When it comes to cigars, the Romeo y Julieta brand is almost always identified with one country: Cuba.

Altadis U.S.A. is hoping to change that a bit with a new release called the Romeo 505 Nicaragua by Romeo y Julieta, the first completely Nicaraguan Romeo that is also made in the country. The cigar gets its name from the code used to make a phone call to the country and uses a habano seed wrapper and binder from Jalapa, with fillers from Jalapa, Estelí and Condega.

The line is debuting in four box-pressed sizes, each in 20-count boxes: Robusto (5 1/2 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), Churchill (7 x 50) and Piramides (6 1/2 x 54). While Altadis U.S.A. has not announced pricing, the Romeo 505 Nicaragua will cost approximately $10 per cigar according to a report in Cigar Aficionado.

The line is being made at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua. While select retailers have already received it so that the line will be in compliance with FDA regulations, the full launch is expected in September.

A representative from Altadis U.S.A. has not replied to a request for comment on the Romeo 505 Nicaragua.

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.