Nick Melillo’s El Güegüense brand will now have a maduro offering. At the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show, Melillo’s Foundation Cigar Company will launch “The Wise Man” Maduro. The cigar becomes the first Mexican San Andres cigar to be released by Foundation Cigar Company.

In addition to the Mexican San Andres wrapper, The Wise Man uses a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos from Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa. The line will feature the same original five vitolas as El Güegüense: Robusto, Corona Gorda, Toro Huaco, Churchill, and Torpedo. As with the original El Güegüense, the cigar will be made at the TABSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

“We are overwhelmed with how El Güegüense has been received in the marketplace. It is an honor for people to recognize a project that personally means so much to me and the Nicaraguan people,” says Melillo. “I was looking to create a line extension with a whole different level of complexity and the San Andrès wrapper brings just that. The blend encompasses bold flavors of black pepper, dark roast espresso and cacao. Medium plus in body and strength and rounded out with a nutty finish. I have always been drawn to San Andres, Mexico and have been buying tobacco there since 2003. The wrapper is one of my favorites, not to mention one of the oldest seed varieties in the world, which predates even Cuban seed. The combination of this unique capa and Nicaraguan fillers makes for an amazingly flavorful smoke”.

The original El Güegüense translates to “The Wise Man”. It also represents one of the oldest literary works in Nicaragua. The new Maduro offering does feature the name “El Güegüense” on the packaging, but the English translation is emphasized.

The cigars are expected to ship to retailers in September. Pricing will be $9.00 to $13.00 SRP.

Blend Profile

Wrapper: San Andres Mexican
Binder: Corojo ’99 (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. – TABSA)

Vitolas Available

Robusto: 5 1/2 x 50
Corona Gorda: 5 5/8 x 46
Toro Huaco: 6 x 56
Torpedo: 6 1/4 x 52
Churchill: 7 x 48

Photo Credits: Foundation Cigar Company