Toscano Italia

[JohnS]

The Toscano is an Italian cigar, made from Kentucky-seed fire-cured tobaccos and (obviously) grown in Italy. It's a one-dimensional cigar, and it's not for everyone but the fact that you can cut it in half and smoke it still is intriguing to me. Some more reading on the Toscano cigar can be found below:

Anyway, the good folk at Halfwheel have just released a review on a Toscano Italia cigar and it makes for interesting reading...

Toscano Italia

July 18, 2024 - Brooks Whittington

During the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show, Toscano showed off a new release made entirely of Kentucky-seed fire-cured tobaccos grown in Italy.

Like all Toscano cigars—and most Italian cigars in general—the Toscano Italia is made with long filler tobaccos, but they are rolled with a unique double-tapered shape, are not put into presses and have pre-cut feet on both ends. The cigars are also rolled sans a binder leaf—meaning the filler tobaccos are held in place simply by the wrapper—and most do not need to be stored with humification.

The Toscano Italia is the typical Toscano shape—6 1/3-inch long—and made with a wrapper grown in Valtiberina, Tuscany and filler tobaccos sourced from Benevento and Valtiberina. Interestingly, the tobacco grown in Benevento—where Toscano says most of the filler tobacco was grown—is the result of a 2018 agreement that resulted in an investment to grow tobacco in the province, which is located in the Campania region.

Each Toscano Italia has an MSRP of $7, and it is packaged in 30-count boxes. According to the company, the first release for the U.S. is limited to 500 boxes of 30 cigars.

• Cigar Reviewed: Toscano Italia
• Country of Origin: Italy
• Factory: Manifatture Sigaro Toscano S.p.A.
• Wrapper: Italy
• Binder: Italy
• Filler: Italy
• Length: 6 1/3 Inches
• Ring Gauge: n/a
• Vitola: Italian Cigar
• MSRP: $7 (Box of 30, $210)
• Release Date: 2024
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Rustic is a good way to describe the outward appearance of the Toscano Italia, but there is much more to see: the light brown wrapper is extremely rough to the touch, but there is also quite a bit of oil and mottling present. Prominent veins are everywhere, and each of the three cigars is noticeably bent in the middle so that both ends bend inward. Aromas from the wrappers are very similar, with strong campfire and mesquite woodiness easily overtaking any other scent that might be present. While the mesquite and campfire are also the top aromas emanating from the feet, there are other scents as well, including dry earth, black pepper, sourdough bread and a generic fruity sweetness. Both ends of the cigars are open, so there is no need to cut these cigars. Compared to the aroma coming from the wrappers and feet, the cold draws are almost shockingly tame. The combination of campfire and mesquite is still the dominant combination, but it is not nearly as strong as I expected, and there are other flavors easily recognizable, including mint leaves, leather, charred meat, cinnamon, a generic sweetness and coffee beans.

Editor’s Note: This review is based on smoking the full cigar and not cutting the cigar in the middle and smoking it as halves, which many do with Italian cigars. More on that in the Final Notes. — Charlie Minato.

Flavors of aged leather and gritty earth start the cigars off, and while there is some light black pepper present as well, the latter note is far from what I would consider aggressive. After about 10 puffs, the profile starts to change, with a combination of meatiness and mesquite leading secondary flavors of lemongrass, bitter espresso, semisweet chocolate chips, pretzel bread and a mineral saltiness. Two of the three cigars feature a distinct—but not overly aggressive—mint note on the finish, while the retrohales on all three cigars are surprisingly tame, with a dusting of black pepper and some floral sweetness that seems to be getting stronger as the first third burns down. The flavor ends the first third at medium-plus, the body is at mild-plus, and the strength is just under the medium mark. In terms of construction, there is plenty of smoke, and the burn lines are wavy—albeit not yet problematic enough to need correcting—and while the draws are a bit tighter than normal due to the unique vitola, the cigars are still very smokable in that regard.

The main flavors in the profiles of all Toscano Italias change to a combination of salted popcorn and gritty earth in the second third, with additional flavors of almonds, leather tack, cocoa nibs, lemongrass, campfire and light grilled meatiness. There is a bit more floral sweetness on the retrohale and a bit less black pepper, but the mint flavor that was present on the finish of two cigars in the first third is long gone by the halfway point. Flavor bumps up to medium-full, the body increases to a point just under the medium mark, and the strength jumps to medium-plus. Two of the three cigars run into enough burn issues that they each need a couple of corrections with my lighter to prevent large problems, but other than that, all other aspects of the construction are great.

The combination of meatiness and mesquite flavors return to the top of the profile during the final third, while secondary notes of salted potato chips, campfire, leather, gritty earth, dark chocolate, coffee beans and generic nuttiness all show up at various points. The floral sweetness has shifted to more of a brown sugar flavor—although it is not much stronger than the floral sweetness was in the second third—but the amount of black pepper has been cut in half. Flavor increases to full, and the strength bumps up to medium-full, while the body increases just enough to pass into solid medium territory. Construction-wise, the draws and smoke production are excellent for all three cigars, and while one cigar does need a burn correction just after the final third begins, it is a minor issue that is quickly resolved with my lighter. 

