Foundation Cigar Co. El Güegüense (The Wise Man)

El Güegüense from Foundation Cigar Company |

Kohnhed · Oct 10, 2015

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 (Finca Puntalito Jalapa) Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 (Finca San Jose Jalapa) Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo & Criollo (Estelí and Jalapa) Size: 5.5 x 50 “Robusto” Bo…

“Robusto” · 5.50″ × 50

El Gueguense Robusto

The Cigar Authority · Dec 13, 2016

This summer of 2015 saw the launch of Foundation Cigar Company by Nick Melillo and a year later we look at his freshman release, El Gueguense

El Güegüense Corona Gorda

Cigar Aficionado · Jan 1, 2017

Based on Nicaraguan folklore, El Güegüense translates to "the wise man," and is the debut brand from Foundation Cigar Co., a company launched in mid-2015 by cigarmaker Nicholas Melillo. He was perhaps best known in the industry for running production at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Nicaragua, but Melillo has developed a fast and loyal following with this cigar line since he branched out on his own.This Nicaraguan puro has a Corojo '99 wrapper, Corojo '99 binder and fillers composed of Corojo '99 and Criollo '98 from Jalapa and Estelí. Melillo says that the filler leaves were harvested in 2011 and 2012. The combination of different varietals from different regions make this an interesting, tasty mélange of Nicaraguan tobacco. Thankfully, the El Güegüense Corona Gorda is a lot easier to smoke than it is to pronounce.

Toro · 5.63″ × 46 · Medium-Full · Nicaragua

Foundation Cigar Company El Gueguense Robusto (5 1/2 x 50)

Tiny Tim's Cigar Blog · Nov 22, 2015

5.50″ × 50

El Güegüense by Foundation Cigar Co.

Cigar Dojo · Oct 12, 2015

El Güegüense smokes like your classic, Cuban habano, with a hefty dose of Nicaraguan oomph—"A habano on steroids," you may have found me describing the cigar while smoking my (many) samples for review. Also worth mentioning is the cigar's great construction, with a pleasing draw and long smoke time (1.5-2.5 hours, depending on size). I found that the sweet spot was throughout the second third. My recommendation is to buy the corona gorda size—which had similar flavors, only more of them.

7.00″ × 52 · Nicaragua

El Güegüense Churchill by Foundation Cigar Company

Cigar Coop · Mar 18, 2016

El Güegüense (pronounced Way-When-Say) is the debut release by Nicholas Melillo‘s Foundation Cigar Company. Melillo is best known for his tenure at Drew Estate where he served as Vice President and Director of Tobacco and Production at Drew Estate. Early in 2014 Melillo departed Drew Estate and launched Melillo International, a consulting operation around tobacco blending and […]

Robusto · 5.50″ × 50 · Medium · Nicaragua

Foundation El Gueguense

Simply Stogies · Feb 4, 2020

OVERVIEW VITOLA:   Corona GordaSIZE:   5-5/8″ x 46 ORIGIN:   NicaraguaFACTORY:   Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. WRAPPER:   Nicaraguan Corojo 99BINDER:   Nicaraguan Corojo 99FILLER:   Nicaraguan Corojo & Criollo from Estelli & Jalapa STRENGTH:   Medium SOURCE:   Jungle Jim’s ENVIRONMENT WHERE:   Three-Season Porch at Home WHEN:   January 12, 2017 @ 10 AM DRINKS:   Starbucks Dark Roast WEATHER:   Super windy morning but great temperature...

Londinenses (Robusto Extra) · Medium SOURCE: Franklin Cigar – Nashville, TN ENVIRONMENT WHERE: Three Season Porch at Home WHEN: June 06, 2019 @ 11 PM DRINKS: Water WEATHER: Mid-60s, no precip –... · Costa Rica

El Gueguense

Leaf Enthusiast · Oct 20, 2015

Today we look at one of the most anticipated releases of 2015: El Gueguense by Foundation Cigar Company

Corona Gorda · 5.63″ × 46

El Güegüense

Holt's Staff Reviews · Sep 8, 2023

Today I’m smoking one of the original releases from Foundation Cigars, El Gϋegϋense, pronounced [el way-when-say], which translates to “The Wise Man,” and I’m enjoying this blend in a 7-by-48 Churchill. Foundation Cigars is barely a decade old, but brand founder Nick Melillo spent eleven years working at Drew Estate before launching his own boutique cigar line in 2015. I’ve reviewed a handful of Melillo’s cigars, many of which are produced by AJ Fernandez in Nicaragua, including The Tabernacle, Olmec Maduro, and Charter Oak Broadleaf.