Come September 2020, there will be a new El Güegüense cigar, in the form of the 5yr Aniversario Collector’s chest. Nicholas Melillo debuted the original El Güegüense as one of the first lines in his Foundation Cigar Company in 2015. Now the company is releasing a limited edition 4 ¾ by 60 Perfecto in a special blend for the 5 year anniversary.
The original El Güegüense, pronoiunced “el-way-when-say” and translating to “The Wise Man,” took our #1 Cigar of the Year in 2015 and the maduro version “The Wise Man” took our #1 Cigar of the Year in 2017.
“Moving to Estelí in 2003,” says Melillo, “made a profound impact on my life. For my debut release I wanted to pay homage to Nicaragua‘s unique culture and its rich and flavorful tobacco.”
This 5yr Aniversario version is a special blend in a special size. The cigar measures 4 ¾ by 60 in a perfecto shape and comes in a one-of-a-kind collector’s chest. The chest holds 20 cigars and is made to look like the one held by The Wise Man during the annual Festival of San Sebastián’s Great Dance.
“This box is one of the most unique I have seen in all of my years in the industry,” said Melillo. “Foundation‘s art director, Thief Operandi, did an amazing job on the artwork. It perfectly complements this rich, elegant, and complex blend. This is a true collector’s piece.”
The blend uses a Corojo 99 wrapper, a San Andres Mexico binder, and fillers from Jalapa and Estelí. The limited-edition chest ship to the U.S. late September. The box sells for MSRP: $300.00.
“We are proud to share this milestone with the many fine retailers and connoisseurs who have supported and believed in us these past five years. We look forward to many more exciting years together.” – Nicholas Melillo