Final Notes

• There are two different ways to smoke Toscano cigars: you can either smoke the full cigar—as I did—or you can cut the cigar in the middle, giving you two cigars of equal length measuring about three inches each. I was curious what the difference would be—if any—so I did cut a fourth cigar in half and smoked one of those smaller sections to get an impression. What I found was a profile that was very similar to what I described above, other than the fact that the floral sweetness was bit more pronounced and there was slightly less of the campfire flavor.
• Almost every part of the pre-light process is different from the cigars we typically review at halfwheel: the massive aroma, the roughness of the wrapper, the shape of the vitola and the pre-cut nature. Even the cellophane feels quite different.
• Interestingly, the wrapper is so rough that the cigar felt very different than what I am used to with other premium cigars.
• There is something slightly odd about smoking a cigar that is made entirely with Kentucky-seed fire-cured tobaccos that were grown in Italy.
• Although it never became more than a minor annoyance, the ash on these cigars does not hold on for very long.
• There is a section on our score sheet referring to how visually attractive a cigar is that is labeled “Would You Buy This.” While I don’t think these cigars are attractive in same way a more traditional cigar is, I actually love the rustic, hand-made nature of it quite a bit.

• These cigars are officially listed as being 6 1/3 inches long. Given the taper, the ring gauge was not measured.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time for all three cigars averaged out to one hour and 58 minutes.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Toscano Italia cigars, site sponsors Famous Smoke Shop and Smokingpipes have them for sale.

87 Overall Score

If I were to base a cigar’s profile purely on the aromas emanating from the wrapper and the foot—or in this case, the ends—then I would walk away from the Toscano Italia thinking it was nothing more than another fire-cured tobacco blend dominated by the signature campfire and overt woodiness that are so prevalent in blends that utilize that type of tobacco. However, at least when it comes to this cigar, I would be very, very wrong. Instead of that aforementioned overwhelming combination, the actual profile is full of meatiness, mesquite and salted popcorn, along with some floral sweetness on the retrohale and a surprising mint note that shows up on the finish at various points during the two-hour smoking time. In the end, the Toscano Italia is surprisingly balanced and approachable and could easily be a change-of-pace cigar for anyone looking to add something different to their line-up.

Source: https://halfwheel.com/toscano-italia/440815/

[BrightonCorgi]

They burn at a snail's pace as well.

[Chitmo]

I like these for fishing, keeps the bugs away. 😊 

[Li Bai]

1 hour ago, JohnS said:

It's a one-dimensional cigar, and it's not for everyone but the fact that you can cut it in half and smoke it still is intriguing to me.

HW is clearly missing the point of those here. Some cut half a centimetre on each end or smoke it as a whole but again it's a waste imho, I've tried it and it only gives you a thin pickle juice taste in the beginning that ruins the whole experience.

Don't look for evolution or complexity and cut them in half gentlemen, that's how you enjoy those for what they are, quick and strong smokes full of character.

To each his own of course. 👍

[BoliDan]

[Li Bai]

40 minutes ago, BoliDan said:

I still can't get over the fact he never smoked irl... 

[Drguano]

From an interview with Clint Eastwood in the Independent:

"I also went out and bought a bunch of cigars that I thought would look good in a Western. I had no idea they'd taste so vile! But I brought those along with me and I gave them to props and we cut them all up. They were long cigars, called Virginia. I made a slew of them that I carried around in my pocket: different lengths to match up with different scenes."

[Ford2112]

I smoke Toscano Classicos on occasion.  I like them for what they are. They're strong! I get a smoked date flavor. May have to try a pack of these ones.

[Blazer]

I enjoy fire cured tobacco cigars on occasion and have had many of the Toscanos. The only one that has really resonated with me is the Duecento. And yes, that thing burned forever!

[LordAnubis]

The half ones. Think called toscanello are good. I only hate the fact they stiiiiiiink everything. Literally order a box online and if you open the parcle in your house it’ll stink for days. Good golf cigars. Amazing cigars for walking around in the morning and eating pocket coffees. 

[Habanoschris]

On 7/20/2024 at 12:09 AM, BoliDan said:

Came here to post same picture - I'm just a few days too late! 🤣

[Mr. Japan]

I'm not a fan of Kentucky (and Connecticut)  tobacco at all.

But friends that smoke them say that a great Toscano is the MASTERAGED.

Please see : https://www.cigarjournal.com/news-by-manifatture-sigaro-toscano/

Now in Italy there are other companies that are in competition to Toscano and these are :

https://www.elpuro.org/antico-sigaro-nostrano-del-brenta/

https://www.compagniatoscanasigari.it/?page_id=21566

https://bottegadelfumatore.com/sigari-tornabuoni/#

 

 

[BrightonCorgi]

I have a ton of the Anticos. Similar story to other Toscanos.