What do you get when you combine Foundation Cigar Company's two most prominent brands into one exciting offshoot? Menelik, that's what!
Let's rewind a few steps: cigar-blending wunderkind Nick Melillo debuted his Foundation company in 2015 with the acclaimed El Güegüense (The Wise Man) release. This was followed by the equally praised The Tabernacle brand only one year later. What do these cigars share in common but a Biblical theme, as King Solomon is known as The Wise Man, and his son—Menelik I—is thought to have transported the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia (there's your Tabernacle reference).
The Menelik cigars first began cropping up in 2016, being rolled in extremely small batches and sold only at exclusive Foundation events across the country. Much to the delight of cigar enthusiasts, Nick made the cigars more widely available in 2019, with small batches of 1,000 boxes being rolled on a quarterly basis. As demand increased, a toro size was added to the lineup, maintaining the brand's limited appeal. Each size makes use of a select Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, a Corojo '99 binder, and Nicaraguan fillers from each of the country's primary growing regions. Gently box-pressed and boasting an impressive pigtail cap, the Foundation Menelik cigar offers a medium-full intensity, lingering on the palate with rich notes of earth, baker's cocoa, black pepper, and sweet mocha.
Country of Orgin : Nicaragua
Strength : Medium-Full
Wrapper : San Andres
*Please note that all SKUs have two product lines. The top line is the box/bundle count. The second line is less than a box/bundle count and will be shipped as loose cigars in a humidified bag.
Michael Lanier - Menelik Short Robusto
I buy anything that Nick makes, and this cigar is fantastic. It reminds me a lot of the Wiseman Maduro line, but only stronger.
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Chris Pratz - Menelik Short Robusto
One of my two Fav Foundation cigars. Lots of spice off the start, that mellows later for some nice earthy flavors and sweetness. Just be sure to ash it often, it doesn't like to hold more than 1/2".
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JACOB NEELY - Menelik Short Robusto
This one was kind of a miss for me. I love Foundation but strongly prefer the other blends to the Menelik. A little flat and generic, though construction was top notch.
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Michael Cruz - Menelik Toro
Another excellent cigar from Nick's portfolio. Although he's fairly young, he's been in the industry for a long time and really communicates with the tobacco and it shows as all his cigars are great to excellent
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John Caro - Menelik Toro (Verified buyer)
Bought this in a sampler pack and will be buying a box. One of the richest cigars I have smoked. Melillo is a genius!
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