Romeo y Julieta Capuletos Edición Limitada 2016
Limited Release, Unflinching Intensity
The Romeo y Julieta Capuletos EL 2016 is a standout within the Habanos S.A. Edición Limitada programme — the annual series that releases small quantities of cigars in vitolas not normally produced by each brand, using aged tobacco from special harvests. The Capuletos arrived in 2016 with a 153mm by 53 format, pushing Romeo y Julieta firmly into medium-full territory.
Where the standard Romeo line favours delicacy and restraint, the Capuletos is the marque showing its teeth: richer, darker, and built for the kind of smoker who finds the everyday Churchills too genteel.
Specifications
Tasting Notes
From the first draw the Capuletos asserts itself — espresso, bitter chocolate, and charred cedar arrive in sequence, underpinned by a leathery depth that's unusual for the brand. The 53 ring gauge generates ample cool smoke, and the Edición Limitada wrapper, aged at least two years before rolling, lends a darker colorado-maduro hue and a corresponding richness to the opening third.
The middle section reveals complexity the standard line rarely touches: dried fig, walnut skin, and a savoury meatiness develop as the burn progresses. A refined pepper emerges on the retrohale but never dominates. The final third settles into toasted coffee and sweet spice, finishing with impressive length. This is Romeo y Julieta wearing a heavier coat, and it suits them.
Construction
Edición Limitada cigars receive heightened attention at the rolling table, and the Capuletos shows it. The wrapper is glossy and minimally veined, the cap triple-laminated and secure, and the draw calibrated to that ideal midpoint between resistance and ease. The burn line holds true from foot to band with negligible touch-ups.
Pairing Suggestions
The Capuletos needs a companion with equal intensity. Aged rum, particularly a long-finished Nicaraguan or a heavy Cuban reserva, matches the chocolate and fig notes. A tawny port also works, its nutty sweetness echoing the walnut-skin mid-palate. Avoid light spirits — they vanish against the cigar's density.
Value Proposition
As a discontinued limited release, the Capuletos EL 2016 trades at a premium driven by scarcity rather than mere marketing. Compared with later Romeo limited editions, the 2016 is regarded among connoisseurs as one of the stronger releases — the blend quality justifies the collectible pricing for those who can find intact boxes.
About the Brand
Romeo y Julieta was established in 1875 in Havana and named after Shakespeare's tragedy. The brand earned global fame through Churchill's devotion to its Churchills. See our full catalogue.
Storage & Care
Store at 65–68% humidity. Edición Limitadas age exceptionally well — the already-aged wrapper continues to integrate over 3–5 years, softening the initial intensity and adding tertiary leather and forest-floor notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Edición Limitada Cuban cigar?
The Edición Limitada programme releases small-batch cigars annually in non-standard vitolas, using tobacco aged at least two years. Quantities are finite, making them collector items.
How does the Capuletos EL 2016 compare to a standard Romeo y Julieta Churchill?
The Capuletos is shorter and wider (153mm x 53 vs 178mm x 47), noticeably stronger at medium-full, and considerably richer thanks to the specially aged EL wrapper.
Related Cigars
Learn more about the Vuelta Abajo tobacco region.
