Sorry to bump this older thread but it seemed like the most appropriate place to put this.
I was in Toronto this weekend and had a chance to stop by Frank Correnti cigars. I have never seen cigars rolled so I thought, "What the heck, I should stop by and see if they have a tour or anything." Basically Correnti's imports Cuban Tobacco and rolls their own cigars.
For those of you familiar with Toronto, you have to be facing the Scholastic Building on King Street, then just to the left is an alley, go all the way to the back and where you can't go straight any more, only right, to your left is a door.
Well, I saw the door with the sign and opened it, then had to go up a flight of stairs and was just beginning to wonder if it was a good idea when a lady greeted my upstairs who was very friendly and helpful. She let me look around and go to the back where there were 2 ladies rolling the cigars. It's a neat little place which what appears to be a nice smoking room up there and it was my first time getting to watch cigars beign rolled so that was neat.
The woman stated that some of the guys who own the place were out and one, I think she said his name was John, was giving cigar rolling demonstrations at the wedding show. Apprently he is a "cigar encyclopedia" and would be willing to answer questions/talk cigars anytime he's around. Also, in the winter their selection is limited as I guess they slow down production a little, I wasn't really clear on the reasons when they were explained and didn't ask.
I purchased two of their petite coronas but haven't smoked them yet. The woman said that they'd be ready to smoke 24 hrs after being rolled and gave me one that was rolled on Friday (I went on Saturday) and one right off the table that had just been rolled so it was still a little damp. I have to be honest, I'm a little dubious about the cigars as they don't look all that pretty, lots of veins, and the one made the day before has some of the wrapper peeling off which I only noticed once I got home. They said their tabacco is aged 5 years but I didn't ask if that was in ISOM or at their warehouse.
I'm looking forward to trying the cigars and I'll post an update once I do (it'll probably be a few months). I forgot to ask if they freeze them after production or not but I'm guessing the answer is no just from a cursory glance at the warehosue so I'll be tossing them down there for a few days to ensure no bugs and then defrosting them, using info I learned here on the forum. I'm not impressed with their look but for anyone in the area or going to visit TO and haven't seen a cigar being rolled, it's worth a visit just to check that out alone.
Also - I am in no way connected with Correnti's, I even live about 5 hours away.
Mike