When in Rome?

[gibbleguts]

Hi Aaron,
Any updates from the Pope today?

So I figured I missed this so would do a final update on the state of cigars in Rome. End result alot of digging and little reward. Not to say that I never found any thing good but the way they have their stores set up sucks. They have to have a lisence to sell tobacco so there is always a Tabacchi sign outside. Now some have a minimal selection of cigars most have none. The LCDH had a pretty decent selection but mostly full boxes. Nothing old or rare and not real cheap either. Didn't buy athing there as my rules for box purchases of Habanos is 3 years old or hard to find. Best I could do there were some 07's but not exciting stuff. I found one more store with a walk in humi right by the Metro station nest to the vatican. There I managed to pick up 3 boxes of the ERDM Torpedo ER Italia's. I made my wife go into just about every other store we came across and found enough to get me through the trip. A bit of warning though is that most of the stores lack in proper storage and one of the last days there I getting pretty desperate for a smoke and bought an Edmundo tube in one store. Walked about 10 blocks before I decided to pull it out of the tube and light it. It was the first time I have ever determined a cigar was unsmokeable without even trying to light it. We have all seen cigars with a small amount of mold and my general rule is wipe it off and light it up but this one was well beyond that point. I have only ever seen white mold on cigars but this was a brown colour and had to use my finger nail to scrape it off. Once I figured out that I couldn't scrape it off without tearing the wrapper I also noticed it had gotten into the foot. It went right into the next garbage can. Oh well I had taken enough great smokes with me to keep me happy and the Sancho I had taken went so well with the wine I had that night that I wasn't even really going to worry about whining about the moldy cigar but I had never seen anything like it before so still figure it was worth posting about. It was still fun searching though.

 

[Kurtdesign1]

I guess we should have clarified. There are only 2 licensed La Casas in the whole of Italy (perhaps 3 but I am not positive about the most recent). One in Rome & the other in Milan. The vast majority of the other "tabacchi" dealers are more sundry type shops that are licensed to sell tobacco by the government. That license doesn't mean they have ANY education at all about how to do so. Your Edmundo story is case & point. Too bad you didn't indulge at the Rome La Casa. Back in 07 there prices weren't too bad (Euro was .76 to a dollar so it was a fair exchange). Plus, the BGMs, Culebras & Punch TPC REs were there for good pricing (on O.R. stuff, at least). Plus, the ambiance was awesome.
Hope the rest of the trip was more eventful than just the cigar searches...

So I figured I missed this so would do a final update on the state of cigars in Rome. End result alot of digging and little reward. Not to say that I never found any thing good but the way they have their stores set up sucks. They have to have a lisence to sell tobacco so there is always a Tabacchi sign outside. Now some have a minimal selection of cigars most have none. The LCDH had a pretty decent selection but mostly full boxes. Nothing old or rare and not real cheap either. Didn't buy athing there as my rules for box purchases of Habanos is 3 years old or hard to find. Best I could do there were some 07's but not exciting stuff. I found one more store with a walk in humi right by the Metro station nest to the vatican. There I managed to pick up 3 boxes of the ERDM Torpedo ER Italia's. I made my wife go into just about every other store we came across and found enough to get me through the trip. A bit of warning though is that most of the stores lack in proper storage and one of the last days there I getting pretty desperate for a smoke and bought an Edmundo tube in one store. Walked about 10 blocks before I decided to pull it out of the tube and light it. It was the first time I have ever determined a cigar was unsmokeable without even trying to light it. We have all seen cigars with a small amount of mold and my general rule is wipe it off and light it up but this one was well beyond that point. I have only ever seen white mold on cigars but this was a brown colour and had to use my finger nail to scrape it off. Once I figured out that I couldn't scrape it off without tearing the wrapper I also noticed it had gotten into the foot. It went right into the next garbage can. Oh well I had taken enough great smokes with me to keep me happy and the Sancho I had taken went so well with the wine I had that night that I wasn't even really going to worry about whining about the moldy cigar but I had never seen anything like it before so still figure it was worth posting about. It was still fun searching though.

