The Good Stuff:

By now we all know the badass that is Nick Mellilo, founder of Foundation Cigar Company who has been kicking out some of the most popular cigars to hit the market over the past few years. The Havana Seed CT #142 is an extension of the Tabernacle line which features a new, experimental wrapper.

The blend starts off with a cuban-seed Connecticut Havana Seed CT #142 wrapper, hence where the cigar gets its name from, over a Mexican San Andres Binder and Nicaraguan / Honduran fillers.

The lancero is the fifth addition to the blend which features the Robusto (5 x 50), Corona (5 1/4 x 46), Toro (6 x 52), Double Corona (7 x 54), and the Lacnero (7 x 40). The The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 lancero, and all the other formats in the line come packaged in boxes of 24 and runs $12.75 a stick. We got ours over from the great folks at Fox Cigar Bar who have them in stock now, with free shipping, no minimum.

• Size: 7 x 40
• Wrapper: Connecticut Havana Seed CT #142
• Binder: Mexican San Andres
• Filler: Honduran and Nicaraguan
• Body: Full
• Strength: Full
• Price: $12.75
• Pairing: Bruery Rue’d Attitude (Imperial Porter 12.6% ABV)

Prelight:

The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 starts off with a very pretty, dark chocolate brown wrapper. The wrapper is much darker around the foot of the cigar and lighters as you near the cap while the wrapper leaf is laid seamlessly over itself. The wrapper’s texture is extremely toothy and gritty with a great amount of oil coating the cigar’s body. The cigar features some very mild veins and tobacco webbing as the slender body leads up to the cigar’s round, triple-wrapped cap. The cigar is then polished off with a red and gold version of the Tabernacle band.

The wrapper on the Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 gives off mild musk and dirt aromas while the foot of the cigar smells much more bright with spice pepper, and natural tobacco scents. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces notes of musk, spice, and black cherry.

First Third:

The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 starts off with a pretty potent black pepper punch that while strong, only lasts through the first few puffs and quickly fades away allowing the cigar to hit me with loads of black coffee, dark chocolate, musk, pecan, and black cherry over some great cedar flavors. The draw is incredible, as usually when it comes to the lancero format allowing each puff to release a massive amount of thick, gray smoke which doesn’t take anytime before it vanishes into the air. The burn line is razor thin and dead even leaving behind a semi-compacted trail of dark gray and black ash which only held on for about 3/4 of an inch before giving way.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 and both the body and strength have continuously ramped up in power. The flavors are now bold coffee, cedar, and musk backed by black cherry, pecan, and caramel. The taste is a bit on the dryer side, but that meshes well with the flavors in the cigar. The retrohale really bring out the spice and cedar and its a bit rough so I don’t find myself doing it too often. I close out the second third with a decent little nicotine kick.

Finish:

Into the final third of the Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 and man, this thing just won’t quit. The leading flavors are still cedar and coffee backed by dark chocolate, black cherry, musk and pecan. While the flavors haven’t changed up much, they didn’t need to and I prefer that they didn’t as I really enjoy this profile. It took me 2 hours to take this cigar down to the nub, I experience no harshness, nor extended heat. It did leave me with quite a bit of a nicotine buzz though.

Overview:

What an absolute treat of a cigar. I really appreciate not only the complexity of the experience but also the unique blend of the flavors that the Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 offered. The cigar was much more bold and powerful than I expected, and quite frankly I loved that as it fit the blend really well. The lancero in particular really poured on the body. This is just another gold notch in Nick’s already glowing belt. I am always going to have a few of these in my regular rotation, and this is something you don’t want to pass up.

Pairing:

Brewed at The Bruery in Placentia, California Rue’d Attitude is a 12.6% imperial porter aged in bourbon barrels and then treated with vanilla, tart cherries, and coffee. The beer leads with a very pleasant cold-brewed coffee flavor backed by caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, and a nice mild tartness from the cherry. The mouthfeel is very light before the beer finishes with even more cherry and vanilla over dark chocolate and coffee. The coffee was spot-on and wasn’t over acidic especially in conjunction with the cherry flavors. Add that to the chocolate, coffee, and cherry flavors in the Tabernacle and you can see exactly why I chose to pair this cigar and beer together.

