Vitola: Petit Robusto- 4.5” x 52 ring gauge
- MSRP $13
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
Foundation Cigars is smartly building its portfolio and the mystique behind the brand. They have introduced 5 specific “brands” with at least 2 sub-brands under each one, plus some fun limited production things, while never making anything too difficult to get if you wait long enough. Case in point: Menelik. This cigar was introduced as an event-only cigar…specifically, only available if you went to events where brand owner, Nick Melillo, was appearing. Plenty of brands have done that in the past, but rarely have they ended up making those cigars a regular production item later on. This year that’s exactly what Foundation did.
Menelik is at least slightly related to the Wise Man Maduro, sharing a Mexican San Andres wrapper and Nicaraguan Jalapa Corojo 99 binder, as well as a factory in which they’re both made (TABSA, home factory of the Aganorsa Leaf brand). The wrapper and binder are the same, at least in name, but the mix of fillers isn’t specified that closely…bottom line, they are all Nicaraguan on both cigars.
The name Menelik comes from an ancient Ethiopian emperor, said to be the son of King Soloman and the Queen of Sheba. Another name for him was Ibn al-Hakim, translated into “Son of the Wise Man.” Before you get too impressed, I copied these notes from my friend, Will Cooper. Of course, he probably just took them from a press release…I know how excited he gets over those.
I bought a couple samples of Menelik from Burns Tobacconist where I work. This review is based on the third time I’ve smoked the blend.
Prelight
The box is fairly simple, featuring stained wood grain along with the name of the cigar alongside a Coptic (Ethiopian) cross on the front of the lid. The band is attractive, but I wondered what it was all about. I found that it was modeled on the Ethiopian Order of Emperor Menelik II medal. If you want to impress Nick, I’d say get one of those medals off the internet and wear it to an event where he’s appearing.
The head of the Menelik wears a stubby little pigtail, which is an interesting design feature of these cigars that sets them instantly apart from the Wise Man Maduro that they most resemble otherwise. The wrapper leaf was an espresso bean brown color with almost as much oily sheen as a dark roasted coffee bean, as well. It was smooth and oily to the touch with an aroma that mixed leather and chocolate. The foot of the cigar had notes of earth, hay, and cocoa powder.
After clipping the cap, I got a good draw that tasted of unsweetened cocoa powder, coffee beans, and earth.
Flavor
The Menelik fired up with a mix of semi-sweet chocolate, white pepper, and cinnamon up front. Cedar and earth were solid backing notes. The retrohale featured searing red pepper spice, leather, and espresso bean. The first third quickly disappeared into a cloud of blue-gray smoke leaving increasing earthiness with chocolate bolstering it while the spicy notes faded a bit.
As the second third started, leathery flavors came into the mix with earth and bittersweet chocolate following right behind. The pepper was pretty much gone from the palate and muted on the nose.
The final third of the Menelik was smooth with increasing chocolate sweetness and espresso bean coming on strong, as well. There was a slight return of pepper on the palate and it kept a steady burn on the nose.
Construction
I had a very good draw, even-enough burn line and solid ash.
Value
The price tag on these is a little high, but it is a limited production cigar that does taste better to me than the Wise Man Maduro that it’s related to, so I’m going to say it’s worth it…but just barely.
Conclusions
Foundation’s Menelik is a worthy little cigar…and it really doesn’t need a larger size, in my opinion. It was medium-to-full in body with a very pleasing complexity featuring everything you would expect in a Mexican Maduro, but none of the extreme bitterness that I’ve gotten from some in the past. Truly a very nice cigar and I’m very glad Nick and company decided to release it to a wide audience.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
