This little firecracker from Foundation Cigar Company packs serious punch in its 4 1/4" x 50 Rothschild frame. Priced at $115.20 for 20 sticks, it's got cigar nerds buzzing about its Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper hugging Nicaraguan fillers. The oily maduro cloak feels like a chocolate bar in your hand - all dense and promising. Not your fancy dress-up smoke, but the kind you reach for when craving earthy kicks without breaking the bank.
Cold draw serves earthy molasses. Initial puffs deliver espresso grounds and black pepper - the Nicaraguan fillers announce themselves immediately. Smoke output's surprisingly generous for such a short stick. Retrohale brings walnut shell bitterness that oddly works.
Sweetness emerges through charred oak notes. Baking spices (clove/nutmeg) surface, though the earthy core remains. Ash holds tight despite quick burning. Watch the heat - this little guy can turn harsh if rushed.
Leather and dark chocolate dominate as strength ramps up. The Sumatra binder shows its teeth with white pepper tingle on lips. Nub burns warm but never bitter - just more condensed versions of earlier flavors.
That signature maduro sweetness comes from Connecticut Broadleaf aged in pressure-fermented pilones. Nicaraguan fillers (Estelí for punch, Jalapa for balance) get wrapped in a Sumatra binder - an unusual choice that amps up spice. Blender Nick Melillo honors his cigar-rolling grandpa with this working-class hero.
At under $6/stick, this overperforms. Not subtle, but reliably satisfying. Pair with black coffee or bourbon to match its intensity. Let rest 60 days minimum - fresh boxes can taste compressed. Perfect for when you want full flavor fast without ceremony.
