Charter Oak
Charter Oak Cigars hail from the same fertile valley in Connecticut that native son and Master 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 a silky, beautiful Connecticut Shade wrapper and a Sumatran binder for a balanced medium-bodied smoke. Or if one prefers a hearty and rich Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, leaving you with the perfect every day and every occasion cigar.
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.
El GueGuense
The debut cigar and initial line blended under Nicholas Melillo for Foundation Cigars. A true Nicaraguan puro, each bale of tobacco that goes into this cigar is hand-selected by Melillo with the filler leaves coming from a special vintage crop from years 2011 and 2012. Melillo is personally overseeing production at the Tobacco Valle de Jalapa (TABSA) facility with production being limited to 225 units per day.
El Güegüense is aged in cedar humidors for 60 days before being shipped from Nicaragua, ensuring The Wise Man celebrates the Nicaraguan people, land, and culture.
Highclere Castle
The Highclere Castle Edwardian is hand-rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua, using a Connecticut Shade wrapper, and both Criollo and Corojo from the volcanic soils of Jalapa and the island of Ometepe. The binder is made from Mata Fina, a dark tobacco from Brazil. The blend is finalized with an exclusive hybrid seed Foundation has named Nicadan. The resulting smoke is exceptionally smooth and elegant, with notes of pepper, citrus, leather, and fireplace.
Highclere Castle Victorian is hand-rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua, using the finest upper priming Habano Ecuador wrapper, and both Criollo and Corojo from the volcanic soils of Esteli, Jalapa and the island of Ometepe. The cigar is medium-bodied with elegant notes of cedar, light roasted coffee, and spice.
The Tabernacle
Made with one of the most sought-after wrapper leaves in the world, The Tabernacle Broadleaf Maduro is everything you look for in a premium cigar. Patiently aged and cured Nicaraguan binders and fillers are rolled by hand into a dark and sweet Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper that ties in the flavor perfectly.
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 Upsetters
The Upsetters represent the next level in the evolution of the infused-cigar smoking segment. Beginning with our unique use of Jamaican cow tongue leaf, The Upsetters fillers evenly pair this rare and ancient tobacco with only the finest Nicaraguan leaf available.
Utilizing a tradition established thousands of years ago, The Upsetters’ flavor and profile further benefits from a carefully measured technique known as “Caribbean atmospheric herbal fusion.” All said, The Upsetters’ full line of premium cigars reflects a certain elegance that is sure to appeal to both the experiential and adventurous smoker, as well as the most ardently traditional smoker alike.
The Wise Man
The Wise Man Maduro is an offshoot of the original El Güegüense, which loosely translates to “The Wise Man” and is named for a folkloric dance in Nicaragua. This Maduro has all the qualities of a stand-out cigar: assertive without being aggressive, full-bodied without being too strong and interesting from first puff to last. It’s a flavorful blend that oscillates between the sweet and the savory. Cocoa and vanilla notes play off the tobacco’s meaty, beef-stock qualities, all integrated by an ever-present earthiness. The Wise Man Maduro has received numerous accolades including a 95 rating from Cigar Aficionado, a 93 rating from Cigar Dojo, winning Halfwheel’s Consensus, as well as being included in various Top 25 lists.