Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills

Why Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills Became My Default Recommendation

Look, I’ll be straight with you – when someone walks into my local B&M asking for their first “real” Cuban cigar, I don’t hesitate anymore. Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills. Every damn time. And I’ve been doing this for over two decades now, so trust me when I say I’ve made plenty of mistakes with recommendations over the years.

The thing is, most people expect me to point them toward a Cohiba or maybe a Montecristo No. 2. But here’s the controversial bit – I think the RyJ Wide Churchill is actually a better introduction to what Cuban cigars are really about. It’s got character without being overwhelming, complexity without being confusing, and that classic Romeo elegance that’ll spoil you for everything else.

I remember my first box back in ’03 (or was it ’04? Hell, the years blur together sometimes). Picked them up during a trip to Switzerland – yeah, I know, not exactly Havana, but the Swiss tobacco shops know their stuff. Cracked one open that evening on the hotel balcony, and it just clicked. This was what I’d been searching for without even knowing it.

First Impressions That Actually Matter

The construction on these wide churchills is usually pretty solid, though I’ve noticed some variation depending on the year and box code. The wrapper’s got that classic Colorado shade – not too dark, not too light. Sometimes you’ll get a slightly oily sheen that just screams quality, other times it’s more matte. Both smoke fine, so don’t get hung up on appearances.

What really gets me is the pre-light aroma. It’s subtle but distinct – kind of like opening an old leather-bound book in a cedar library. Sounds pretentious as hell, I know, but that’s genuinely what comes to mind every time. My buddy Jim (we’ve been smoking together for fifteen years) always says it smells like “expensive wood,” which is probably more accurate and definitely less flowery.

The cold draw is usually perfect. Not too tight, not too loose. If you’re getting resistance, don’t panic – sometimes these need a few minutes to open up once you get them lit. I’ve learned not to judge a wide churchill by its first few puffs.

The Smoke Journey (My Way)

Forget that “first third, second third, final third” nonsense. That’s not how cigars actually work, and it’s definitely not how the RyJ Wide Churchill develops. This cigar evolves more like a conversation than a textbook chapter.

The opening is gentle. Almost too gentle if you’re used to full-bodied smokes. I’ve had people tell me they thought they got a dud because it wasn’t punching them in the face immediately. That’s the Romeo style, though – it draws you in rather than demanding your attention.

The early flavors are predominantly cedar and cream, with this underlying sweetness that’s not quite honey but in that neighborhood. Maybe more like… have you ever had really good vanilla ice cream that’s been sitting next to cinnamon sticks? Yeah, that’s closer.

About an inch in (and this is where it gets interesting), you start picking up these little spice notes. Not pepper – that’s more of a Partagás thing. This is more like baking spices. Nutmeg, maybe some clove if the tobacco’s been aged well. I’ve had boxes where this never really develops, and others where it becomes the dominant character. Cuban tobacco’s funny that way.

The middle section is where these wide churchills really shine. The flavors start layering instead of just transitioning. You’ve still got that cedar foundation, but now there’s leather creeping in, maybe some coffee bean notes if you’re lucky. Not espresso – more like the smell of coffee beans before they’re ground. Earthy but bright.

Here’s where I need to mention something that might piss off the purists: I think these cigars benefit from a tiny bit of age, but not too much. Fresh ones can be a bit one-dimensional. Five-year-old ones are usually phenomenal. Ten-year-old ones? Sometimes they lose that Romeo charm and become too mellow. I know guys who disagree completely, but that’s been my experience across probably thirty boxes over the years.

The final portion (and by this I mean the last two inches or so) is where you either love or hate this cigar. The intensity ramps up significantly. That gentle Romeo becomes more demanding, more complex. Leather turns to tobacco barn. Spices get more pronounced. Some people find it harsh – I think it’s finally showing its true Cuban colors.

What I Actually Drink With These

Coffee pairings are obvious but overrated with wide churchills. The cigar’s too subtle in the beginning and too complex at the end. Coffee just muddies the experience.

My go-to is actually a good aged rum. Specifically, I’ve had great luck with Ron Zacapa 23 or, if I’m feeling spendy, some Appleton Estate 21. The rum’s sweetness plays beautifully with that early vanilla character, and the aged complexity matches what the cigar develops into.

