Cigar Review: El Gueguense by Foundation Cigar Company

• Vitola: Corona Gorda
• 5.625” x 46 ring gauge
• Price $10.49
• Purchased at Burns Tobacconist

Background

One of the highlights of my trip to Nicaragua and visit to the Drew Estate operation there about two-and-a-half years ago was getting to meet Steve Saka and Nicholas Melillo. Together they served as the brains and heart behind many of DE’s products to that date, including the highly acclaimed Liga Privada line. Just months after my visit, they were both gone…left the company for other opportunities. Fast forward to the now and both are back in the cigar biz. Saka’s new company has yet to ship cigars, but they are rumored to be hitting the streets very, very soon. Nicholas’ new venture is already here.

Foundation Cigar Company introduced El Güegüense at this year’s IPCPR show in New Orleans and had this to say about the brand on their website:

For five hundred years, Nicaragua has served as a crossroads of cultures, ever since indigenous inhabitants mocked arriving Spanish conquistadors in a colorful, costumed satirical masterpiece called “El Güegüense” (Gwe-gwe-nse), or “The Wise Man.” It is Nicaragua’s signature work of drama, the ultimate expression of its unique history, language, dance, and culture. This Gran Baile, or great dance, continues today, not only in the form of long-held folkloric performances, but in the careful blending of Nicaragua’s tobacco, which is some of the richest, most flavorful filler tobacco in the world. Master blender Nicholas Melillo has worked tirelessly to create and honor the great dance of flavors which you are about to experience in El Güegüense cigars.

I couldn’t have said it any better…and I’m actually still having trouble saying it at all, because I’ve heard the pronunciation shown in the above paragraph, but I’ve also heard “Way-When-Say.” I suspect many shops will resort to calling it “the new cigar from Foundation!” However you say it, El Güegüense is a Nicaraguan puro, produced in the TABSA factory owned by Casa Fernandez. Melillo used Jalapa Corojo 99 and Estelí Criollo 98 fillers and Jalapa Corojo 99 binder and wrapper leaves. I had a couple “show samples” back in July and I bought a couple sticks when they arrived at the shop.

Prelight

Let’s start with that name: El Güegüense. Let’s face it…it’s hard to say and the images of the guys in funny, tall hats is challenging to most people’s expectations. It’s very cool to celebrate Nicaraguan culture with a cigar that is a Nica puro, but it does lead to every introduction to the cigar being classroom time. Let me just say that overall I do like the look and it is very original.

The wrapper leaf was a medium-brown color with a good amount of oils to the eye and touch. When I took a whiff of the wrapper, I picked up some earth and cedar notes along with just a touch of leather. The foot had a stronger earthiness and more cedar. The cold draw was good and had flavor notes of wood and natural tobacco with a touch of pepper spice.

Flavor

El Güegüense started off with a strongly woody flavor, along with lesser notes of earth and pepper spice on the palate. There was a touch of sweetness, a subtle dried fruit note, and some nuttiness mixed in, as well. As is probably to be expected, the retrohale was very peppery. As I got about 7 or 8 minutes in, the pepper mellowed out just a bit, allowing more sweetness and some saltiness to come out in the blend.

In the second third, I still got a lot of cedar flavor and plenty of natural tobacco goodness. The sweet and salty notes were still an undercurrent that provided excellent balance to the whole. The peppery notes on nose mellowed out more and on the palate the pepper was just a low-level burn.

The flavors of wood, tobacco, dried fruit and salt flavors continued to be very well balanced in the final third.

Construction

I’ve had great draw with all samples of this blend that I’ve smoked. The burn line was plenty even and the ash was very solid.

Value

This is an excellent blend and I would say it’s worth the money…but just barely. I would have really liked to see this cigar start around the $9 price point and end around $10.50 to $11.

Conclusions

El Güegüense proved to be a very good cigar with well balanced flavors in a medium-plus bodied smoke and it was enjoyable from end to end. I would call this a very good start for a new company and an excellent display of the blending ability of Mr. Nicholas Melillo. I expect that this cigar will be even better with a few months (or perhaps a year or two) of age on it and I look forward to seeing what Nick does for a follow-up.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10