Foundation Cigar Company was back with their double pyramid booth situated somewhat central to the trade show floor. Nick was somewhat close to his old friends at Drew Estate and was meeting with customers almost the entire time he was in the booth. If he wasn’t, he was meeting with the media and that is about it. Vibes were good, music was playing and everyone was working. All of their cigars were out on displays in the pyramids and we were able to catch Nick briefly for the rundown on the new stuff – including updates on inventory from the effects of the AJ Fernandez fire.
Foundation 10 Year Anniversario
It has been ten years since Nick started Foundation and went off on his own. He has done pretty well in that time and is now celebrating that first decade of business with the Foundation 10 Year Anniversario. It actually is the first time any cigar has been named Foundation since the company’s inception. The cigar itself is a salomon and will come in two different box options. One being a standard ten count box, the other being a twenty count box with a bottom layer and a split top layer of five and five that swing out to reveal the bottom of the inside of the box.
- Wrapper: U.S.A.
- Binder: Brazil
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Size: 7 x 58
- MSRP: $35
- Production: 2,000 Boxes of Ten Cigars – 750 Boxes of Twenty Cigars (35,000 Cigars)
Nick told us that these were victim to the fire at AJ Fernandez but that it was mostly the boxes so they have already begun replacing what was lost and they expect to be able to ship these by quarter three of this year if everything goes well.
The Wise Man Lanceros
Both of these cigars are extensions in a lancer format to their respective blends. They are both manufactured at My Father Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua and will be a regular production.
Wise Man Corojo
- Wrapper: Nicaragua (Corojo 99)
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Size: 7 x 40
- MSRP: $14.50
- Production: Regular Production
Wise Man Maduro
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
- Binder: Mexico San Andrés
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Size: 7 x 40
- MSPR: $14.50
- Production: Regular Production
These cigars are also expect to make a third quarter drop in the US market.
Primer Fábrica 1810 Event Exclusive
He last thing we saw at Foundation was the rustic three cigar box that is being called Primer Fábrica 1810 and will be reserved as an event exclusive in retail stores. It was created to honor the first cigar factory in the United States and will be available starting this summer.
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
- Binder: Brazil
- Filler: Undisclosed
- Size: 5 3/4 x 60
- MSRP: N/A
- Production: Regular Production – Event Exclusive
On a side note: Nick did tell us that there were some substantial losses suffered in AJ Fernandez’ fire a few weeks ago and to stock up on some of the core line products made there like Olmec because it “might be a while.”
Check out our interview with Nick Melilla and Foundation Cigar Company at PCA 2025 below:
