Nick Mellio and Foundation Cigar Co. were showing off three new releases that this year's IPCPR Trade Show: The Tabernacle, Charter Oak, and The Upsetters. You can read the original press releases by clicking on the respective names.
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.
The first event-only Foundation cigar, Menelik, became a national release earlier this year. Now, to replace that comes The Grasshopper. Like the original Menelik, The Grasshopper comes in packs of 5 cigars. However, the cigars in the pack are different blends, two with a San Andres Mexican wrapper, two with Candela wrapper, and one cigar with a barber pole of San Andres and Candela. The internals of the cigars is all the same using a Corojo binder from Jalapa, Nicaragua fillers from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa Nicaragua. Each cigar measure 5 1/4 x 52.
Foundation Cigar Company is adding a Habano version of it's Charter Oak line. The original launch of the Charter Oak came in two blends, Connecticut Shade and Connecticut Broadleaf. The line is value priced, but has always been regarded as one of the best inexpensive cigars on the market.
Foundation Cigars has announced new house blend exclusively to Ligero Tobacco House in Buford, GA. The new cigar is called simply "Ligero Tobacco House" and comes in one size, a 6 ¼ x 46 Lonsdale. The blend uses a Habano Ecuador wrapper, San Andres Mexican binder, and filler from Esteli, Jalapa, and Ometepe.
According to Melillo, El Güegüense is blended with vintage-specific tobacco. The blend consists of a Corojo '99 wrapper and binder from Jalapa, though from different farms, while the filler is made up of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos from 2011 and 2012 crop years. (Note: Corojo '99 does not indicate harvest year, but seed variety.)
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!
Foundation Cigar Company is refreshing the packaging of their infused Jamaican line, Upsetters. Upsetters was first shown off at the 2016 IPCPR trade show and convention. The brand is inspired by the Jamaica’s musicians and created by Nick Melillo's love for Jamaican tobacco and their culture. These new designs for the Upsetters were done by Foundation's in-house creative laboratory, The ATOL Collective and were inspired by Jamaican album covers from the 1960's.
92%
Great
"Solid mild to medium cigar. The spice and pepper on the front and end of the cigar were nice. With the middle, a tad more mild and less pepper and more earth and coffee it did not overwhelm you like som peppery cigar will to some people. This should be a cigar to try on many people's list. " -Jake P. (Jake P.)