A Brand Forged in History, Culture and Tobacco

After years spent immersed in Nicaragua's cigar industry, Nicholas Melillo set out to create a cigar company around subjects that inspire him. With decades of experience sourcing and blending premium tobacco, he created Foundation Cigar Company in 2015. 

Each line carries its own identity, artwork and narrative while remaining grounded in carefully selected tobaccos and blending mastery. The result is a diverse collection of cigars that share a commitment to thoughtful construction, layered flavor and a respect for tobacco's enduring legacy. 

Discover the Pillars of the Foundation Portfolio

Every Foundation cigar tells a different story. Some explore ancient civilizations while others pay tribute to tobacco traditions or legendary figures from folklore. All create distinct experiences within each narrative. 

The Tabernacle and 10-Year Aniversario

Inspired by biblical history, The Tabernacle is Nicholas Melillo’s reverent homage to the sacred history of tobacco, renowned for its use of a prized Connecticut Broadleaf and Connecticut Havana Seed wrappers, which deliver a profile of profound richness and depth. 

The 10-Year Aniversario is a distinct, celebratory blend that marks a decade of the company's artistry. These cigars offer a complex and nuanced experience that encapsulates a decade of masterful blending and perseverance. 

Olmec and Aksum

Foundation often looks to the ancient world for inspiration, and what better way to embody that philosophy than through its Olmec and Aksum lines. A tribute to the ancient Mesoamerican civilization that first cultivated tobacco, Olmec explores this sacred history through dual expressions — a rich maduro and a nuanced claro — both featuring a wrapper grown in the very lands the Olmecs once ruled. 

Olmec Claro offers notes of cedar, toffee and spice, while the Olmec Maduro leans darker, revealing deeper impressions of pepper, wood and leather. Continuing this archaeological journey, Aksum draws its name from the powerful Ethiopian empire, offering its own distinct Claro and Maduro blends that evoke a legacy of ancient trade, spice and worldly sophistication.

The Wise Man

Drawing its name from "El Güegüense," Nicaragua’s most iconic work of folkloric drama, The Wise Man is Nicholas Melillo's tribute to the vibrant, satirical and resilient spirit of the nation's culture. The line tells this story in two distinct acts — the original Corojo-wrapped blend offers a classic profile of spicy and peppery notes, while the Maduro expression presents a richer, sweeter interpretation with deep notes of black coffee and espresso, dark chocolate, black cherry, pepper and earthiness.

Highclere Castle

The Highclere Castle line is crafted in an exclusive collaboration with George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon. It's an authentic tribute to one of England's most storied estates and its rich history. The portfolio captures different eras of the castle's legacy.

The core blend offers a classically elegant and aromatic profile, while the Victorian expression presents a richer, more robust experience. As a nod to the 5th Earl’s famous expedition, the limited Senetjer commemorates the centenary of Tutankhamun's discovery, delivering a uniquely complex blend worthy of the historic occasion.

Charter Oak

Charter Oak is Nicholas Melillo's heartfelt tribute to his Connecticut roots, named for the state's legendary oak, a symbol of American heritage and independence. The line explores this legacy through a core trio of wrapper expressions — the creamy Connecticut Shade, the spicy Habano and the rich Maduro — while the distinguished Charter Oak Especiales offers a uniquely refined and aromatic take on the blend with notes of cedar and almond. 

The Upsetters

Named in a direct tribute to the pioneering Jamaican reggae artists of the same name, The Upsetters is an exploration into the island's unique tobacco heritage. This line distinguishes itself by incorporating rare Jamaican leaf into its blend, a component that imparts a distinctively aromatic and subtly sweet character unlike anything else in the Foundation portfolio.

Find Your Chapter in the Foundation Story

Corona Cigar Co. offers an extensive selection of Foundation Cigars. Order online today to discover the blend and journey waiting inside every cigar.