Romeo y Julieta Cigars: The Complete Guide to Havana's Love Story
By Michel Besson, Fine Cigars Club
No cigar brand wears its romance as openly as Romeo y Julieta. Named for Shakespeare's doomed lovers, it is one of the most recognised names in the cigar world — a Havana marque built on a love story, propelled to global fame by an eccentric owner obsessed with the theme, and immortalised by the most famous cigar smoker of the twentieth century, Sir Winston Churchill. Behind the romance sits a serious cigar: elegant, balanced and beautifully made, one of the great everyday Havanas. This guide covers the history, the factory and tobacco behind the brand, what defines the Romeo y Julieta taste, the range we stock, how to choose, and the questions smokers ask most.
The History of Romeo y Julieta
Romeo y Julieta was founded in 1875 by Inocencio Álvarez and José "Manín" García. The name was inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet — a play so beloved that it was among the stories professional lectores (factory readers) would recite aloud to the rollers as they worked, a tradition in Havana's cigar factories. From the start, the brand traded on romance and quality, and it won four gold medals at international exhibitions between 1885 and 1900 — medals still displayed on the brand's logo today.
The Don Pepín era — romance as a business strategy
The brand's legend was truly built by one man: José "Don Pepín" Rodríguez Fernández, who took the helm in 1903. Backed by Spanish investors, Don Pepín recognised the power of the name and pursued the Shakespearean theme with a single-mindedness that bordered on obsession — and made Romeo y Julieta world-famous in the process.
The stories are wonderful, and true. He named his prize racehorse "Julieta." He kept a stock of some 20,000 personalised cigar bands, so that wealthy and famous clients could have their own name on the ring of their Romeo y Julietas — an extraordinary piece of early luxury marketing. He even travelled to Verona, Italy, and tried to buy the Palazzo Capuleto — "Juliet's house," with its famous balcony — so that customers could smoke his cigars in the very rooms where the lovers were said to have met. The astonished Veronese authorities refused. Undeterred, Don Pepín returned to Havana and built a replica of Juliet's balcony into his cigar factory instead. He even kept two German shepherds on the factory roof — named, of course, Romeo and Julieta.
The factory — then and now
Don Pepín's grand factory stood at Calle Belascoaín 2A in Centro Habana, a few steps from the seafront Malecón, dedicated in 1905. In its heyday it employed some 1,100 workers, including 750 torcedores (rollers), with the production so well organised that company trucks ran the finished cigars straight to the nearby harbour. Sadly, that historic building was demolished in 2011, and the street is now called Padre Varela.
Romeo y Julieta cigars are still made in Havana to this day, under Cuba's Habanos S.A., and the brand's Centro Habana factory remains one of the city's landmark cigar houses — so much so that it has at times hosted rollers from the H. Upmann factory during renovations. As with all genuine Cuban Havanas, the tobacco comes from the Vuelta Abajo region of Pinar del Río in western Cuba — the most famous tobacco-growing terroir on earth, whose mineral-rich soil and microclimate produce the wrapper and filler leaves at the heart of every Cuban cigar.
The Churchill connection
No history of Romeo y Julieta is complete without Sir Winston Churchill. The British Prime Minister was a famously devoted cigar smoker, and became such an admirer of the brand that Romeo y Julieta named its signature 7 inch × 47 ring gauge cigar "The Churchill" in his honour. The name stuck so firmly that the entire cigar world adopted it — to this day, a cigar of roughly those dimensions is called a Churchill, whoever makes it. Few brands can claim to have given the industry one of its standard size names; Romeo y Julieta did.
What Defines the Romeo y Julieta Taste
Romeo y Julieta is the classic medium-bodied Havana — beautifully balanced, aromatic and approachable, without ever being bland. The house style leans on cedar, toasted nuts, cocoa, coffee and a gentle sweetness, with a smooth, creamy texture and a touch of spice. It is elegant rather than powerful, which is exactly why it has been a favourite for nearly 150 years: refined enough to reward the connoisseur, accessible enough for someone relatively new to Cuban cigars.
That balance makes it one of the most versatile Havanas in the humidor — an easy daytime smoke that still has the depth for an evening. If Partagás is the bold, earthy Havana and H. Upmann the delicate, elegant one, Romeo y Julieta sits gracefully in the middle: the all-rounder, and for many smokers the definitive "everyday Cuban."
The Romeo y Julieta Range We Stock
We carry a selection of genuine Cuban Romeo y Julieta, from the modern-classic Wide Churchill to the super-premium Línea de Oro.
Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill
A modern classic, launched in 2010 to meet demand for wider cigars. The Wide Churchill takes the magic of the original Churchill and condenses it into a plumper, 55-ring-gauge "Montesco" format — medium-bodied, balanced and aromatic, with cedar, toasted nuts, cocoa and honeyed sweetness. A superb everyday Havana and a natural place to start with the brand.
Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro Dianas
The pinnacle of the range. Launched in 2020 for the brand's 145th anniversary, the Línea de Oro Dianas is a super-premium Toro, medium-to-full-bodied, presented with gold bands and a lacquered box. Creamy and refined, with cappuccino, mocha and almond, it sits alongside the Cohiba Siglo VI in size and prestige — Romeo y Julieta at its most luxurious.
Romeo y Julieta No. 2 and No. 3 Tubos
For a classic, convenient smoke — and a perfect gift — the tubed Romeos are hard to beat. The No. 2 Tubos and No. 3 Tubos present the brand's signature medium-bodied elegance in individual cedar-lined aluminium tubes that keep each cigar in perfect condition — ideal for travelling, for a jacket pocket, or for presenting to someone as a gift.
You can browse the full range on our Romeo y Julieta collection page.
Which Romeo y Julieta Should You Choose?
If you're new to the brand — start with the Wide Churchill. It's the modern-classic expression, medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, and shows exactly what Romeo y Julieta is about.
If you want a gift, or a smoke on the move — the No. 2 or No. 3 Tubos. The cedar-lined tube protects the cigar and presents it handsomely, which makes them our go-to Romeo for gifting.
If you want something special — the Línea de Oro Dianas. The brand's luxury line, a super-premium Toro for an occasion, in the same class as the Cohiba Siglo VI.
If you love elegant, balanced Havanas — Romeo y Julieta as a whole is for you. If you enjoy the refined side of Cuban cigars, it sits naturally alongside an H. Upmann — while those who prefer more power might compare a bolder Partagás Serie D No. 4. For the other great Havana houses, see our Cohiba and Montecristo guides.
How to Spot a Genuine Cuban Romeo y Julieta
As one of the most famous — and most counterfeited — Havana brands, it pays to buy carefully:
- Buy from a reputable source. Genuine Cuban cigars reach the UK through the official distributor, Hunters & Frankau, and carry the English Market Selection (EMS) mark — your first assurance of authenticity and correct storage.
- Check the box. Genuine boxes carry the Cuban government warranty seal, the "Habanos s.a." and "Hecho en Cuba / Totalmente a mano" markings, and a factory code and date stamp.
- Look at band and construction. Genuine Havanas are impeccably rolled, with a smooth draw and even burn. A crude band, spongy feel or uneven construction are warning signs.
We source all our Cuban Romeo y Julieta through Hunters & Frankau, so every cigar is genuine English Market Selection stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Romeo y Julieta, and when? Romeo y Julieta was founded in Havana in 1875 by Inocencio Álvarez and José "Manín" García. It was named after Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, a play that factory readers would recite aloud to the cigar rollers. The brand's global fame, however, was built after 1903 by a later owner, José "Don Pepín" Rodríguez Fernández.
Why is Romeo y Julieta associated with Winston Churchill? Sir Winston Churchill was a devoted admirer of the brand, and Romeo y Julieta named its signature 7 × 47 cigar "The Churchill" in his honour. The name was so widely adopted that a cigar of those dimensions is now called a Churchill regardless of maker — an industry-standard size that Romeo y Julieta effectively created.
Where are Romeo y Julieta cigars made, and where does the tobacco come from? Genuine Cuban Romeo y Julieta cigars are made in Havana, Cuba, under Habanos S.A., at the brand's historic Centro Habana factory. The tobacco is grown in the Vuelta Abajo region of Pinar del Río in western Cuba — the world's most famous tobacco terroir. (Note there is also a separate non-Cuban Romeo y Julieta made elsewhere for some markets; the cigars we stock are the original Cuban Havanas.)
Is Romeo y Julieta a strong cigar? No — it's the classic medium-bodied Havana: balanced, aromatic and approachable, with cedar, toasted nuts, cocoa, coffee and a gentle sweetness. That elegance makes it a superb everyday Cuban for newcomers and seasoned smokers alike. The premium Línea de Oro is a step up to medium-to-full.
What's the story about Don Pepín and Verona? Don Pepín Rodríguez, who ran the brand from 1903, was so devoted to the Shakespearean theme that he travelled to Verona and tried to buy the Palazzo Capuleto ("Juliet's house") so customers could smoke his cigars there. Refused, he built a replica of Juliet's balcony into his Havana factory instead — and named his racehorse, and even his two guard dogs, Julieta.
What's the difference between the Wide Churchill and the classic Churchill? The classic Churchill is the original 7 × 47 vitola named for Sir Winston. The Wide Churchill, launched in 2010, is a shorter, wider (55 ring gauge) modern take on it — a plumper format for smokers who prefer a wider ring gauge, while keeping the brand's balanced, medium-bodied character.
Explore our full range of genuine Cuban Romeo y Julieta cigars, or read our companion guides to Cohiba, Montecristo and H. Upmann.
Fine Cigars Club is a UK retailer of premium cigars. All Cuban cigars we sell are genuine Havanas supplied through official UK channels.
