Category: Nicholas Melillo

Top 25 Cigars of the Year – 2018

by Emmett | Jan 4, 2019 | AJ Fernandez, All, Arturo Fuente, Atabey, Black Label Trading Company, Blk Wks, Carlos Fuente Jr, Casa Fernandez, Crowned Heads, Davidoff, Diesel, Don Pepin Garcia, Drew Estate, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, El Artista, Eladio Diaz, Emilio Cigars, Featured, Foundation Cigar, Hendrik Kelner, IPCPR, Jaime Garcia, James Brown, Jon Huber, Jonathan Drew, Juan Martinez, Kyle Gellis, Max Fernandez, MBombay, Mel Shah, MLB Cigar Ventures, My Father, News, Nicholas Melillo, Pete Johnson, Robert Holt, Southern Draw, Steve Saka, Tatuaje, Top 25, Warped | 0 |

Each of our panelists were given 10 votes to towards our Top 25 Cigars of the Year – 2018. As with previous years, the order of their votes mattered as their #1 vote is worth twice as much as their #10. Our list is made up of cigars that had a wide release this year. The cigars that are eligible do not have to have been reviewed on Blind Man’s Puff, but the reviewer must have smoke it at some point to vote for it.

IPCPR 2018: Our Favorite Videos

by Emmett | Jul 19, 2018 | All, Featured, IPCPR, Nestor Plasencia, News, Nicholas Melillo, Pete Johnson | 0 |

Here are just a few of our favorite live videos from IPCPR including interviews with Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars and Nestor Plasencia of Plasencia cigars.

Cigar News: Foundation Cigars Forms Art Collective

by Emmett | Jul 9, 2018 | All, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, News, Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo | 0 |

Foundation Cigars has announced that ATOL will become Foundation’s new creative team and will debut their work at their year’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas 2018.

Cigar News: Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 to Release at IPCPR 2018

by Matthew T. | Jul 5, 2018 | All, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, News, Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo | 0 |

At the 2018 IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, Foundation Cigar Company will release the Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142. Nick Melillo shared the information on social media about this line extension for the Tabernacle. It will be available in four vitolas and prices will start at $9/cigar up to $13/cigar. It uses a very unique wrapper that is grown right in the Connecticut River Valley, along with a Mexican San Andres binder and filler leaves from Esteli, Jalapa, and the Jamastran region of Honduras.

Cigar News: Foundation Cigar Company Announces The Wise Man Maduro Lancero

by Emmett | Jun 27, 2018 | All, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, News, Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo | 0 |

This year, at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, Nick Melillo will release an extension to his release from last year’s The Wise Man Maduro in a lancero format. The cigar scored a 95 in our blind review and earned #1 Cigar of the Year.

Quick Cigar Review: Foundation | Menelik

by Emmett | May 14, 2018 | All, Corojo, Featured, Foundation Cigar, Maduro, Nicholas Melillo, Robusto | 0 |

Draw, burn, and construction were spot on and should be a mile marker what the quality of how a cigar should be rolled and constructed. The flavor profiles of chocolate, coffee, and leather appeared to be the dominate flavor profiles throughout the cigar which provided a nice relaxing experience. While I did not pair it with anything, a mocha latte or hot chocolate would pair wonderfully with this cigar as they would compliment each other immensely. Complexity was not in full force, however the profile was enjoyable enough to keep me happy throughout the duration of the session. Definitely something you should pick up if ever given the chance to attend a Foundation event!