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-Tony

After enjoying the success of their 2016 release of the Broadleaf wrapped The Tabernacle, Foundation Cigar Company followed up on that in 2018 with The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142, which sports a unique Connecticut Valley grown wrapper enrobing a core that is basically the same as the original.  

As described on Foundation’s website:

“Master blender, Nicholas Melillo, has been working with choice farmers in the Connecticut River Valley since 2014 to develop the Havana Seed CT #142 wrapper. The seed is extremely rare and unlike any other tobacco in the world. Due to the incredible amount of oil from the plant, it takes 3yrs to undergo the fermentation process. The results make for a delicious medium to full-bodied blend with hints of cedar, spice, rich earthiness and natural sweetness.”

The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 is made at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A., and comes in five sizes: Robusto 5×50; Corona 5¼x46; Toro 6×52; Doble Corona 7×54; and Lancero 7×40.  Prices range from $9 to $12. 

It’s been a while since I’ve had the original Tabernacle, although I do have a stubby torpedo waiting to be smoked, but I know I really enjoyed them. This one came to me by way of our great friends over at Cuenca Cigars.

The Basics:

• Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Valley grown Havana Seed No. 142
• Binder: Mexican San Andres
• Filler: Nicaragua and Honduras Jamastran
• Size smoked: Toro 6×52
• Price: $11.50
• Smoking time: One hour, forty-five minutes
• Pairing: Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad 2015 (ABV 11.8%)

Pre-light:

The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 comes enrobed in a medium dark and mottled reddish brown, and shows a few fine veins and fine tooth in a tight and seamless roll.  It’s very firmly packed with just a couple of slightly softer spots and has a pretty good amount of heft to it.  The maroon/burgundy and gold of the band really coordinates well with the color of the wrapper, giving it a very attractive appearance.  Perhaps because it comes without a cellophane sleeve and has been sitting in my humidor for several months, the wrapper doesn’t give off much of an aroma other than some musty tobacco.  Likewise, the foot shows little more than some earthy tobacco. Clipping the cap with my Colibri V-cutter reveals sweet tobacco, spice, and grain notes on the cold draw.

First third:

True to form, the wind kicks up just as I begin to toast the cigar, forcing me to put my lighter a lot closer to the foot than I would like, but this cigar is completely unfazed by that.  The result is a perfect draw that gives up sweet earth and spice, some woodiness that falls somewhere between cedar and oak, and a bit of light roasted coffee.  Dry leather and a light char come in a little further down.  The burn line has been razor sharp and nearly dead-even, and the layered light gray ash hangs on for 1½” before falling into my ashtray.  A citrusy tang next appears on the tongue as the first third finishes at a smooth medium body with no nicotine kick.

Middle third:

As I near the halfway point, things haven’t changed up much, which is just fine by me, since I’ve been enjoying the flavors that have been there, and they’ve melded well and continue to please my palate.  The burn went a bit out of whack for a short time, but has completely self-corrected and some white pepper has come in on the tongue, hangs around for a little while, then dissipates as the coffee notes move up the ladder.

Final third:

The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 ushers in some added char and a drop in sweetness as the earth, coffee, wood, and leather continue to lead the way, with not much change other than a slight uptick in intensity and body. The cigar burns down to the firm and cool nub with no harshness and finishes at near medium-full with just slight nicotine strength. 

Conclusion:

While there wasn’t much in the way of transitions, the flavors of the Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 were plenty complex enough for me to not get bored with it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The construction on this cigar is terrific.  I never had a worry about the burn and it drew great all the way down, and it was a nice long and relaxing smoke.  I highly recommend that smokers from novices looking for a slightly bolder experience to seasoned veterans give this one a shot.  I’m just glad that I don’t have to type that long name again, lol.

Pairing:

I’ve had this bottle of Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad sitting in my cabinet for a few years (as evidenced by the neck label falling off), and that might be a little longer than it should have sat, but it was still a great match for this cigar.  The beer shows cherry and orange-y citrus fruit, a touch of cocoa and caramel, and some barrel wood and booziness, and it gets sweeter as it warms up, providing a welcome companion for the cigar.  I would love to have had a slightly younger version of this beer, however, as I think the flavors have dampened some and a brighter beer would have been even more enjoyable.  A smooth porter, a juicy red such as a Zinfandel or Shiraz, or a nice rum would also be great pairing for the CT No. 142. 

~Jeff Oda 

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#10 – L’Atelier Cote d’Or 2017

Overview: I’ve had a run of great cigars as of late and The L’Atlelier Cote d’Or only adds to that list. The cigar is bold, complex, well balanced, and just all around fantastic. I love it when you can find such a complex, full-bodied cigar that doesn’t kick your ass with strength. It burned flawlessly, and slow, with a larger format which was great. It’s a bit pricey, but considering some of the tobaccos needed to create this blend I feel it’s justified and can easily drop the coin on it, and will. Since its so limited I would easily say this is a box-worthy cigar, while they are still available.

Read Full Review Here

#9 – Drew Estate Pappy Van Winkle Tradition

Overview: Its no secret that I have been a longtime fan of Willy Herrera’s blends, and in all honesty I think the Pappy Van Winkle Tradition is right up towards the top of my favorite cigars that he has made. The flavors are solid, meticulous, complex, and so well balanced without hitting you in the face. That’s something I have always been able to appreciate with his blends and why he fits right in and Drew Estate. The Pappy Van Winkle is an exclusive, limited, and expensive cigar which fits right in with the Pappy branding. In all honesty, I think this cigar is worth the coin. I dropped so much money on the La Palina Goldies and I can easily see myself buying a box of the Traditions as well. If you find them, buy them. They won’t be around for very long. Again, hit Fox Cigar bar for yours. They should be releasing soon.

Read Full Review Here

#8 – Hit and Run by Matt Booth and Robert Caldwell

Overview: Without hesitation I can easily say The Hit and Run is one of the better cigars I have smoked all year. While keeping a mild temperament this cigar almost hit the full mark in body and that’s not something you encounter everyday. It’s as complex as it needs to be, without having to put too much thought into what you’re smoking. It kept me on my toes and never once had me asking for more. The price point is where you would expect it to be, and the limited availability makes it a hot commodity which will sell out very fast. So again, get yours from Fox Cigar Bar while you can.

Read Full Review Here

#7 – Foundation Cigar Company Güegüense The Wise Man Maduro

Overview: The Wise Man Maduro is a the perfect example of a classic Maduro done right. Smooth, balanced, not too complex, and just solid all around. Foundation Cigar Company has been kicking out some great cigars and I don’t see them stopping anytime soon. While this cigar would easily find its way into my regular rotation I can’t say I would enjoy it more than I enjoyed the original version which will always hold it’s place in my regular rotation. But this is a box worthy cigar for sure, especially if you’re a Maduro fan.

Read Full Review Here

#6 – The Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2017

Overview: I am a huge fan of the Las Calaveras line, and a bigger fan of the Crowned Heads. How did The Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2017 compare? It may be a bit early to say it as I only smoked through a handful, but this may be my favorite Calaveras release yet. It’s bold, flavorful, complex, well balanced and won’t kick your ass. That’s exactly what I personally look for in a cigar. The flavor profile was stellar and the price point is exactly where it should be. With a large release these won’t be too hard to find either which is a great thing cause it looks like I will be picking up quite a few more.

Read Full Review Here

#5 – Tatuaje TAA Exclusive 2017

Overview: The 2012 and 2014 have been my favorite TAA releases from Tatuaje to date, and I am glad they brought them back. It’s hard to compare the 2014 to the 2017 as its been some time since I smoked one, but what I can tell you is that I absolutely loved the damn cigar. The flavor profile really got me going, while the cigar was bold, and not overpowered by strength. The size is perfect and I love soft box-press cigars. The price is a bit steep, but its something I’d gladly pay time and time again especially since it’s supporting the TAA who do so much for the industry.

Read Full Review Here

#4 – Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown

Overview: First of all, I have to state that the Undercrown Sun Grown that I smoked prior to this one had no burn issues whatsoever, and since I have rarely, if ever, had any construction or burn problems with any of the many Undercrowns that I have had over the years, I have to consider this one an anomaly (coincidentally, I also thought the first one had a bit more kick to it, but perhaps that’s just where my head was at).  Once I burned past the short tunnel, the cigar picked right up where it left off, although it probably shortened my smoking time by a good five to ten minutes.  Even with the issue, I still enjoyed the heck out of the stick, as it presented great full flavors, good complexity, and otherwise solid construction and burn, and I was kind of bummed out when it came to an end, wanting the experience to last a little longer.  The price is, in my opinion, spot-on, if not more than fair, and I will certainly be smoking more of this cigar.  I definitely recommend it.

