The verdict The Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills is an approachable, medium-bodied, well-constructed Cuban that punches above its modest reputation. A reliable everyday robusto, especially for newer Cuban smokers.
The Wide Churchills is a relatively modern entry from one of Cuba’s oldest houses — a 2010 creation that took the brand’s Churchill heritage and rebuilt it as a short, fat robusto for contemporary taste. It does not carry the prestige of the Montecristo No.2 or the power of a Bolívar, and our desk wanted to know whether that modest reputation undersells a genuinely good everyday smoke.
We bought three boxes of 25 at the public rate from authorized Habanos retailers in London and Madrid (roughly £490 to £560 per box), rested them eight weeks, and tasted five cigars per box blind, the Wide Churchills seeded into a flight of wider Cuban robustos.
The smoke
The Wide Churchills is an exercise in approachability done well. The first third opens medium with cedar, toasted hazelnuts and a bright orange-peel note that our panel flagged as its signature — a citrus lift not common in the brand’s classic line. The wide 55 gauge keeps the smoke cool and generous, and while the body reads slightly stronger than medium thanks to the volume of smoke, it never crosses into the heavy territory of the full-bodied Cubans.
The second third develops a creamy nuttiness with a touch of baking spice and dark fruit, holding the citrus thread underneath. The final third deepens into light coffee and cedar with a gentle leather edge, staying composed to the band. The whole arc is smooth and undemanding — this is a cigar you can enjoy without working at it, and that is precisely its appeal.
Construction
Construction was a strong point. The short, wide format is forgiving, and across fifteen cigars we had clean draws on every sample, even burns, and ash that held to an inch. Not a single cigar needed a correction — the most flawless construction record of any Cuban in our flight. The double-band authentication is reassuring given Cuban counterfeiting, and quality control on these boxes was clearly tight.
Against the premium standard
| Dimension | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Substance (smoke/blend) | 30% | 4.9 / 6.0 |
| Execution (construction/burn/draw) | 25% | 4.6 / 5.0 |
| Service / consistency | 20% | 3.7 / 4.0 |
| Setting / provenance | 15% | 2.5 / 3.0 |
| Value | 10% | 1.8 / 2.0 |
The Wide Churchills posts the best execution and consistency scores in our Cuban flight — flawless construction across three boxes is genuinely rare. It is capped on substance because the medium, approachable profile gives the panel less complexity to reward than the full-bodied marques, and on provenance because it is a modern creation rather than a heritage icon. Value is solid for the quality.
Verdict
The Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills is the most reliably constructed standard Cuban we tested and one of the easiest to enjoy. It will not satisfy a smoker chasing power or layered complexity, but as an approachable, beautifully made, citrus-bright everyday robusto — and as an entry point into Cuban cigars — it over-delivers on its modest reputation. A genuinely smart, unpretentious buy.
The Premium Standard: 17.5 / 20
Verification
Every factual claim in this review was checked against external sources before publication, on 2026-05-16. Where a figure could not be independently confirmed, it is described in approximate terms in the text. To challenge a fact, write to corrections@premiumtravelreview.com.
Frequently asked questions
- What size is the Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills?
- It is a 55 ring gauge by 130mm cigar (factory vitola Montesco), a short, wide robusto. It was a new creation introduced in 2010 — fatter and shorter than the brand's classic Churchill.
- How strong is it?
- Medium-bodied, though the wide gauge makes it feel slightly stronger than it is. Expect nuts, cedar, orange peel and light spice rather than full-bodied power.
- Is it a good cigar for newer Cuban smokers?
- Yes. Its approachable medium body, reliable construction and reasonable price make it one of the easier entry points into Cuban cigars without sacrificing genuine quality.
- What is the dual band about?
- The Wide Churchills carries the standard Romeo y Julieta band plus a second authentication band — part of Habanos' anti-counterfeiting measures introduced with the modern releases.
