars are known for having a classic, authentic taste. Each cigar makes you feel like you are in the heart of Havana, Cuba. This one is no different. The first third is a taste of hay, cedar, and leather. These flavours fade into some spice, pepper and earth into the second third. The last third combines all the flavours. Overall this cigar is not complex. A good indication of this was the label. R and J always have the same basic red and white labels. There is no proof that labels make or break a cigar, but for me-the label matters and a nicer presentation means a nicer cigar overall. I am always inclined to use the label as a deciding factor.
For the seasoned cigar smoker, R and J Reserva may bore you a bit, as the flavour doesn’t evolve much over time. I would say this cigar is perfect for an outdoor party at night in the heat of summer. It’s aroma is not too overpowering on the tobacco smell, and it picks up soft hints of spice and jasmine. If you are a beginner, you can definitely try this one and not worry about it being too strong.
Moving on to the Alec Bradley and the big apple. The New York cigar comes in different sub categories: Declaration, Independence, Liberty and Six-two. I have the Declaration. The tobacco used for New York is a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan. The label is quite nice, big and thick, and boasts a nice art deco style drawing of the Empire State Building. This is the second Alec Bradley cigar I have had, and so far it is off to a good start. The first notes have hay and apples. Not sure if they included the apple taste as a play on words, but it works. Further into the first third is an apple and spice taste. This slowly transitions into a cream and spice taste for the second third. Once you get into the last third, the spice becomes more powerful with hints of cherry and black licorice. If you are looking for a good cigar to enjoy mid morning during autumn,you can’t go wrong with Alec Bradley New York.
The Alec Bradley New York definitely has more of an interesting flavour palate than the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real, however the experience is ultimately subjective. If you want something that is a bit different than your average cigar, Alec is the way to go. If you like your smokes to be classic and no fuss, Romeo is your choice. Both of these sticks are medium bodied, so cigar smokers of all levels can enjoy.
The final verdict: Julieta shall have a secret steamy affair with Alec, but will return to Romeo as he is the best as what he does.