Read Full Review Here

#3 – Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour

Overview: I have really enjoyed the trend of more full-bodied cigars coming out of the Davidoff factory and the Late Hour tops that list. What a fantastic cigar that kept true to the Davidoff palate. The cigar is complex, yet easy smoking sticking true to it’s roots. Its rather expensive, but it’s Davidoff so that’s expected. This is a great cigar for those full-bodied smokers out there who have stayed away from Davidoff due to it being too mild for them. I would say this would have a place in my regular rotation but I just can’t do that with a $20 cigar. But this is something I’d spring for when I want something special especially around the holiday season when I’m drinking more stouts.

Read Full Review Here

#2 – Black Label Trading Company Santa Muerte

Overview: As I type of this recap Jawbreaker’s “Accident Prone” comes on my Spotify making for one of the best, relaxing Sundays I have had for a long time. Plus, Im on vacation all week, so I guess this is kind of kicking it off on a good note. Anyways, the Black Label Trading Company Santa Muerte is one of the best damn cigars I have had all year, and there have been some great ones. That being said, this isn’t the typical cigar you see released by Black Label. Usually their cigars punch me in the face, kick me in the chest, then beat me when I’m down with both crazy bold flavor and strenght. This is a different cigar. It’s flavorful, complex, yet creamy and down to earth. There isn’t much strength, and it doesn’t need it. This is probably my favorite, if not one of my top cigars the company has released. It’s box worthy for sure and I’ll be seeking more out. Thanks again Jason!

Read Full Review Here

#1 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Muestra de Saka Nacatamale

Overview: Hands down in my humble opinion the Muestra de Saka Nacatamale is my favorite cigar released from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust to date. Its meaty, its complex, its bold, and the flavor profile is something that I personally love. The price is a bit steep but in this case you get what you pay for and thats a cigar that delivers. These are limited, and the box count is small enough that even with the higher price this is something I will try to have stocked in my humidor for as long as I can.

Read Full Review Here

The post Top 10 Cigars of 2017 – Tony Casas Edition appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

#10 – Davidoff – Yamasa

In my opinion, Davidoff has released some of the best cigars in their portfolio lately. The Eclipse, the Nicaraguan, and now, the Yamasa. Davidoff has always made great cigars, but often I find myself wishing that there was something just a bit bolder about them. Well, that’s been answered. The Yamasa is a great, medium/full cigar with enough body and complexity to keep me entertained, without losing what makes Davidoff cigars so special. These cigars are box-worthy for sure if you are willing to drop the coin on them, as they are a bit high in price. You have come to expect act with Davidoff though, and in most cases, they deliver.

Read the full review here

#9 – Illusione – Garagiste

I’m a very un-biased fan of Illusione. I love most cigars in Dion’s line, but that doesn’t ever stop me from giving my honest feedback. With that out of the way I think that the Garagiste is an absolutely stellar cigar. The cigar provides a ton of complex, yet balanced flavors with a flawless burn at a great price. Never once did the cigar get too strong, more did the body become too much for me while the complex flavors kept me on my toes from start to finish. This is a box worthy purchase for sure and one that will easily find its way into my regular rotation and might just make an appearance on my best cigar of 2016 list (which I haven’t put a lot of thought into yet to be honest).

Read the full review here

#8 – Caldwell – Savages

I’ve really liked just about everything that Caldwell has released and the Savages only adds to an already long list. In fact, this is probably one of the best blends I have had by the company. It offers a unique flavor profile that delivers in both body and dimension without being too overpowering or strong. Sure, the price is steep but thats expected as Caldwell relies heavily on rare, limited, and vintage tobacco to make each of their blends.

Read the full review here

#7 – La Palina – Illumination

I went into the La Palina Illumination knowing that it wouldn’t be a Goldie, but that it would be similar to it, and boy did this cigar deliver. The flavor profile is absolutely incredible. It’s complex and bold while maintaining very modest strength which is something I really loved in the Goldie. Sure, its no replacement, but for a low-cost full-production blend I can easily see this being a multiple box purchase in my book and expect it to be in my regular rotation for quite some time.

Read the full review here

#6 – Foundation Tobacco Company – Tabernacle

Foundation Cigar Company knocks another one out of the park. The Tabernacle is a cigar packed with complexity, great flavors, bold body and strength, with a flawless experience. The price point is right where you would expect for an experience like this and now that Foundation Cigar Company has teamed up with Miami cigar for distribution you can expect to find their cigars much more easily. (NOTE: Miami is only distributing the Upsetters. Thanks Charlie for pointing this out!) This is a perfect cigar for those like me, who like bold, strong, complex cigars or even this novice cigar really looking to step their game up. I’ll be stocking up on these and adding them into my regular rotation.

Read the full review here

#5 – Casa De Entrada – Entrada

For some reason, Casa Fernandez-made cigars are very distinct, and I can always pick them out, it reminds me how Padron, and Davidoff all carry certain district flavor profiles. Anyways, maybe it’s just me. The Entrada by Casa Entrada is a great cigar with falls in line with everything you would expect a Casa Fernandez-made cigar would be. The flavor profile is very bold right from the start, and pours on the flavor until the nub. While complex, all the flavors marry in very well with each other. The strength never peaked over medium, and the burn was flawless. This is a solid cigar for the price and once that I would love to have in my regular rotation.

Read the full review here

#4 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust – Mi Querida

I absolutely loved the Sobremesa, and I can honestly say that the Mi Querida really gave it a run for it’s money. In my opinion, while both cigar’s performed incredibly, the flavor profile of the Mi Querida is much more up my alley and is something I could see myself smoking on the regular. The burn was flawless, the flavors incredible, and the price is on point. I don’t think I could really ask for more from a cigar.

Read the full review here Jeremy also review this line, you can read his thoughts here

#3 – The Crowned Heads – Las Mereas

Don’t let the looks of the Las Mareas fool you, this cigar preformed like a dream. Considering this was made by the hands of My Father Cigars, I was caught off guard. I was expecting more spicy, bold flavors while I was pleasantly surprised with something the closely resembles what we would expect from a Cuban cigar experience. The subtle nuances in flavors, slight change ups, with a very enjoyable body made for a wonderful smoke and something I could really see myself smoking very often. It’s a great cigar for those who often smoke Cuban cigars, those who are more experienced cigar smokers looking for a great milder cigar with a great body, or even the novice cigar smoker looking to getting into something premium that one, won’t break the bank and two, won’t kick their ass with strength and body. I’m really glad this is going into the Crowned Head’s full production portfolio as it’s a cigar that I plan on picking up quite often.

Read the full review here

#2 – Tatuaje – TAA 2016

The Tatuaje TAA 2012 is easily one of the best cigars I smoked all year. It’s complex, yet easy to break down sporting a favor profile that carries a great amount of different flavors. The burn was flawless, the format is incredibly comfortable, the TAA support is awesome, and the price is exactly where one would expect it to be. I’m glad I picked up quite a few of these as this is a cigar I will really miss once they are gone.

Read the full review here

#1 – Illusione – Haut 10

I am a big Illusione fan, and while that means I generally enjoy their cigars, it also means I can get critical of them really quick if they don’t live up to my set standards for them. Not only did the Haut 10 live up to those standards, but it blew them away. This cigar has it all, bold flavors with a balanced profile I really enjoyed, flawless construction, and perfect burn. The price is a bit steep, but the outcome from what Dion put into this cigar is evident. This is how Anniversary cigars are done. Congrats to 10 years Illusione, I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

Read the full review here

The post Top 10 Cigars of 2016 – Tony Casas Edition appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff:

Following up with the release of the Tabernacle, Nick Melillo’s Foundation Cigar Company also released the Charter Oak blends at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas this year. The Charter Oak is a value-conscious release which supports two different wrappers. One blend is made with Connecticut Broadleaf while the other is wrapped up in Connecticut Shade. Today, we are only concentrating not the Broadleaf version of the cigar as I will look at the Shade version at a later date.

The Foundation Cigar Company’s website has a good amount of detail on the project:

 “I wanted to choose a name that represents the greatest symbol of my home state of Connecticut, the Charter Oak.” – Nicholas Melillo” 

Foundation Cigar President Nick Melillo announces the completion of his newest brand, Charter Oak, set for release at the 2016 IPCPR Show in Las Vegas.

Charter Oak also pays tribute to Melillo’s grandfather, who while earning a modest salary working for the Winchester Repeating Arms factory after WWII, smoked exclusively, broadleaf cigars manufactured by FD Graves on State St, while, no joke, Rick Ardito’s grandfather, a guard at Winchester, also smoked FD Graves biggest selling broadleaf, Muniemakers.

“I wanted to create an economy-minded, everyday smoke for connoisseurs; something tasty and delicious but didn’t break the bank”, says Melillo.

Charter Oak Cigars hail from the same fertile valley in Connecticut that Master Tobacco Blender Nick R Agua aka Nick Melillo was born and raised. Charter Oak Cigars feature some of the most prized and sought after Cuban seed leaf varieties from the exquisite Esteli and Jalapa regions of Nicaragua. The cigars are then wrapped in either a silky, beautiful Connecticut Shade wrapper or a hearty and rich Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, leaving you with the perfect every day and every occasion cigar.

As for the brand’s signature graphic, historians estimate that this unusually large Oak tree began growing sometime during the 12th century on a plot located on what is now downtown Hartford. Native Americans, who by the way cultivated tobacco nearby long before settlers, held councils beneath its massive branches. The tree is actually mentioned in Dutch Explorer, Adrian Block’s journey guidebook in 1608. By the mid 1600’s the plot was parceled and a farm was built with the agreement that the local tribe could share this sacred tree. In 1662 King Charles II issued a Royal Charter to the Connecticut Colony granting an unusual degree of autonomy. However, when his successor, James II appointed an English Governor-General to reclaim the Charter, it was hidden in what became known as Charter Oak, one of our countries greatest symbols of American Independence.

As I stated before, the Charter Oak will feature two blends. Concentrating on the Maduro version, the blend starts with the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The cigars are produced at the Tabacalera Fernandez S.A. factory in Nicaragua. Both blends come packaged in boxes of 20 which feature 5 formats: Petite Corona (5 1/4 x 42), Rothschild (4 1/2 x 50), Lonsdale ( 6 1/4 x 46), Toro (6 x 52), Grande (6 x 60) ranging between $4.80 and $5.80 a stick. I purchased a handful of these over from our friends over at Smoke Inn.

Size: 6 x 60
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Body: Medium
Strength: Medium
Price: $5.80
Pairing: Ommegang Soothsayer (Belgian Dark Ale 8.9% ABV)

Prelight:

The Foundation Cigar Company Charter Oak Maduro carries a gorgeous deep, dark brown wrapper that’s very consistent in color with only some darker webbing towards the foot of the cigar. The wrapper is carefully laid and folder over the cigar’s foot while the cigar sports a very round double cap. The texture is extremely toothy with a good amount of oils. The wrapper feels very dense and is as hard as a rock while the filler tobacco feels very firm and well-packed as well. The cigar is polished off with a yellow, white, black and manilla band which carries the Charter Oak crest printed across the front.

The wrapper gives off really bold sweetness, cocoa and spice aromas while the foot of the cigar is relatively the same only with a bit more earthiness to it. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces a nice sweetness, plum, and cocoa.

First Third:

The Foundation Cigar Company Charter Oak Maduro starts out with a decently powerful black pepper boom with only last thought the first few puffs. After the pepper fades the cigar leaves you with some bold plum and cocoa, with some soft sweetness, a bit of dirt and earthiness, and a subtle tartness from the wrapper. The draw is awesome. Each tiny puff pumps out huge globs of thick, white smoke while the Charter Oak Maduro gives off very little stationary smoke as it rests in my ashtray. The burn line is razor thin and dead even leaving behind a very tightly compacted trail of white ash which held on for almost an inch and a half before giving way.