 

[gibbleguts]

I guess we should have clarified. There are only 2 licensed La Casas in the whole of Italy (perhaps 3 but I am not positive about the most recent). One in Rome & the other in Milan. The vast majority of the other "tabacchi" dealers are more sundry type shops that are licensed to sell tobacco by the government. That license doesn't mean they have ANY education at all about how to do so. Your Edmundo story is case & point. Too bad you didn't indulge at the Rome La Casa. Back in 07 there prices weren't too bad (Euro was .76 to a dollar so it was a fair exchange). Plus, the BGMs, Culebras & Punch TPC REs were there for good pricing (on O.R. stuff, at least). Plus, the ambiance was awesome.
Hope the rest of the trip was more eventful than just the cigar searches...

I know that a lot of the online retailers charge quite a bit for some of those smokes but I will be back in Havana in Feb and they are really cheap there. I should have picked up quite a few more culebras in Havana as they are only $21 for a box of 3 coffins. I think I just get a little spoiled and expect alto from a Casa. The ones in Havana have great smoking lounges and almost full selections including well aged stuff. Sometimes if the old stuff isn't moving they will also discount beyond there already cheapest prices. It was mostly the lack of anything interesting on the shelves that disapointed me.

 

[BradMc]

Have fun Aaron!! ....Just don't Pass Out This time ....We have pic's to prove it ...Be safe Bro..:nodlaugh:

 

[Jetexas]

I didn't have a lot of luck in Rome when I went two summers back. The wife and I were in Barcelona for four days and I picked up some smokes there, enough to last my next four days in Rome. I had to dig a little in Barcelona to find cigar shops. Great time non-the-less. Sounds like you had a great trip!

I know that a lot of the online retailers charge quite a bit for some of those smokes but I will be back in Havana in Feb and they are really cheap there. I should have picked up quite a few more culebras in Havana as they are only $21 for a box of 3 coffins. I think I just get a little spoiled and expect alto from a Casa. The ones in Havana have great smoking lounges and almost full selections including well aged stuff. Sometimes if the old stuff isn't moving they will also discount beyond there already cheapest prices. It was mostly the lack of anything interesting on the shelves that disapointed me.

 

[smokinghole]

So did you check out the Trimani wine shop? That place is impressive. I'm told by my brother's Father-in-law who is a native Roman that the italian wines have sulfites added to them for export. If you buy the wine there it has sulfites but not the high level required for exportation.

 

[daniyal]

Sorry to hear about the cigar hunting experience in Rome if you ever make your way down here I'll take care of you.

 

[gibbleguts]

So did you check out the Trimani wine shop? That place is impressive. I'm told by my brother's Father-in-law who is a native Roman that the italian wines have sulfites added to them for export. If you buy the wine there it has sulfites but not the high level required for exportation.

I did check out quite a few wine shops. Ended up coming home with 2 Barolo's and 2 amarone's on Your recomendation. I am not a really big wine drinker but figured it is always nice to have some good wine around the house. I did end up enjoying quite a bit of wine well there so who knows things might be changing. :dunno:

 

[Kurtdesign1]

I did check out quite a few wine shops. Ended up coming home with 2 Barolo's and 2 amarone's on Your recomendation. I am not a really big wine drinker but figured it is always nice to have some good wine around the house. I did end up enjoying quite a bit of wine well there so who knows things might be changing. :dunno:

I got the bug for Brunellos after being in Italy. Gotta love the bold yet soft flavors of a great Italian red...

 

[Bass man]

I love Amarone, but the good ones are so expensive now & with the decline of the dollar will not be getting any lower.

 

[smokinghole]

I think I can justify splurging on one for my anniversary though. Surprise the wifey, I don't think she's ever had an Amarone.

 

[Gordy]

this reminds me of "the promise" by when in rome