This 4.25-inch Rothschild vitola from Foundation Cigar Co. delivers unexpected complexity in a petite package. Wrapped in Connecticut-grown Habano leaf, these Nicaraguan puros come in boxes of 20 at $115.20 ($5.76/stick) - bargain pricing that challenges larger brands. The compact 50-ring gauge smokes slower than its size suggests.
The oily Connecticut Habano wrapper immediately shows its character - initial draws offer black pepper and charred oak. By the first ash drop, transitions to roasted cashews emerge through the Sumatra binder's sweetness. Final third develops an 85% dark chocolate bitterness that cigar blogger Cigar Dojo calls "darker than its price tag suggests".
Box-pressed format maintains consistent airflow despite tight roll. Double cap prevents unwrapping during punch cuts. Our sample burned razor-straight after 6 weeks humidor rest - newer boxes may require 60-90 days aging to mellow initial ammonia sharpness.
Blender Nick Melillo sources Habano wrapper from Connecticut's River Valley - same tobacco used in pre-embargo Cubans. Filler combines Estelí's volcanic soil intensity with Jalapa's smoother tobacco. The "Charter Oak" name references Connecticut's historic freedom tree where colonists hid their charter.
