Nicholas Melillo, founder of Foundation Cigar Company, is well known for his ties to the great state of Connecticut. Moreover, when it comes to the Broadleaf tobacco that comes from that state he is part savant, part maestro, and part cheerleader. He loves the region and the tobaccos that are grown there. When he announced the new Tabernacle blend with the special Havana Seed wrapper, the Premium Cigar world took notice and waited with anticipation to see what Nick would do with this leaf.
In addition to the Corona size reviewed here, the Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 is also available in a 5 x 50 Robusto ($10.50 MSRP), 6 x 52 Toro ($11.50 MSRP), and a 7 x 54 Double Corona ($12.00 MSRP).
Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 Corona
MSRP: $9.00
Size: 5.25 x 46
Origin: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez S.A. (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Connecticut Havana Seed No. 142 (United States)
Binder: San Andres (Mexico)
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Prologue
The cigar is very oily and has a pronounced tooth. The wrapper leaf seems very thick, and that tends to make the seams stand out a bit. It is neatly rolled and seems heavy for its size. The foot is intense with pepper, mustiness, and the wrapper has aromas of leather and a sweetness that reminds me of molasses. The cold draw is spicy, musty, and a little earthy.
Act I
Black and red pepper are the prominent notes at the beginning. Within four or five puffs, the profile mellows into aromas of espresso, charred wood, and some rich creaminess. The finish of each puff seems to have some kind of citrus peel note that is interesting. The retrohale is spicy and also has a hint of leather.
Act II
The black pepper makes a shift to something that reminds me of roasted almonds. I also get some aromas of toasted bread and burnt sugar. The finish is now characterized by a dry mineral note with some saltiness. The retrohale is largely the same, just more intense.
Act III
The overall profile becomes quite bold toward the end. The sweetness from a molasses kind of flavor is frontal and heavy. The finish is all over the place, with aromas of roasted nuts, leather, earth, and that hint of citrus is back again. The retrohale is far more spicy than it was before, and finishes off with a sweet and sour note.
Epilogue
This cigar is a little mysterious. It is really complex at times, but like it only lands on the intended target sporadically. Don’t get me wrong, because when it lands it is really fantastic. It just seemed to land on the target infrequently. The spots that were best had this great balance of earthiness and sweetness, with gentle hints of spice to intensify the flavors. It is definitely a cigar I will buy more of, and one that I may even review again in the future.
Tabernacle Havana Seed CT No. 142 Corona – How Bout That Cigar?
Rating: How Bout A 5er?
Overall Score: 89
PAD: +0.0 (What is PAD?)
Flavor Summary: Molasses, roasted nuts, earthiness, leather, citrus peel
Strength Assessment: Medium-Full
Source: Cigars for this review were purchased by HBT Media LLC