Foundation The Tabernacle

Once again, there is plenty to talk about when describing the Foundation The Tabernacle. In fact, entire books could theoretically be written about both the founder, Nicolas Melillo, and the choice of name for the cigar series itself. Of course, we'll focus on just a few details of the bigger picture before turning our attention to what really matters: the cigars! The word tabernacle comes from Latin and roughly translates to tent or small house. In most Christian churches, it refers to the place where consecrated communion wafers are kept before being distributed to the faithful during Mass. So Nicolas probably wanted to draw a connection to "blessed, sacred" tobacco enjoyed by the "believers in the burning leaf"... or something along those lines.

Nicolas Melillo: The Founder Behind Foundation Cigars

The founder of Foundation is none other than Nicolas Melillo, whom we first had the pleasure of meeting on our trips to Nicaragua shortly after the turn of the millennium, when both our careers were still in their early stages. At the time, he was working for Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate, where he helped lay the foundations for this unconventional brand. I still vividly remember how well he looked after us during our tour of Esteli in 2005. We never really lost touch, as we continued to run into each other every year at the US tobacco trade show. In early 2014, he left his long-time employer, only to make a spectacular comeback at the IPCPR 2015 trade show in Las Vegas.

Foundation The Tabernacle Cigars: Blend and Flavours

The Tabernacle are produced at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez de Nicaragua S.A. Beneath the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper lies a Mexican San Andrés binder and a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, including some from Fernandez's La Soledad farm. Interestingly, Nicolas lived near the La Soledad farm when he first moved to Nicaragua in 2003. As expected, the Tabernacle give off those typical barnyard aromas before lighting. Once lit, they get off to a classic Nicaraguan start with earthy and slightly peppery notes. The wrapper adds a touch of sweetness and creaminess, both of which remain present throughout the smoke. The final third becomes a little more intense and less sweet, with roasted notes taking centre stage! Alternatively, you might want to try the Drew Estate Liga Privada or La Querida by Steve Saka. Steve worked alongside Nicolas at Drew Estate, and both played a major role in developing the legendary blends of Drew Estate.

Perfecto David and Goliath: Special Vitolas

Two particularly distinctive vitolas from the Tabernacle family can be found among the Foundation Special Editions: the The Tabernacle Perfecto David and the The Tabernacle Perfecto Goliath. Both cigars measure 12.7 centimetres in length and stand out thanks to their Perfecto shape, which tapers at both ends. While the David is slightly slimmer with a ring gauge of 54, the Goliath comes in at a ring gauge of 58. These two special vitolas offer an interesting alternative to the classic formats in the series.

Haile Selassie Featured on the Cigar Boxes

One more interesting detail about the artwork on the cigar boxes: the boxes of The Tabernacle feature images of Haile Selassie, known as the 225th Emperor of Ethiopia and revered as a deity in the Rastafari movement. He is also said to be a descendant of King Solomon. According to biblical accounts, the Tabernacle, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, was located in King Solomon's Temple. In addition to this series, two other Foundation series are available in Germany. You can find an overview of all Foundation here.