Second Third:

Into the second third of this Foundation Cigar Company Charter Oak Maduro and much of the flavors remain the same. The body of the cigar is resting comfortably in the medium range leading with cocoa, spice, and plum backed by sweetness, dirt, and earthiness. The retrohale coats my nasal passage with all sorts of chocolate and spice. The burn line is still rockin’ dead even and I close out the second third with absolutely nothing in terms of nicotine.

Finish:

The flavors in the Foundation Cigar Company Charter Oak Maduro continue to remain consistent. The body never really leaves the medium range leading with the cocoa and spice backed by plum, sweetness, dirt and earthiness. It took me almost 2 hours to take this cigar down to the nub and the burn and experience was flawless. I never once had to reach for my torch nor did the cigar produce any harshness or extra heat.

Overview:

The Foundation Cigar Company Charter Oak Maduro is a solid offering. This cigar showcases a flawless burn while retaining a classic maduro approach. The flavors are great, and mild. While the Charter Oak Maduro isn’t a very complex cigar, it remained consistent from start to finish. Let’s factor in the extremely low cost of this cigar and it’s a clear winner. While I personally lean towards a cigar with a bit more body and complexity, this is a great cigar for everyday consumption that won’t break the bank.

Pairing:

Soothsayer is a 8.9% Belgian Dark Ale from Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown N.Y.. I’m a huge fan of their beers and they have been showcased here on Casas Fumando numerous times in the past. This limited run beer leads with spice, apple, cocoa, and malt with a very light mouthfeel before finishing crips with more apple, caramel, malt, spice, cocoa and sweetness. The flavors are almost identical to those found in the Foundation Cigar Company Charter Oak Maduro, as it adds a bit more fruit and sweetness to the mixture. I think this cigar would pair wonderfully with any Belgian dubbel or a soft Ruby Port.

The post Foundation Cigar Company Charter Oak Maduro appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff:

Nick Melillo became a household name during the years he spent at Drew Estate creating some of the most beloved cigars ever created. A few years ago Nick announced he was going to make the jump and create his own cigar company called “Foundation Cigar Company”. Last year he released the debut brand El Güegüense which went on to claim many cigar of the year accolades including the #9 spot on my list. Foundation cigar company went on to showcase 4 new blends at this year’s IPCPR show in Vegas. I got my hands on all 4 and will be looking at all of them, starting with the Tabernacle.

Foundation Cigar Company’s website had all the information about the blend:

“BROADLEAF IS MORE THAN TOBACCO FOR ME. IT IS SOMETHING SACRED.”—NICHOLAS MELILLO”

The Tabernacle is Foundation Cigar Company’s newest super premium cigar, boasting a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and some of Nicaragua’s finest fillers. It is a combination of tastes that calls on founder Nicholas Melillo’s roots in the Connecticut River Valley and also his work with the finest artisanal tobacco batches in Nicaragua.

“I want to show my love for Connecticut Broadleaf,” says Melillo. “I was born in New Haven where, at the turn of the century, there were many cigar factories.”

Also wanting to continue showcasing the flavors of northern Nicaragua, Melillo blended The Tabernacle at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Esteli.

“AJ grows some of his tobacco on the farm, La Soledad, where I lived on when I first moved to Esteli in 2003. I know firsthand that AJ’s farm is blessed with the perfect location for growing filler tobaccos. He has incredible tobacco inventories and gave me full access to some of his best leaf for this project.”

The Tabernacle box tells the story of the cigar’s name. The artwork features an image of none other than Haile Selassie, 225th King of Abyssinia, whose lineage traces directly to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The reference to “tabernacle” is as a container for the Ark of the Covenant.”

“They call me ‘Chief of the Broadleafs’ for a reason,” Melillo continues. “I have been working closely with farmers in Connecticut for over ten years. Broadleaf is more than tobacco for me. It is something sacred.”

On the outside, this cigar uses a CT Broadleaf wrapper, selected by Melillo for this project two years ago.

“AJ Fernandez has been meticulously fermenting this broadleaf wrapper and the combination of both of our passions for tobacco is dangerous.”

The Tabernacle also uses a San Andreas Mexico binder and filler from Jamastran Valley in Honduras, plus the Esteli and Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua.

