It’s always fun going on an overseas excursion to idyllic surroundings, where the weather is warm, the water is cool and the nights never end. Even better then, when you have some of your favourite Cuban cigars on hand to enjoy the occasion. The problem is figuring out how best to pack them. Naturally, one won’t be taking their personal humidor with them, and whilst leather cigar cases do keep cigars in tact - it’s only a short-term solution and you’re limited with the amount of cigars you can actually bring.
Romeo y Julieta Tubos are available to shop now
Additionally, travel cases can often come in handy but there’s a sense of clunkiness that isn’t exactly in keeping with our audience’s rakish elan. I like to believe it was this exact scenario that prompted Waldo Bradden to do something about it. Bradden, the former president of the H. Upmann factory, actually had the idea for tubed cigars as a solution for distributing and selling them more widely, whilst minimising the risk of damage during transit. In 1933, his development was complete, and the world would get to witness the very first cigar encased in aluminium, guaranteeing its condition, remaining intact and forever protected.
But that wasn’t the only advantage. These tubes were essentially blank canvases for brands to advertise on. Logos and eye-catching designs would adorn these tubes and a new way to discover, experience and enjoy cigars — and the brands that made them — was born. Naturally, these tubes were designed to maintain the cigar’s flavour so storage is generally a no-brainer. However, if you are still looking to purchase these cigars with an intent to age and mature them, simply keep them out of their tubes and in your humidor. Keep the tubes, though, for when you’re finally ready to smoke these fine cigars in overseas destinations. The moment you break them out will be a moment to remember.
The Romeo y Julieta No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3
Romeo y Julieta was established in 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Manin Garcia. The story goes that the name of the brand was inspired by factory workers who would work whilst listening to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Just under thirty years later, the brand would be taken over by Jose Rodriguez Fernandez who subsequently made Romeo y Julieta one of the biggest brands in the cigar world. With a wide selection of cigars available in our online shop, this time we wanted to highlight their incredible Tubos — No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3.
The Romeo y Julieta No. 1 cigar is best described as creamy. It may have something to do with its Cremas vitola which measured at 140mm by a 40 ring gauge. The longest format of the three, this medium body smoke has a beautiful chocolate flavour with hints of nuttiness — a wonderful combination and pairs well with coffee, chocolate, rum and generally anything spicy or earthy. No. 2 comes in slightly shorter and wider — 129mm by a 45 ring gauge — otherwise simply put as a Petit Coronas vitola. It might be shorter but it’s just as punchy, delivering a kick of spiciness before mellowing out with cedar, leather and coffee notes.
Keep them in their cases for your travels, or store in your humidor to age
Finally, No. 3 is not only the shortest of the three, but one of the smallest format smokes in general. Nevertheless, what it lacks in size it makes up for in flavour. The Coronitas vitola is a special format amongst time poor cigar aficionados, measuring at 117mm by 40 ring gauge. It’s incredibly powerful in spite of its side: a medium-bodied smoke with leather and cedar flavours. So, whichever cigar you opt for, it’ll certainly mark the occasion, however you choose to spend it.