At TPE 2024, Altadis U.S.A. showed off the latest addition to its Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua line.
Named Midnight Twist, the blend uses the same internal Nicaraguan tobacco as the regular Reserva Real Nicaragua line, but each Midnight Twist is covered with two different wrappers that are applied in a way so that they produce contrasting stripes designed to be like a barber’s pole.
As is the case with Altadis U.S.A.’s Reserva Real Nicaragua line, the Midnight Twist cigars are produced at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
In 2022, the company introduced the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story. That cigar was a barberpole extension to the regular Reserva Real line, though offered in the same two vitolas.
Here is what I wrote in my original review of the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Midnight Twist Love Story back in October 2024:
I have always been a fan of smaller figurado vitolas, so I was looking forward to reviewing the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Midnight Twist Love Story since I saw it on my list. While the profile starts out a bit rough on two of the cigars—with plenty of spice, some metallic notes on the finish and a slight harshness—they both recovered quickly and became not only creamier but also quite a bit more complex in the final two-thirds. There were some minor burn issues on two of the cigars, but in the end, the Midnight Twist Love Story is a very enjoyable blend in an interesting vitola.
- Cigar Reviewed: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Midnight Twist Love Story
- Country of Origin: NIcaragua
- Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
- Wrapper: Nicaragua
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Length: 4 1/4 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 46
- Shape: Round
- MSRP: $9.92 (Box of 25, $248)
- Release Date: March 2024
- Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
- Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 1
The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Midnight Twist Love Story has the figurado look nailed perfectly, with a bulbous foot and slightly tapered cap that reminds me strongly of the OpusX Love Story, er, I mean Love Affair. The two different wrapper colors are easily apparent on this specific cigar—not always the case with barber pole cigars, I assure you—and there is quite a bit of oil present. Both wrappers are toothy but not exceedingly rough to the touch, and the cigar is firm enough when squeezed to easily pick out a soft spot just above the bulbous part of the foot. Raisin sweetness and cedar lead the scents emanating from the wrappers, followed by dry hay, earthiness, coffee beans and a touch of nuttiness. The opening on the foot is extremely small, so the aromas coming from it are pretty much the same as I noted on the wrappers, but I do notice a bit more of the raisin sweetness. The cold draw features flavors of powdery cocoa nibs, creamy cedar, peanuts, sawdust and a slight clove sweetness.
Although the draw is a bit tight for the first 10 puffs or so—to be expected from a perfecto vitola like this—I can make out some light spice, black pepper and a dry earthy flavor. As the draw opens up, a strong combination of bitter dark chocolate and creamy cedar takes over the profile, followed by secondary notes of leather, sourdough bread, gritty earth, almonds and a touch of cinnamon. Unlike the cigars I smoked for my original review, the finish offers a light but enjoyable woody flavor reminiscent of oak, while the retrohale delivers a subtle note of black pepper and a distinct milk chocolate sweetness. Flavor ends the first half at full, the body hits a point about halfway between mild and medium, and the strength lands just shy of medium. Other than a wavy burn line, all aspects of the construction are working together wonderfully so far, but the standout is the massive amount of thick, off-white smoke from the foot.
The second half of the cigar features an increase in spice on my lips, along with new main flavors of charred meat and powdery cocoa nibs. Additional notes of cedar, dry mulch, sourdough bread, herbs and peanut shells show up at various points, while the cinnamon note has moved to the finish. The sweetness on the retrohale has morphed into a denser fudge flavor, but the amount of black pepper remains unchanged from the first half. Flavor remains full, while both body and strength increase to a solid medium. In terms of construction, the burn needs a minor touch-up soon after the halfway point, but the smoke production continues to be copious and the draw remains excellent.
90
Overall Score
After smoking the first three Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Midnight Twist Love Story for my first review back in late 2024, I noted that the cigars started out with an obvious combination of harshness and metallic notes in the first third, something that I hoped some time would correct. After almost two years of rest, both the harshness and metallic notes are nowhere to be found, and the profile has become a more balanced, more flavorful and more enjoyable cigar, with main flavors of powdery cocoa nibs, charred meat and creamy cedar. I enjoyed this cigar more than I did the first go-around, and perhaps more tellingly, I walked away from this review wishing there was more of it to smoke.
Original Score (October 2024)
89
Redux Score (June 2026)
90
Altadis U.S.A.
Nicaragua
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Midnight Twist Love Story
Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
