Brand guide
Foundation Cigar Company
Foundation Cigar Company is a Connecticut cigar brand founded in 2015 by Nicholas Melillo, with its cigars rolled at partner factories in Nicaragua.
Foundation's founder ran a Drew Estate factory first
Nicholas Melillo spent 11 years at Drew Estate, from 2003, running production at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Nicaragua.
Cigar Insider reported that he helped blend Liga Privada No. 9 and helped the factory grow from a few thousand cigars a day to about 100,000. He left in May 2014 and set up Melillo International, a consulting firm. A year later he announced Foundation.
Foundation is his company. The site names him founder and master blender. Cigar Aficionado's 2015 report placed the first headquarters in Southbury, Connecticut, with an office planned for South Windsor. The magazine's company profile now puts headquarters on a 50-acre tobacco field in Connecticut, Melillo's home state.
Foundation leans on two Nicaraguan partner factories
Foundation launched without a factory of its own, and Cigar Aficionado lists Tabacos Valle de Jalapa (TABSA) for The Wise Man and Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua for The Tabernacle and Highclere Castle.
TABSA belongs to Eduardo Fernandez of Aganorsa, the 2015 report says. The A.J. Fernandez side is covered in our AJ Fernandez guide. The company site says the Highclere Castle Edwardian is rolled in Estelí. In 2015 Melillo said he hoped to open a small factory, a "fabriquita," some day; the sources opened here don't report that it happened.
Foundation tobacco: Nicaraguan core, Connecticut wrapper
The Wise Man Corojo is all Nicaraguan, with a Corojo '99 wrapper, an Estelí and Jalapa binder and Estelí, Condega and Jalapa filler.
The Tabernacle brings Melillo's home state into the blend with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Foundation lists a Mexican San Andrés binder and Estelí, Jalapa and Jamastran filler, so Nicaraguan and Honduran leaf. Cigar Aficionado's profile describes San Andrés binder and filler instead. Both versions are reported here; the maker's own page is the more detailed one. Our tobacco regions guide places Jalapa, Condega and Jamastran on the map.
| Line | Year | Stated wrapper | Stated strength | Notable sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wise Man Corojo (El Güegüense) | 2015 | Nicaraguan Corojo '99 | Medium | Corona 5 x 48, Robusto 5 1/2 x 50, Toro 6 x 52, Doble Corona 7 x 54 |
| The Wise Man Maduro | 2017 | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked |
| The Tabernacle CT Broadleaf | 2016 | Connecticut Broadleaf | Full | Torpedo 4 1/2 x 52, Corona 5 1/4 x 46, Lancero 7 x 40, Doble Corona 7 x 54 |
| Highclere Castle | 2017 | Not checked | Not checked | Edwardian, Victorian and Senetjer blends |
| Olmec | 2022 | Mexican San Andrés | Not checked | Not checked |
The site also lists Charter Oak, Aksum, The Upsetters, Knight Commander and a 10th anniversary cigar. The Wise Man also comes as a 7 x 40 lancero.
Foundation Cigar Company dates
Foundation added a new brand in each of its first three years.
- May 2014: Melillo leaves Drew Estate.
- June 2015: Foundation announced; first cigar, made at TABSA, planned for the July IPCPR show.
- 2015: El Güegüense (The Wise Man) debuts.
- 2016: The Tabernacle.
- 2017: Wise Man Maduro and Highclere Castle.
- June 30, 2022: Olmec announced.
- Late November 2022: first half of Highclere Castle Senetjer ships to retailers.
Reading a Foundation box
Foundation's line names come from history and legend, so the name says nothing about the blend inside.
The maker ties The Wise Man to Menelik, son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon in Ethiopian lore. Cigar Aficionado ties the Spanish name El Güegüense to a Nicaraguan folk drama. The Tabernacle box shows Haile Selassie. Highclere Castle and Senetjer lean on ancient Egypt. Check the sub-line, since The Tabernacle comes as CT Broadleaf, Havana Seed CT No. 142 and David & Goliath. Box counts differ too: 20 for Wise Man Corojo, 24 for Tabernacle CT Broadleaf. Plan storage with the humidor capacity calculator.
Foundation Cigar Company questions
Who owns Foundation Cigar Company?
Nicholas Melillo founded it in 2015 and the company site lists him as founder and master blender.
Where are Foundation cigars made?
In Nicaragua, at partner factories: Cigar Aficionado lists TABSA for The Wise Man and A.J. Fernandez's factory for The Tabernacle and Highclere Castle.
What wrapper is on The Tabernacle?
Connecticut Broadleaf, over a Mexican San Andrés binder, and Foundation rates the CT Broadleaf version full strength.
What does El Güegüense mean?
It is the name of a Nicaraguan folklore drama, according to Cigar Aficionado, and Foundation sells the line in English as The Wise Man.
Did Nick Melillo work at Drew Estate?
Yes. He spent 11 years there from 2003, ran production at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate and left in May 2014.
Where the Foundation facts come from
- Foundation Cigar Co. company page, Cigar Aficionado
- Melillo returns with Foundation Cigar Co., Cigar Aficionado
- Foundation Cigar Company home page, Foundation Cigar Company
- The Wise Man Corojo, Foundation Cigar Company
- The Tabernacle CT Broadleaf, Foundation Cigar Company