Top 25 Cigars of the Year – 2017

by Emmett | Jan 5, 2018 | AJ Fernandez, All, AVO, Caldwell, Camacho, Carson Serino, Claudio Sgroi, Cornelius & Anthony, Crowned Heads, Davidoff, Dominican Republic, Don Pepin Garcia, Drew Estate, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Erik Espinosa, Featured, Fred Rewey, H. Upmann, Hector Alfonso Sr., Hendrik Kelner, Honduras, IPCPR, Jaime Garcia, Jon Huber, Jonathan Drew, My Father, Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo, Nomad, Pete Johnson, Robert Caldwell, Robert Holt, RoMa Craft, Serino, Skip Martin, Southern Draw, Steve Saka, Tatuaje, Top 25, Willy Herrera | 0 |

Each of our panelists were given 10 votes to towards our top 25. Order mattered on their votes as their #1 vote is worth twice as much as their #10. Our list is made up of cigars that had a wide release this year. The cigars that are eligible do not have to have been reviewed on Blind Man’s Puff, but the reviewer must have smoke it at some point to vote for it.

Blind Cigar Review: Foundation | The Wise Man (El Güegüense) Maduro Corona

by Emmett | Sep 8, 2017 | All, Blind Cigar Reviews, Corona, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, Maduro, Matthew T., Mexican San Andres, Mickey T., Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo, Zane G. | 1 |

“The cigar for filled my appetite for a hearty smoke that would be great after any meal. It reminds me of one of my favorite cigars with a different wrapper and an amped up strength. I cannot wait to find out what it is so I can try the other sizes of this fabulous smoke.” -John A. (John A.)

Cigar News: Foundation Announces The Wise Man (El Güegüense) Maduro

by Emmett | Jul 10, 2017 | All, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, News, Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo | 0 |

Windsor, CT – July 5 th , 2017 – Foundation Cigar Company announces the release of The Wise Man (El Güegüense) Maduro, for IPCPR 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. The release provides for a line extension to Foundation’s premier brand released during IPCPR 2015, where the Nicaraguan puro enjoyed a highly successful launch, going on to find inclusion in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list for 2016.

Cigar News: Foundation Cigar Announces Highclere Castle Exclusive Cigar

by Emmett | Jun 30, 2017 | All, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, Natural, News, Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo | 0 |

June 20, 2017 (Highclere Castle, Hampshire, England/Bristol, Connecticut, USA) – Globally recognized as the iconic face of the award-winning television drama, Downton Abbey , Highclere Castle is now producing a cigar reminiscent of those enjoyed at Highclere Castle during the 19 th and early 20 th centuries. To create and produce the cigar, Highclere Castle Cigar Company has partnered with world-renowned cigar producer Nicholas Melillo, the former head of Drew Estate Nicaragua. Nicholas formed Foundation Cigar Company in 2015 to craft hand-made
cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua, and this is the latest in Foundation’s exceptional line.

Cigar News: Foundation Cigar Company Introduces Collector’s Limited Edition Chest

by Emmett | Jun 15, 2017 | All, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, News, Nicholas Melillo | 0 |

June 12, 2017 Windsor, CT – Experiment Station: There is no question that Foundation Cigar Company is intimately tied to the Connecticut River Valley, but their newest offering has taken this love to the next level. To commemorate and honor the great state of Connecticut and its tobacco tradition Foundation Cigar Company has created for release, a very limited number of Chest Collector “Humidor” Boxes that will be available in stores. “We wanted to honor those predecessors who brought the leaf to the state, worked with different varieties and really put Connecticut on the map with regards to tobacco. We’re talking about hundreds of years of experimentation to arrive at the incredible point where we are today,” said Nick Melillo, President of Foundation Cigar Company.

Blind Cigar Review: Foundation | The Tabernacle Toro

by Emmett | Sep 28, 2016 | Alan, All, Connecticut Broadleaf, Eric, Featured, Foundation Cigar, IPCPR, Jason H., Maduro, Nicaragua, Nicholas Melillo, Ryan, Toro | 0 |

“It’s been a while since I had a cigar that I felt was truly extraordinary, and that dry spell has been broken! This cigar is firmly in my wheelhouse in all areas. The flavors were deep and meaty, the performance excellent, and the strength was just enough to pair with any meal or beverage that I’d want to enjoy it with. This probably isn’t something I’d push off on a new smoker, but really…I liked it so much that I’d be hard pressed to share it with anyone. Can’t wait for the reveal on this!” -Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Category: Nicholas Melillo

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