基石

Foundation — Cultural Narrative Turned into Cigars

Founded in 2015 by Nicholas Melillo -- one of the representative brands of the "Drew Estate departure generation."

If Steve Saka leaving Drew Estate in 2014 to found Dunbarton was the first wave of departures, then Nicholas "Nick" Melillo leaving in 2015 to found Foundation was the second wave. These two waves of departures directly gave rise to the "second wave of the 2014-2016 Boutique cigar revolution."

Founder: Nick Melillo's 14 Years at Drew Estate

Nicholas "Nick" Melillo is one of the few brand founders in the cigar industry who came from the manufacturing side:

• Joined Drew Estate in 2000 -- when Drew Estate was still a small company (the ACID Series had just begun)
• 14 years of experience at Drew Estate -- rising from the ground level to vice president
• One of the co-developers of the Liga Privada blend -- designing No.9 and T52 together with Steve Saka
• Left Drew Estate in 2015 -- by then, Drew Estate had already been acquired by Swisher International (2014)

Nick's reason for leaving was similar to Steve Saka's: dissatisfaction with big-company culture and a desire to make cigars he personally believed in.

The Name "Foundation" and Brand Philosophy

"Foundation" means "cornerstone" or "basis" -- Nick used this name to convey two messages:

1. "The most important 'foundation' of the cigar industry is blend quality" -- not marketing, not branding, not packaging
2. "The 'foundation' he had accumulated over 14 years at Drew Estate was the Liga Privada blending philosophy"

Brand philosophy: "Every series is a cultural narrative" -- Foundation does not follow the traditional path of "one flagship line with multiple vitolas." Instead, each series has its own story, independent blend, and separate source of inspiration.

Factory Choice: Plasencia Cigars S.A.

Foundation is produced at the Plasencia factory -- Nick's choice for top-tier Nicaraguan manufacturing:

• Plasencia is the largest tobacco leaf supplier in the non-Cuban cigar industry (as recorded on the W Cigar Bible Plasencia brand page)
• Plasencia produces both for its own brand and for multiple partner brands
• Foundation's collaboration with Plasencia ensures access to top-tier tobacco leaf supply

El Güegüense — A Tribute to a Nicaraguan Folk Hero

Foundation's first series was El Güegüense (launched in 2015):

"El Güegüense" means "the wise man" in Spanish -- and is the protagonist of a traditional Nicaraguan folk drama:

• El Güegüense is a 16th-17th century Nicaraguan folk drama -- blending Spanish colonial culture with local Indigenous culture
• In 2005, it was listed by UNESCO as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity"
• It is a symbol of Nicaraguan culture

Foundation named its first series El Güegüense -- directly expressing the brand philosophy of "paying tribute to Nicaraguan culture":

• Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
• Binder + Filler: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium to full
• Characteristics: Creamy coffee cocoa, spicy pepper -- "an elegant expression of Nicaraguan terroir"

Tabernacle — The Connecticut Broadleaf Flagship

Tabernacle (launched in 2017) is Foundation's most highly acclaimed flagship series:

• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro (dark brown)
• Strength: Medium to full
• Characteristics: Dark cocoa, coffee, deep cream, leather, cedar
• Has received 90+ points from Cigar Aficionado multiple times

The name "Tabernacle" comes from the Ethiopian Axum legend of the "Tabernacle of the Word" -- a representative example of the brand philosophy of "cultural narrative".

Charter Oak — A Tribute to Connecticut, USA

Charter Oak (launched in 2017) pays tribute to the state of Connecticut, USA:

• "Charter Oak" is a historical symbol of Connecticut -- in 1687, during the colonial period, when the British king sought to revoke Connecticut's self-governance, colonists hid the colony's charter inside an oak tree
• Uses Connecticut-grown tobacco -- making it an "American domestic tobacco" cigar

It is Nick Melillo's personal tribute to his home state of Connecticut.

Highclere Castle — A Tribute to Downton Abbey

Highclere Castle (launched in 2017) is Foundation's most interesting series:

• Pays tribute to Highclere Castle in England -- the filming location of the British television series Downton Abbey
• Created under authorized collaboration with the owner of Highclere Castle (Earl of Carnarvon)
• Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade
• Strength: Medium
• One of the few cigar brands in the industry licensed by a British aristocratic estate

The Wise Man — A Tribute to Steve Saka

The Wise Man (launched in 2018) is Foundation's tribute to Steve Saka:

The Spanish version of "The Wise Man" is El Güegüense -- but the English version, "The Wise Man," directly pays tribute to Steve Saka:

• Steve Saka was the driving force behind Liga Privada and Nick's mentor at Drew Estate
• The two remained friends after leaving Drew Estate
• The Wise Man is Foundation's cigar tribute to a mentor

Aksum — A Tribute to Ethiopia

The Aksum series pays tribute to the ancient Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum -- an extension of Foundation's philosophy of global cultural narrative.

