Foundation Olmec Maduro Corona Gorda

The Foundation Olmec Maduro Corona Gorda arrives as a box-pressed torpedo measuring 5.5" × 48 ring gauge, priced at $135 for 12 sticks. This Nicaraguan puro dressed in oily Mexican San Andres maduro wrapper shows visible tooth and tight veins, with a firm finger-squeeze test revealing minimal soft spots.

Product Specifications

• Brand: Foundation Cigar Company
• Box Price: $135 (12-count)
• Size: Corona Gorda (5.5" × 48)
• Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
• Binder: Nicaraguan Esteli/Jalapa
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Strength: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Smoking Experience

Cold Draw: Earthy sweetness with raisin notes First Third: Molasses-dipped cedar with white pepper retrohale Middle Third: Baking spices emerge - clove and nutmeg dominant Final Third: Dark chocolate bitterness cuts through lingering caramel

Comparable Options

• Roma Craft Neanderthal HN (5.5"×52) - Similar intensity, more mineral-driven
• Ashton Aged Maduro #60 (5.5"×46) - Milder spice, increased creaminess
• Padrón 1964 Maduro (5.5"×50) - Comparable complexity, smoother transition
• Arturo Fuente Añejo #50 (5.25"×50) - Brandy-cask sweetness instead of earthiness

Construction Notes

The triple cap holds firm through multiple relights. Average burn time clocks 85 minutes with moderate smoke output. Two touch-ups required despite consistent draw. Ash flakes at 1-inch intervals - typical for maduro wrappers with high sugar content.

Strength Development

• Nicotine hits harder than typical 48RG cigars
• Peak intensity at mid-point (65-minute mark)
• Suggested pairing: Demerara rum or espresso