I have a bit of personal history with this place. And it is brief. I've been trying to get to it several times with no success.
Tried to get to it back in 2006. Came too late it was closed and our tour was moving on from Rome.
2010. No luck again. Find the doors closed.
2011. Nope. Find a sign saying it is closed for 3 weeks. (Vacation)
2013. Success! Kinda. I called ahead to reserve their last two boxes of La Escepcion Selectos Finos. On the way down, my cell service craps out, so I can't confirm with them. My wife and I find the Fincato by the Piazza de al Colonna. I rush over and a few gents start coming out and the door and starting to close the security door. I'm thinking WTF?! I rush over and mention I had reserved some boxes. They stated they were heading out to lunch and would be back in 3 hours. I gently insisted I only needed a few minutes. One gent stayed back, he remember my emails and conversations about the LESF. But, he stated that since he hadn't heard back from me, he sold 3 sticks from one box. My mind was thinking full boxes only, so I passed (stupidly in retrospect) on that partial box. On the plus side. I had managed to buy my favourite cigar ever on my birthday, in Rome.
2019. On my last day in Italy, which happened to be in Rome. I bolted to the Fincato in search of the LGC Invictos. I found it open, much to my delight and proceeded upstairs. Sadly, they had sold out of Invictos and wouldn't be getting a new shipment until Saturday. I was leaving the next morning so that was no good for me. A salesman talked to another about any stock held back for customers that they could sell to me and back fill to the local purchaser.. No luck there. I appreciated the effort. Defeated, I thought I'd at least take some photos as it is a very nice shop. Classy throughout. I asked one of the gents there if that was OK, and it was. I must say, the staff were fantastic. Very courteous and professional. Even though they couldn't help me, they tried.
Below are some shots of this stunning LCDH.
And while I left Fincato empty handed. One salesman did give me a tip on another tobacconist that might have some Invictos in stock. And it was closeby too. So I rushed over and struck some gold.
I sat one to enjoy one and it was magnificent. Medium to bold in body and very smooth. Not rough like the Casanova. This stick could be up there with the greats of the Italian RE line. I grabbed several boxes and a single to enjoy right there.
Ciao