Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are rescoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at The Tabernacle David by Foundation Cigar Company. The Tabernacle is a cigar line we previously assessed in the Toro size back in April 2017.

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
David: 5 x 54 (Perfecto)

In 2020, Foundation Cigar Company announced a pair of line extensions to The Tabernacle line. The line extension of these perfectos is called “David and Goliath.” David and Goliath is an expression used to compare one entity to a larger entity and this applies to the two perfectos under the Tabernacle David and Goliath banner. The Tabernacle David is a 5 x 54 perfecto while The Tabernacle Goliath is a plumper 5 x 58 format. David and Goliath draws inspiration from the Old Testament. The Tabernacle is said to be the resting place for the Ark of the Covenant, thus the line as a whole also is inspired by the Old Testament.

Blend-wise, both the David and Goliath feature an analogous blend profile to the rest of The Tabernacle line. This includes a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Mexican San Andres binder, and a combination of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Like the remainder of The Tabernacle line, both the David and Goliath are produced at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The David and Goliath are also presented in 25-count boxes.

The David and Goliath extensions feature different bands from the rest of The Tabernacle line. The primary bands are highlighted by an image of David defeated Goliath. The secondary band features the vitola name and the size.

Flavorwise, The Tabernacle David featured notes of earth, mineral, cocoa, black pepper, and a touch of dark cherry. Early on the cocoa, earth, and mineral notes became primary. As the cigar burned through the tapered footer the cocoa notes subsided and the flavor profile became dominated by the earth and mineral notes. These notes were rounded by the notes of cocoa and pepper with the dark cherry playing a distant secondary role. As the David moved into the second third, the pepper notes increased and by the final third, the pepper closed in on the forefront.

The flavors delivered were medium-bodied countered by medium strength. Throughout the smoking experience, The Tabernacle David delivered an excellent burn and excellent draw.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

When it came to the original Tabernacle line, I really enjoyed the flavors the cigar produced – especially in the Toro size. When it came to the perfecto size of The Tabernacle David, something seemed to get lost. This cigar seemed to weigh more heavily toward the earthy and mineral components. The David also seemed somewhat dialed back and didn’t deliver the big, bold, and rich Connecticut Broadleaf flavors I got off the core line. In the end at $12.50, this is a cigar I’d recommend giving a try first and seeing if it hits your flavor profile.

Summary

Key Flavors: Earth, Mineral, Cocoa, Dark Cherry, Black Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Minus
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good