While Nick Melillo has great love for Nicaragua, his heart remains in Connecticut. It’s here that Foundation Cigars is based, and where the Broadleaf he is so famous for mastering is grown. Connecticut is also where the name Charter Oak comes from. The Charter Oak was a huge oak tree in the hills of Hartford, Connecticut. Rumor has it that Connecticut’s Royal Charter was hidden inside the tree in 1662 to avoid confiscation from the English governor. Now a symbol of American independence, it’s hard to think of a better homage to Connecticut.

For the cigar, Nick selects the silkiest Connecticut Shade wrappers he can find. From there a Sumatran binder and Nicaraguan fillers from Esteli and the Jalapa Valley are added. The result is a medium-bodied smoke that’s buttery smooth. Vanilla, oak, nuttiness, and a floral finish combine to create an elegantly balanced cigar. Whether this is your first selection from Foundation or your fiftieth, you are sure to be pleased with the Charter Oak Connecticut.