Amicigar Event Ravello Italy update...

Amicigar Event
30th May 2009-06-04
Location: Italy, Ravello

The Event was organised by Gino Iannillo aka Mr.Japan, Fernando Morante, Baldo Iannillo and Antonio Peraino , the two clubs in Campania Hirpus Amicigar and Neapolis Amicigar.

Gino Iannillo and Antonio Peraino, who invited us to attend this event…not knowing how it would be and never been to Italy we decided to go and support the AmiCigar Club.

In our group was: Avee and Chris, who are our card holders in our lounge at La Casa Del Habano, Magali, Bhavna and I, plus our two lovely daughters.


We left on Friday very; very early in the morning…flew by Easy Jet to Naples…where we were greeted by Gino.
Gino, took us to Naples town, to visit Anita Sisimbro, shop. Boy talk about driving in Naples they are MAD drivers…got to have eyes back of your head!..

We meet also in Italy… Valerieo Cornale, who has a La Casa Del Habano in the Cayman Island…what a guy! lots of stories and great smokes for the weekend, Colin Ganley was there as well with his Panama hat (http://www.cigar-cult.com/) …very cool Colin…Sharon & Ian Pepper, DUBLIN who where a laugh…we will be visiting Ireland very soon guys…enjoyed all your company in Ravello.

Anita Sisimbro, welcomed us with champagne and small Italian pizza’s…which tasted great…A wonderful shop, she has a walk in Humidor down stairs which is stock very well…as you will see in the pictures…can you believe this they all close shop for 2 hours a day for lunch!...so we went for lunch around the corner to a fantastic pizza place where we sat outside.

Anita, very kindly brought a box of Hoyo Pyramids Limited Edition from 2003, these cigars have aged well...smoked like a dream full of flavour. Very floral and nutty, peppery….Thank you very much for these great cigars Anita…a day which we will not forget!..

The Drive down to Ravello took us 4 hours!...this is only meant to take 2 hours max…but we took the scenic view…it was well worth the extra 4 hours..
The day of the event…we mate at Hotel Caruso (http://www.hotelcaruso.com/)
which is the most amazing hotel and the views are breath taking!...We had lunch which was followed by the Montecristo No4 Vintage…they had two boxes, one from 1989 and 1990, which were donated by Capania Hirpus Amicigar and Napoli’s Amicigar clubs, which was accompanied by Champagne Jerrier Jourt 1998, sponsor Pernod Ricard Italia.

The tasting for Montecristo was conducted by Simon Chase, Alex Lapichino and Fernando Morante. The cigar smelt aged and peppery …my cigar started of very well…very good draw…which you expect with a 19 to 20 year old cigar.
The cigar died on me after ½ way down…sorry to say I personally think a cigar with this flavour should only be aged for max 12 years…good at 10 years but have to be stored in humidity of 62 to 64 max with 17 to 18 temp.



The whole event was shown on, Live Web by web master Gennaro Leo and CDC Spa.

Magali del a Cruz had written a book which was launched after the tasting. Magali, wrote a book called Visible & Invisible…lots of pictures Magali had taken over time and poetry all written in Spanish which is understandable…a lot of words do not mean the same in English.
Magali, congratulation on this book, you know we will help you promote this.

The evening was just out of this world…we had champagne reception, followed by, if I can remember a 5 course meal, which did not stop coming, I guess it’s the Italian way!...but they do it right!..

The event, launched two new cigars, Montecristo Open Range, which were the new Junior and Master.

Good smoke, once they have been aged for a few more months they will smoke better. Hunters & Frankau in UK will be having their launch on 16th June 2008.

Following the meal, the Amicigar Club were selling raffle tickets for prizes consisting of Humidors, cigar cases, (Cartujano). Ties (Ulturala Spa) Cohiba A Legendary Pleasure (La Casa Del Habano Teddington) and also a lap top computer…yes a lap top computer. The tickets were 5Euros each, no one at our table won anything!...not a problem next time in Oct 2009, Gino make sure!!...

The Lady’s even got gifts, which were donated by Pasha.

Could not believe it… we smoked about 9 to 10 cigars and hit the sake at 4.00am Sunday…A very slow start to Sunday!...the main group headed of on a boat cruise which we did not go…Bhavna, Chris and I do not like boatsL So the girls, Bhavna, Chris, Avee and I went down to Positano. What a beautiful town right on the Amalfi cost....had lunch and the havens opened up….we light up HOYO GRAND PIRAMIDAS which I had, Chris PARTAGAS 160TH ANIV DOBLES and Avee, PARTAGAS SOBRESANLIENTES BLACK LABLE.

Just check out the pictures what amazing cigars we smoked a fantastic afternoon with my family, Chris and Avee.

Unfortunately we had to fly back on Monday very early and back to work….

We would like to THANK Gino Iannillo aka Mr.Japan, Fernando Morante, Baldo Iannillo and Antonio Peraino , the two clubs in Campania Hirpus Amicigar for inviting us to this very amazing event and took care of us though out the weekend.

THANK YOU AMICIGAR CLUB.

View all the pictures by clicking on the picture.

LCDH Pictures