What is a Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales cigar?

The Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales is a machine-made Cuban cigar that serves as an accessible entry point into the brand's portfolio. Technically, this vitola is known by its factory name "Petit Coronas." It offers the classic Romeo y Julieta flavor profile—typically characterized by earthy, woody, and slightly nutty notes—at a lower price point than their hand-rolled counterparts. While it lacks the complex construction of premium hand-made cigars, it provides a consistent, mild-to-medium bodied smoke for those seeking a short, everyday Cuban experience.

What is the difference between Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales and hand-rolled Romeo cigars?

The primary difference lies in the construction method, which significantly impacts the smoking experience and price. The Excepcionales is a machine-made cigar using short filler, resulting in a faster burn and a looser draw compared to hand-rolled long-filler cigars like the Romeo y Julieta Churchill. While hand-rolled options offer greater complexity and nuance, the Excepcionales prioritizes value and consistency. It is designed for smokers who want the signature Romeo y Julieta taste without the time commitment or cost of a premium hand-rolled vitola.

How long does a Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales last?

Given its "Petit Coronas" factory designation, the Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales is designed for a shorter smoking duration than standard Coronas. Smokers can expect a burn time of approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Its compact size makes it a practical choice for a quick break or as a morning cigar. Because it is machine-made with short filler, the combustion rate is generally faster than hand-rolled cigars, so it is best smoked at a moderate pace to avoid overheating the tobacco and altering the flavor profile.

What is a Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales cigar?

The Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales is a machine-made Cuban cigar that serves as an accessible entry point into the brand's portfolio. Technically, this vitola is known by its factory name "Petit Coronas." It offers the classic Romeo y Julieta flavor profile—typically characterized by earthy, woody, and slightly nutty notes—at a lower price point than their hand-rolled counterparts. While it lacks the complex construction of premium hand-made cigars, it provides a consistent, mild-to-medium bodied smoke for those seeking a short, everyday Cuban experience.

What is the difference between Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales and hand-rolled Romeo cigars?

The primary difference lies in the construction method, which significantly impacts the smoking experience and price. The Excepcionales is a machine-made cigar using short filler, resulting in a faster burn and a looser draw compared to hand-rolled long-filler cigars like the Romeo y Julieta Churchill. While hand-rolled options offer greater complexity and nuance, the Excepcionales prioritizes value and consistency. It is designed for smokers who want the signature Romeo y Julieta taste without the time commitment or cost of a premium hand-rolled vitola.

How long does a Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales last?

Given its "Petit Coronas" factory designation, the Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales is designed for a shorter smoking duration than standard Coronas. Smokers can expect a burn time of approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Its compact size makes it a practical choice for a quick break or as a morning cigar. Because it is machine-made with short filler, the combustion rate is generally faster than hand-rolled cigars, so it is best smoked at a moderate pace to avoid overheating the tobacco and altering the flavor profile.

Cigar Information

Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales

The Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales represents a fascinating chapter in the storied history of one of Cuba's most celebrated cigar brands. This machine-made vitola, known by its factory name "Petit Coronas," served as an accessible entry point into the Romeo y Julieta portfolio for decades before its eventual discontinuation.

History and Background

The Excepcionales made its debut prior to 1960, positioning it among the earlier releases in the brand's extensive catalog. For more than four decades, this cigar maintained its place in regular production, offering smokers a consistent and approachable smoking experience. The cigar's long production run finally came to an end in 2002, when it was officially discontinued from the Romeo y Julieta lineup.

Specifications

Cigar Name	Excepcionales
Factory Name	Petit Coronas
Ring Gauge	42
Length	129 mm (5⅛″)
Official Weight	8.46 g
Construction	Machine-made
Band	Standard band A

Construction and Presentation

As a machine-made cigar, the Excepcionales was produced using automated manufacturing processes rather than traditional hand-rolling techniques. This method of construction allowed for greater consistency across production runs while keeping costs accessible for everyday smokers.

The cigar featured Romeo y Julieta's standard band A, the classic presentation that has become synonymous with the brand's identity throughout the years.

Packaging Options

Throughout its production lifetime, the Excepcionales was available in several packaging configurations:

Dress box of 10 cigars, each wrapped in cellophane
Dress box of 25 cigars, each wrapped in cellophane
Dress box of 25 cigars without cellophane

This variety of presentation options gave retailers and consumers flexibility in purchasing, whether seeking smaller quantities for personal consumption or larger boxes for aging and collection purposes.

Legacy

Though no longer in production, the Romeo y Julieta Excepcionales remains a point of interest for cigar historians and collectors of discontinued Cuban vitolas. Its four-decade-plus production run speaks to the enduring appeal of the Romeo y Julieta brand and the demand for quality machine-made cigars during the twentieth century.

Questions & Answers

Back to Encyclopedia