toscano cigars

[FireDragon]

Does anyone else besides me smoke these?

They are getting harder to get in Orlando. I used to get them all the time at Albertson's years ago. I used to buy Parodi cigars but lately I've been wanting to try De Nobili. I ordered some from CigarsInternational but they arrived very, very dry... and some of the wrappers had become brittle. I've never smoked them totally dry, they can become fragile. Usually I smoked them somewhat humid, in the upper 50's or 60's.

The De Nobili is a nice medium-bodied cigar, not quite as strong as a La Gloria Cubana. It even has a similar type flavor, though the aroma is more smokey. The Parodi's are definitely stronger. The tobacco used is American Kentucky and Tennessee Dark-Fired and Air--Cured leaf (which also is traditional in Italy), it's fermented similar to ordinary cigar tobacco, however. Traditionally, they come in long sticks and you cut them in half and smoke them that way, cutting them using a special knife or cutter, but I am using a guillotine cigar cutter and it works OK, though I'm sure it would be easier with a traditional cutter.

These are also great cigars to infuse. A liquor like Sambucca would be traditional.

 

[fshnpf]

Does anyone else besides me smoke these?

They are getting harder to get in Orlando. I used to get them all the time at Albertson's years ago. I used to buy Parodi cigars but lately I've been wanting to try De Nobili. I ordered some from CigarsInternational but they arrived very, very dry... and some of the wrappers had become brittle. I've never smoked them totally dry, they can become fragile. Usually I smoked them somewhat humid, in the upper 50's or 60's.

The De Nobili is a nice medium-bodied cigar, not quite as strong as a La Gloria Cubana. It even has a similar type flavor, though the aroma is more smokey. The Parodi's are definitely stronger. The tobacco used is American Kentucky and Tennessee Dark-Fired and Air--Cured leaf (which also is traditional in Italy), it's fermented similar to ordinary cigar tobacco, however. Traditionally, they come in long sticks and you cut them in half and smoke them that way, cutting them using a special knife or cutter, but I am using a guillotine cigar cutter and it works OK, though I'm sure it would be easier with a traditional cutter.

These are also great cigars to infuse. A liquor like Sambucca would be traditional.

I smoke Parodi's and Denobili's when fly fishing. Since both hands are occupied, conventional cigars get soggy in the mouth. I just found out, from the Avanti cigar website, that all Rite Aid drug stores will carry them. JR cigars sells them as well. I never could taste any difference between the brands, and a customer service rep at Avanti told me they are all the same. All brands and shapes are the exact same tobacco.

 

[mi000ke]

Parodis were the first cigar I ever smoked as a freshman in college - we all wanted to look like Clint Eastwood from his early westerns. Decades later I still go camping every year with some of my college buddies, and I always bring some Parodis for old time's sake along with the fancier cigars. The fact that they are dry-cured is a plus, as you can leave them on the shelf and they seem to stay in the same condition forever. They are always an enjoyable quick smoke. As the package says, "Not strong. Not mild. But different." And the seal of approval is a picture of a seal! What's not to like?

 

[FireDragon]

I've smoked them dry in the past sometimes, but also humidified a little. I got an order from CigarsInternational that had very dry sticks and crispy, fragile wrappers (they didn't have the usual heavy feeling I remember), so I cut a few in half and stuck them in Zip-locks with a Boveda 62%. That seems just about right- overhumidified they plug easily.

 

[fshnpf]

I have always stored them without humidification, but in a Tupperware container. Since I only smoke them when fishing, an order of 100 cigars lasts me over a year, so the Tupperware probably doesn't do much. I recently noticed that the real Italian Toscano manufacturer (see "italiansmokes.com") recommends storage at 65-75% humidity and 80F to replicate conditions in Kentucky where the tobacco is grown. They suggest removing the cellophane wrapper a few days before smoking, to let them dry out I guess. Sounds like overkill, but I do intend to try humidification of about 65%. In the summer when I smoke most of them, the humidity is at least that high without and meddling from me.

 

[FireDragon]

I wonder if this cigar is the inspiration for the Backwoods and Outlaws style cigars? They look very similar, although the Backwoods cigars are softer than the Toscani.

 

[smokinghole]

These are all made in Scranton, PA I believe.

 

[bigbill72]

These are all made in Scranton, PA I believe.

Yea they are and when I was a kid alot of the older guys smoked them. I never really liked them myself.

 

[fshnpf]

I wonder if this cigar is the inspiration for the Backwoods and Outlaws style cigars? They look very similar, although the Backwoods cigars are softer than the Toscani.

Similar in appearance, but that's where it ends. Toscani are made from fire cured Kentucky and then dry cured. Backwoods and such are conventional cigars which are soft and don't have the smoky fire cured taste.