Why Taiwanese Aficionados Should Smoke Foundation

3 reasons:

1. Drew Estate veteran lineage: Smoking Foundation = smoking a cigar personally made by one of the co-developers of the Liga Privada blend
2. Cultural narrative: Each series has its own story -- smoking El Güegüense is smoking Nicaraguan culture, while smoking Highclere Castle is smoking Downton Abbey
3. Produced at the Plasencia factory: Ensures the quality of top-tier Nicaraguan tobacco

Pairing suggestions:

• Tabernacle + aged bourbon (Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year)
• El Güegüense + Cuban rum (Havana Club 7 Year) + Nicaraguan coffee
• Highclere Castle + English black tea (Earl Grey) + the Downton Abbey television series
• The Wise Man + aged single malt whisky

Welcome to W Cigar Bar in Da'an District, where Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai personally accompanies you in experiencing Foundation's philosophy of "cultural narrative turned into cigars."

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Further Reading: The Complete Foundation Product Spectrum

El Güegüense — Nicaraguan Folk Hero

Classic sizes:

• Robusto (5" × 50)
• Toro Huaco (6" × 56)
• Corona Gorda (5⅝" × 46)
• Churchill (7" × 48)

Tabernacle — Connecticut Broadleaf Flagship

Classic sizes:

• Robusto (5" × 50)
• Toro (6" × 50)
• Goliath (6" × 60)
• Corona Gorda (5⅝" × 46)
• Lancero (7½" × 38, slender)

Charter Oak — A Tribute to Connecticut, USA

Classic sizes:

• Charter Oak Robusto
• Charter Oak Toro
• Charter Oak Lonsdale

Highclere Castle — A Tribute to Downton Abbey

Classic sizes:

• Highclere Castle Robusto
• Highclere Castle Toro
• Highclere Castle Edwardian

The Wise Man — A Tribute to Steve Saka

Classic sizes:

• Wise Man Maduro Robusto
• Wise Man Maduro Toro
• Wise Man Maduro Belicoso

Aksum — A Tribute to Ethiopia

Classic sizes:

• Aksum Robusto
• Aksum Toro

Foundation Limited / Special Series

• Wiseman Maduro (limited release)
• El Güegüense Aniversario (anniversary edition)

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Collecting and Aging Suggestions

Entry Level (NT$5,000-15,000)

• Charter Oak Robusto × 5
• El Güegüense Robusto × 3

Advanced (NT$30,000-80,000)

• Tabernacle Robusto / Toro × 5
• Highclere Castle Edwardian × 3
• The Wise Man Maduro Robusto × 3

Collector (NT$200,000+)

• Complete Tabernacle vitola set
• El Güegüense Aniversario limited edition
• Wiseman Maduro limited collection

Aging Suggestions

• El Güegüense: Recommended aging 1-2 years -- allowing its medium-to-full strength to unfold
• Tabernacle: Recommended aging 2-3 years -- allowing the Connecticut Broadleaf to develop deeper fermentation
• Highclere Castle: Can be smoked immediately -- creamy floral notes are fresh and full

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Cigar Prince's "Foundation Advanced Appreciation Path"

Stage 1: Getting Acquainted (Cigars 1-3)

Start with Charter Oak Robusto -- experience Foundation's elegant medium-bodied entry point.

Stage 2: Flagship Experience (Cigars 4-6)

Move into Tabernacle Robusto -- experience Foundation's flagship-level work.

Stage 3: Cultural Narrative (Cigars 7-10)

Smoke El Güegüense + Highclere Castle -- experience the spectrum of the brand's "cultural narrative" philosophy.

Stage 4: Complete Spectrum (Cigar 10+)

Smoke The Wise Man + Aksum -- enter Foundation's complete world of "global cultural tribute."

Welcome to W Cigar Bar in Da'an District to experience the complete spectrum of "cultural narrative turned into cigars" together with Cigar Prince.

W Cigar Bar is an authorized dealer of Pacific Cigar Company PCC (PCC is the official authorized import channel in Taiwan for Habanos S.A. of Cuba) -- and also offers the complete Foundation spectrum experience in Taipei.