For whiskey drinkers (which I usually am), I’d suggest something Highland rather than Islay. The smoke from a peated Scotch fights with the cigar smoke. Macallan 18 is stupid expensive but absolutely perfect. Glenlivet 15 works almost as well for half the price.

Wine? Honestly, I’ve never found a wine that works with Romeo y Julieta cigars. Reds are too tannic, whites get overwhelmed. Port might work, but I’ve never bothered to experiment seriously.

But here’s my weird pairing that everyone thinks is crazy: good bourbon and dark chocolate. Not together, but alternating. Take a draw, sip the bourbon, let it settle, then a small piece of 70% cacao dark chocolate. The chocolate bridges the gap between the cigar and bourbon flavors in this way that just works. Try it before you judge me.

Who Should Smoke These (And Who Shouldn’t)

Perfect for beginners who want to understand Cuban cigars without getting their ass kicked. Perfect for experienced smokers who want something sophisticated without being overwhelming. Perfect for business settings where you need something impressive but not intimidating.

If you’re the type who needs every cigar to be a full-bodied powerhouse, skip these. You’ll be disappointed and you’ll miss the point entirely. These aren’t about strength – they’re about finesse.

Also, if you’re impatient, these aren’t for you. Wide churchills demand time. You can’t rush them, you can’t smoke them quickly, and you definitely can’t multitask effectively while smoking one. I’ve tried smoking these while working and it’s a waste of good tobacco.

Women seem to love these more than most Cuban cigars, probably because they’re not trying to prove anything. Just good tobacco doing what good tobacco does.

Storage and Insider Stuff

Keep them at 65% humidity if you can. I know everyone says 70%, but I’ve found Romeo y Julietas smoke better slightly drier. They burn more evenly and the flavors are cleaner.

Box codes matter more with these than some other marcas. I’ve noticed the post-2010 production is more consistent but maybe slightly less complex than older stuff. Not worse, necessarily, just different. The quality control got better but some of that Cuban unpredictability got lost.

If you’re buying online (and we all are these days), try to get some info about storage conditions. These wide churchills show water damage and temperature fluctuations more obviously than some other vitolas. Cracked wrappers, soft spots, spongy texture – all red flags.

One more thing: don’t age these in cedar boxes indefinitely. I had a box I forgot about for eight years, and while they weren’t bad, they’d lost most of their character. Romeo y Julietas seem to have a sweet spot for aging, and it’s shorter than you might think.

The Stuff People Always Ask Me

How long do they take to smoke? Plan for two hours minimum. I usually budget two and a half hours if I really want to enjoy it properly. Rushing kills the experience.

Are they worth the price? Compared to what? Compared to most non-Cuban cigars, absolutely. Compared to other Cuban cigars, they’re actually pretty reasonable. Compared to a night out at a decent restaurant, yeah, they’re worth it.

How do I know if I got a good box? Smoke one within a week of getting them. If it’s good immediately, the box is probably solid. If it’s harsh or flat, let them rest for a month and try again. If they’re still not right, you might have storage issues.

Can I smoke these every day? You could, but why would you want to? These are special occasion cigars. Not because they’re expensive (though they’re not cheap), but because they deserve your attention. Save them for when you can really appreciate what they’re offering.

What if I don’t taste all those flavors you mentioned? Then you don’t. Palate development takes time, and everyone’s different anyway. Don’t worry about “getting” every nuance. Just enjoy what you do taste and let the rest come naturally.

Bottom Line After Twenty-Plus Years

The Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill isn’t flashy. It’s not going to impress people who measure cigars by ring gauge or strength ratings. It’s not going to give you bragging rights at the cigar lounge.

What it will do is teach you why Cuban cigars earned their reputation in the first place. It’s elegant without being pretentious, complex without being confusing, and satisfying without being overwhelming. After two decades of smoking everything I could get my hands on, I keep coming back to these.

And honestly? In a world where Cuban cigars are getting more expensive and sometimes less consistent, the RyJ Wide Churchill remains a reliable pleasure. Not groundbreaking, not revolutionary – just consistently good tobacco rolled well and aged properly.

That’s rarer than you might think these days.