And there you have it. I’m not one for always quoting straight out of the company’s site, but that’s good solid information on the blend there without all the fluff. The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle will be released in six sizes, the Torpedo (4 1/2 x 52), Corona (5 1/4 x 46), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), Double Corona (7 x 54), and the Lancero (7 x 40). All of which will come packaged in 24 count boxes with the exception of the Lancero which will come in a 13 count box. The cigars will range between $9 and $12.50 a stick. These are already starting to trickle into retailers as I type this up. I purchased a handful of these over form our friends at Smoke Inn.

Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Mexican San Andreas
Filler: Jamastran Honduran, Esteli and Jalapa Nicaraguan
Body: Full
Strength: Full
Price: $10.50
Pairing: Prairie Artisan Ales Birthday Bomb! (Imperial Stout 13% ABV)

Prelight:

The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle showcases an absolutely stunning, deep, dark brown wrapper. The color is very consistent with only some smaller almost black areas scattered throughout. The cigar’s texture is incredibly toothy and grainy with a good amount of oil and a few larger veins running through the cigar’s body. The wrapper is very, very hard and thick while the rest of the cigar is very heavy and tightly packed. This cigar feels like a rock. The cigar is capped of with a round double wrapper cap and a black, grey, and gold embossed band which includes the previously mentioned Haile Selassie artwork as well as the Tabernacle crest.

The wrapper on the Tabernacle gives off some great sweetness, lots of spice, and tart tobacco while the foot of the cigar carries more cedar, earthiness, and natural tobacco aromas. The cap took a bit of effort from my Xikar double bladed cutter to clip, but the snip was clean. The cold draw produces some nice tobacco tart, cocoa, coffee, and sweetness.

First Third:

The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle starts out with a great little black pepper bang which quickly faded after the first few puff leaving behind a whole ton of rich, dark chocolate, espresso, cinnamon and spice, sweetness, and some deep oak and musk. The cigar starts of with a ton of body right off the bat. The draw is flawless despite the cigar being so tightly packed. Each tiny, little puff kicks out a massive cloud of thick, white smoke while a good deal of smoke pours out of the cigar as it rests in my ashtray. The drawling is a bit rough, but not concerning as it leaves behind a brilliant trail of bright white ash which held on for about an inch before giving way.

Second Third:

Into the second third of The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle and the spice has started to let up some while the cocoa and espresso are owning the show backed by the musk and oak with some interesting caramel notes. The sweetness was very evident at the start of the cigar, but then dropped out only to make a huge comeback as I neared the end of the second third. The retrohale is very sharp coating my nasal passage with lots of spice and cedar. The burn line is still pretty wavy but not bothersome while I close out the second third with a decent bit of a nicotine.

Finish:

Into the final third of The Foundation Cigar Company Tabernacle and the flavor has really change up quite a bit. First of all the sweetness and musk are now leaded the charge backed by the cocoa and espresso, caramel, tartness, and great little floral flavor the creeped in. The final third of this cigar is where it really makes an impression. The body is full, and the strength is full leaving me with a decent little nicotine kick, no harshness, and no extra heat.

Overview:

Foundation Cigar Company knocks another one out of the park. The Tabernacle is a cigar packed with complexity, great flavors, bold body and strength, with a flawless experience. The price point is right where you would expect for an experience like this and now that Foundation Cigar Company has teamed up with Miami cigar for distribution you can expect to find their cigars much more easily. (NOTE: Miami is only distributing the Upsetters. Thanks Charlie for pointing this out!) This is a perfect cigar for those like me, who like bold, strong, complex cigars or even this novice cigar really looking to step their game up. I’ll be stocking up on these and adding them into my regular rotation.

Pairing:

Brewed at the Prairie Artisan Ales Brewery in Oklahoma this imperial stout comes in at a whopping 13% ABV. The beer is packed with coffee, vanilla beans, cacao nibs, and chili peppers. The beer starts out with lots of sweet chocolate, vanilla, sweetness, spice, and a bit of chili with a very heavy mouthfeel before finishing even sweeter with some more chocolate, milk, chili and spice. This beer tastes like a spicy, boozed up chocolate milk and I love it. It’s easy to see why I chose this beer to pair with the Tabernacle as the flavors are almost identical and both side of the pairing can hold their own. I would also consider pairing the Tabernacle with a Belgian strong ale, quad, or just about any imperial stout.

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