The Foundation Cigar Company is brainchild of Nicholas Melillo who you may or may not know. Nicholas, a refined world traveler, forged together, his lifetime passions, cigars and international business, when he joined Drew Estate in 2003. Working through the ranks for 11 years, Nicholas became a partner in the company and a true cigar blender. He was the one responsible for blending numerous Drew Estate brands including the Liga Privada #9, T52, Unico Series, Dirty Rat and more.
Nick-R-Agua
After leaving Drew Estate, Nicholas Melillo, AKA Nick-R-Agua founded the Foundation Cigar Company. At this years IPCPR, he launched a number of new blends, one of which is “The Tabernacle”. When asked why the name Tabernacle, Nick will tell you:
“I have been working closely with the farmers in Connecticut for over ten years. Broadleaf is more than tobacco for me. It is sacred.”
Tabernacle is a reference to the container for the Ark of the Covenant. A sacred artifact.
The blend of The Tabernacle is described as:
- Capa (Wrapper): Connecticut Broadleaf
- Capote (Binder): Mexican San Andres
- Tripa (Filler): Esteli, Jalapa y Jamastran
The Tabernacle is available in 6 Vitolas:
- 4 1/2 x 52 – Torpedo – 24 count box
- 5 1/4 x 46 Corona – 24 count box
- 5 x 50 Robusto – 24 count box
- 6 x 52 – Toro – 24 count box
- 7 x 54 Doble Corona – 24 count box
- 7 x 40 Lancero – 13 count box
For this review I sampled the Toro
Cigar Review Notes
- Dark and blotchy Connecticut broadleaf maduro
- Bumpy with some veins
- Sweet fermented tobacco on barrel
- Bread and fruit on foot
- Cold draw delivers pepper on tip of tounge and lips
- Initial light produces a distinct cocoa flavor
- Restricted draw
- Early pepper in retrohale
- Woody and chocolate notes develop
- Burn is perfect with a medium grey ash and medium char line
- 80% bitter chocolate coming in strong as the pepper faded
- Spicy nut aroma
- Definite dry cocoa powder on the palate
- Retrohale is ultra smooth after and inch of burn
- Smoke is medium to full volume
- Sweet cherry enters
- Touch of cedar
- Ash fell after 2 inches
- Perfectly centered burn cone – solid construction
- Wrapper is showing signs of oiling up
- Toasted bread aroma in second third
- Lip smacking sweetness on the head of the cigar
- Chocolate and spice re-emerges mid second third
- Medium strength
- Leather note wraps the spice as the chocolate builds some bitterness
- Sweet cherry enters again in final third
- Retrohale is a touch spicy at the end
Overall, The Tabernacle is a fantastic introduction by the Foundation Cigar company and I would certainly recommend buying a box of these. The Tabernacle shows that Nicholas is a true master blender.
Foundation Cigar Company “The Tabernacle”