The cigar in the pre-title sequence of The World Is Not Enough is a small comic prop with a long history behind it. A Romeo y Julieta Churchill is handed to Pierce Brosnan’s Bond at the bank in Bilbao, and he later gives it to Moneypenny, who drops it in the bin. It also has a place in Bond’s world beyond one gag.
Using it now
The name comes from a visit. In 1946, according to one retailer’s history of the brand, Winston Churchill came to Havana and his name was put on a band, and then used for the brand’s most famous size. Romeo y Julieta itself dates to 1875 and is named for Shakespeare’s lovers.
The cigar we link to is the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Churchill, a 48 by 7 inch handmade cigar from the Dominican Republic. The retailer describes a medium-bodied smoke with an Indonesian shade-grown wrapper and a Dominican binder, and Cigar Aficionado rated it 88 points. It is not the Cuban Churchill, which is a separate product.
A cigar of this size takes a good while to smoke, so save it for an evening with nothing else planned. We would pair it with a plain whisky or coffee.
Cigars are sold only to adults, and tobacco is harmful to health, so choose with care.
Specifications
| Brand | Romeo y Julieta (founded 1875) |
|---|---|
| Line sold | Romeo y Julieta 1875 Churchill |
| Size | 48 ring by 7 inches |
| Strength | Medium |
| Made in | Dominican Republic, Tabacalera de Garcia |
| Film packaging | Aluminium tube (per our catalogue) |
More from the film is on the The World Is Not Enough page, or browse food and drink.




