The Tabernacle - Foundation Cigars

Foundation Cigars

Oct 31

When browsing cigars at any brick & mortar, my eyes are naturally drawn to the dark, oily wrapped cigars. Among them is The Tabernacle, a complex blend from Nick Melillo at Foundation Cigars. Melillo is partial to the Connecticut wrapper because he is from Connecticut. He went so far as to say…

“Broadleaf is more than tobacco for me. It’s something sacred.”

And he makes fantastic use of the Connecticut Broadleaf in this cigar. The black and gold band jump out at you as they really stand out on this dark cigar. The band emblazoned with the image of Ethiopia’s 225th Emperor, Haile Selassie. Other bands in this line go biblical with David and Goliath on the bands.

The taste, look and feel remind me of the No. 9 and T52 from Drew Estate. This cigar comes packed with fantastic tasting notes in a complex yet delicious package. I got a little of everything in this cigar: cedar, earth, leather, chocolate and coffee. Toward the end of the cigar I even tasted some spice and sweetness.

Blended by AJ Fernandez, the filler features Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos from Estelí and Jalapa Valley. The depth these provide the cigar borders on divine. It also packs the power you would expect from an AJ blended cigar. This is backed up by its 90 rating from Cigar Aficionado.