Amid the myriad of new releases at the annual IPCPR Convention and Trade Show, there are always a few that stand out for one reason or another: size, price, presentation, or in this case, name. The 1875 Romeo y Julieta was one of Altadis USA’s featured new releases, along with the Espada by Montecristo and H. Upmann The Banker, and when Brooks Whittington and I first saw the cigar, we had the same reaction: isn’t the name a bit confusing? The answer is undoubtedly yes, but Altadis USA seems to think the cigar will be able to carve out its own place both in retail humidors and in the minds of consumers. Why is the name confusing, you ask? It starts with the 1875 component, which is the year the Cuban marca was fully established, though even that isn’t entirely accurate as the line was launched in the 1850s and officially registered in 1873. Hopefully, we all know about why Cuban cigars can’t be legally acquired in the United States, but that hasn’t stopped the names from transferring over. If you’ve ever purchased the non-Cuban Romeo y Julieta, you’ve likely noticed the 1875 date on the band, and there is currently ...
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