On September 13, fans of Sigaro Toscano will celebrate the 26th anniversary of the club “99 promotes Tuscan culture and Made in Italy taste and excellence with one of its main protagonists.
The Sigaro Toscano was born by chance in the monastery of S. Orsola in Florence in 1815 following a violent summer downpour that soaked a batch of Kentucky tobacco, which then underwent ammoniacal fermentation due to the subsequent heat. The factory manager, not wanting to throw away this “spoiled” tobacco, decided to use it as a filler for cigars to be sold at a very low price. The reception was very warm, despite its “smelly” nature, to the point that it became an industrial product.
As per tradition, Kentucky tobacco is still used today for this type of cigar, which is mainly grown in the province of Arezzo, in the areas of Anghiari, Cortona, Monterchi, and Foiano della Chiana. Kentucky is one of the most difficult varieties of tobacco to grow and manage in terms of cultivation and maturation.
Twenty-six years ago, two friends, Roberto Fanticelli and Aroldo Marconi, between Montepulciano and Montecatini, created a landmark for cigar enthusiasts, involving eight friends who were passionate about the good life. Thus, Maledetto Toscano was born, its name inspired by Curzio Malaparte’s book Maledetti Toscani, which perfectly captured the club’s ideal: “If it is difficult to be Italian, it is even more difficult to be Tuscan.” The logo depicts the Tuscan par excellence, Dante Alighieri, having his cigar lit by a devil, thus emphasizing the spirit of those who do not want to take themselves too seriously.
The club has no fixed location but travels throughout Italy, seeking to convey passion and knowledge, always with a smile and a cigar on its lips. Quoting the well-known director Mario Monicelli, we can understand more deeply who the Maledetto Toscano has wanted to be in recent years: “This is what it means to be a gypsy, this is the zingarata: a departure without a destination or purpose. An escape without plans that can last a day, two days, or a week… An act that smells of freedom, creativity, and desire, something that is like love, something that is born when it is born, and when it is no longer there, it is useless to insist, it is no longer there. And this is how this ramshackle group of friends approaches life, cultivating the Tuscan taste.”
Today, the Club Maledetto Toscano still has the same desire and love for sharing the pleasures of a good smoke with its many members throughout Italy and beyond. It has international partners and promotes Made in Italy around the world through tastings led by its experts.
To celebrate this anniversary, the Costa degli Etruschi was chosen, with a program of events that will take place from morning to night in the three cities of Suvereto, Bolgheri, and Castagneto Carducci. “We wanted to choose the Tuscan coast for this new edition of the traditional festival of our Maledetto Toscano, returning to this area after many years. – says Stefano Fanticelli, president and one of the founders of the Club – To do so, however, we wanted to invest an entire day with several events, which can also be attended individually, thinking of all our members, but also of the many enthusiasts who want to join in what is now the festival of the year for us.”
The program for September 13 begins at noon with a visit to the Cantina Tua Rita in Suvereto, where a light brunch will be served alongside the estate’s wines. In the afternoon, at 6:30 p.m., the appointment is in Bolgheri with a welcome toast at Donna Olimpia. The fish-based dinner will take place at 8:30 p.m. by the sea, at the restaurant La tana del Pirata in Castagneto Carducci, preceded by an aperitif by the pool. This will be followed by meditation, stargazing, and conviviality.
A selection of high-quality cigars of historical value will arrive directly from the Caveau del Maledetto Toscano in Foiano della Chiana. This space, inaugurated in 2022, contains over 5,000 Tuscan cigars that are part of the Club’s private collection, including about 800 pieces of “Moro” and other collectibles that have been “set aside” by the members of Maledetto Toscano.
These three events will involve long-standing and new partners who have participated in the club’s initiatives over the years. In particular, the dinner will feature truffles from Savini Tartufi and three types of chocolate from Cioccolateria di Arnolfo da Colle di Val d’Elsa: one with Volterra salt, one with cypress flavor, and one with wine, in perfect Tuscan style.
You can choose to participate in individual events or the whole day.
For information and reservations, please call: +39339 6729919.
