2017 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #8: The Wise Man (El Güegüense) Maduro Robusto by Foundation Cigar Company

“Since its launch in 2015, Foundation Cigar Company has been one of the hottest cigar companies out there…When it comes to The Wise Man Maduro, this might just be Melillo’s best work at Foundation to date.”

Wrapper: San Andres Mexican
Binder: Corojo ’99 (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. – TABSA)
Robusto: 5 1/2 x 50
Price: $10.50
Review: The Wise Man (El Güegüense) Maduro Robusto by Foundation Cigar Company (11/13/2017)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Brand): 1 (2017)

Coming in at #8 is The Wise Man (El Güegüense) Maduro Robusto by Foundation Cigar Company. The Wise Man is the Maduro counterpart to the company’s El Güegüense cigar. The name El Güegüense translates as “the wise man” from the Nahuatl language (a Central American Indigenous language). For the Maduro release, company founder Nicholas Melillo opted to make the English translation the primary name of the cigar.

The blend of The Wise Man consists of a San Andres Mexican wrapper (the first time Foundation Cigar Company has used this wrapper), a Corojo ’99 binder, and all-Nicaraguan fillers. Like the original El Güegüense, Melillo is producing The Wise Man at the TABSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Wise Man is also an all box-pressed line with the Robusto coming it at 5 1/2 x 50.

The Wise Man Robusto lands Foundation Cigar Company on a Cigar Coop Countdown for the first time. It continues a very strong year for Maduro releases on the 2017 Countdown as the total is now at nine. This is the second cigar to come from the TABSA factory on this year’s Countdown. This is only the second box-pressed cigar to land on this year’s Countdown.

Flavor-wise, The Wise Man Maduro Robusto delivers notes of coffee, chocolate, earth, cedar, black pepper, and even a slight mineral component. There is also somewhat of a smooth, creamy texture present early on. Strength and body-wise, The Wise Man Maduro is on the upper end of medium.

TABSA is a factory that has done great things with San Andres wrappers, while Melillo is known for working with maduros. The end result of this collaboration is that The Wise Man Maduro Robusto is a win/win for both parties and worthy of a top ten spot on this year’s Countdown.