The Romeo y Julieta marque was established in 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Manin Garcia. The brand is the Spanish name for Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Between 1885 and 1900, the brand won numerous awards at different tasting exhibitions. However, the brand truly bloomed after it was acquired by Jose "Pepin" Rodriguez Fernandez, former head of the Cabañas factory in Havana, and his firm, Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia, in 1903. Being a very cosmopolitan man, Rodriguez constantly travelled across Europe and the Americas, actively promoting his brand, and entering his horse, the aptly named Julieta, in racing events across the world. As a result of his salesmanship, the brand became exceptionally popular around the world among wealthy customers, many of whom demanded personalized bands for their cigars. At its height, as many as 2000 personalized cigar bands were produced for customers. The branded was also known at this time for specializing in figurado cigars, such as perfectos and pirámides, with over a thousand such shapes believed to have been in production. Sir Winston Churchill was perhaps the brand's most famous devotee. The flagship vitola of the brand is named in his honor, a long 7" by 47ring gauge cigar known as the Churchill. After Rodriguez's death in 1954, the revolution, and the subsequent nationalization of the tobacco industry, the brand was moved to La Romana in the Dominican Republic, where production of a Romeo y Julieta cigar for the American market continues today under the direction of Altadis SA. The Cuban government nationalized the brand and still produces and distributes it worldwide as one of its top-selling global brands.
Products
''Vitolas'' in the Romeo y Julieta Line
The following list of vitolas de salida within the Romeo y Julieta marque lists their size and ring gauge in Imperial, their vitolas de galera, and their common name in American cigar slang. Hand-Made Vitolas
Belicoso - 5" × 52, Campana, a belicoso
Belvedere - 4" × 39, Belvedere, a short panetela
Cazadores - 6" x 44, a lonsdale
Cedro de Luxe No. 1 - 6" × 42, Cervantes, a lonsdale
Cedro de Luxe No. 2 - 5" × 42, Corona, a corona
Cedro de Luxe No. 3 - 5" × 42, Mareva, a petit corona
Churchill - 7" × 47, Julieta No. 2, a churchill
Corona - 5" × 42, Corona, a corona
Coronita en Cedro - 5" × 40, Petit Cetro, a petit corona
Exhibición No. 3 - 5" × 46, Corona Gorda, a grand corona
Exhibición No. 4 - 5" × 48, Hermoso No. 4, a corona extra
Petit Corona - 5" × 42, Mareva, a petit corona
Petit Julieta - 3" × 30, Entreacto, a small panetela
Petit Princess - 4" × 40, Perlas, a petit corona
Regalía de Londres - 4" × 40, Coronita, a petit corona
