A Romeo For The Races
The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, the most exciting two minutes in sports, takes place on May 4. It’s a cigar-studded affair, and in a sanctioned partnership with Churchill Downs, Altadis U.S.A. has created a pair of Romeo y Julieta cigars that commemorate the historic event. Called the Romeo y Julieta 1875 ‘Run for the Roses,’ the smokes are offered in two sizes.
The first format is the Exhibicion No. 3 Toro that measures 6 inches by 50 ring gauge and comes in boxes of 15. These will retail for $20 each when they’re released this weekend exclusively at participating Liquor Barn stores throughout Kentucky. The Toros will also be sold on Derby weekend at cigar kiosks around Churchill Downs. They come cleverly packaged in boxes with partitions that are meant to evoke horse stables while the exteriors are adorned with official Kentucky Derby logos and Romeo branding. Only 2,000 boxes are being released.
The second format is a 7-by-50 Churchill presented in its own slide-lid coffin box (shown below), which will retail for $25. If you want the Churchill, you’ll have to come to Churchill Downs. It’s only being sold at the Kentucky Oaks on May 3rd and at the Derby on the 4th. Only 2,000 cigars are being produced and Altadis anticipates selling all of them during the races.
As for the tobacco, it’s based on the existing Tabacalera de Garcia, where many Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo cigars are produced.
Coincidentally, both the Romeo y Julieta brand and the Kentucky Derby are exactly the same age, as both debuted in 1875.
To read more about the Kentucky Derby and its long history, see the current issue of Cigar Aficionado.
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