Vallorani | Luigi Torpedo
The beloved Luigi torpedo is back! This is the all-time favorite of our founder, Brandon Vallorani, and a favorite of all who enjoy it.
A tribute to his great-grandfather Luigi, who after fighting in the Italo-Turkish War and narrowly escaping death, came to America. Luigi had heard the streets were paved with gold — only to find they were not paved in gold — and it was the Italians doing the paving!
Regardless, he made a good life here for several years. But after burying three babies and hhis wife, he determined to take his only surviving son and return to Italy. He would become a community leader in the hills surrounding Ascoli Piceno, known for his fairness — and his quick temper directed towards injustice! He was a very loving father, and protected his son against bullies. (You can ready many stories about Luigi and Eugene in The Wolves and the Mandolin, ForbesBooks, 2017.)
It wouldn’t be long before his son, Brandon’s grandfather, was forced to march the streets of Rome in tribute to Mussolini and Hitler. Luigi was furious.
Luigi was known to enjoy a cigar on evenings, and setting it down on the mantel to stoke the fire. One night, when he reached to pick up his smoldering stick, he discovered he had instead grabbed a scorpion! He quickly threw it into the fire, and used the example for his son, Eugenio, explaining that until someone threw these scorpions Hitler and Mussolini into the fire, Eugenio would have to go to America to escape being used by them.
Eugene would see his father just one more time before his death in the 1970’s, but he forged a life in the USA — first in the South Pacific as an Army Air Corps soldier, then for Westinghouse for many years, and as a father of three, including Brandon’s father, Ray.
The Luigi torpedo, like its namesake, is strong and fierce, but mildly-tempered tobacco, enjoyed best with friends and family.
A box of 20 is recommended — and as a limited offer will include, at no additional charge, a complimentary tin of delicious Florida Key Lime Shortbread cookies!