Description
The Cannoli PCC By Amendola Cigars Aged 4 Years
Size: 5×50 Robusto
Vitola: Robusto
Wrapper: Maduro (Nicaraguan-grown)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Fillers: Nicaraguan
Flavor Notes: Dark chocolate-covered strawberries, charred wood, espresso, peppermint, anise, tamarind, cola, leather, Sambuca, roots, cream, black pepper
Pairing Notes: Holiday fruit cake, French toast, maple syrup, porter or stout beer, high-proof whiskey, Jack Daniels neat, medium to dark roast coffee, chocolate desserts, cannoli
Manufacturer: Amendola Family Cigar Co. (Nicaragua)
Privada Storytelling
Some cigars feel like cigars. Others feel like experiences. The Cannoli by Amendola is firmly the latter. When two Italian ex-New Yorkers—men who sound like they walked straight out of Little Italy—approached me with their own cigar project, I was skeptical. Everyone wants to be in the cigar game. But then I heard the stories, saw their hands rolling their own sticks, and finally tasted their Cannoli, and all doubts disappeared.
This cigar is a dessert in the form of smoke. Sweet and savory, creamy yet spiced, it mirrors the culinary indulgence it’s named for. Like biting into a decadent pastry, it layers chocolate, coffee, fruit, and spice in waves of complexity. Aged 4 years, it’s softened, deepened, and matured into something remarkable—a true after-dinner centerpiece.
The Cannoli isn’t just a cigar; it’s a slice of heritage, a taste of New York Italian culture translated into tobacco. It’s wet, gooey, rich, and unapologetically indulgent—just as it should be.
Flavor Journey
First Third: Opens with bitter dark chocolate, charred wood, espresso, leather, cinnamon, and a peppermint-like spice, accented by tamarind and anise. The retrohale brings red pepper and espresso richness.
Second Third: Shifts toward sweeter chocolate, charred woods, and root notes, with cola, leather, and chocolate-covered peppermint bark emerging. Red pepper remains, balanced by smoother cream.
Final Third: Closes with Sambuca-like anise, chocolate, cream, roots, and black pepper, joined by lighter roast coffee, vanilla sweetness, and a woody finish. A perfect dessert crescendo.
Why It Belongs in Privada
Privada exists to showcase cigars that tell stories and capture cultural identity, and The Cannoli does exactly that. It’s a cigar that bridges worlds—Italian pastry indulgence and Nicaraguan tobacco artistry. This cigar reminds us that a smoke can be both luxury and comfort, an indulgence meant to cap a perfect night. It is a dessert Maduro, a smoke that doubles as a memory.