Foundation Cigars "The Wise Man Maduro"

Cigar Reviewed: The Wise Mam

Fantastic cigar overall. I've been smoking my way through the Foundation lineup and finally got to "The Wise Man" series, starting with the Maduro.

Initial Lookover:

A very beautiful San Andreas wrapper with a nice oily shine and a nice gritty touch. The band itself is as elegant as the cigar itself.

Cold Draw:

The cold draw started with a mild pepper and chocolate note, building up to a more earthy and woody taste.

First Third:

After lighting up, the cigar gave me a blend of spicy chocolate with hints of oak and fresh dirt. After the initial light-up, the spice toned down while the chocolate took center stage, with the wood and dirt taking up the background. The retrohale was a pleasantly smooth, toasted oak and chocolate combo.

Second Third:

Getting to the middle of the cigar, the chocolate started to take a backseat, and the toasted woody notes began to shine through more, leaving the more earthy, fresh dirt in the background but still very present. A new aroma began to take shape in the form of a sweet vanilla that gradually made its way to the earth. This sweetness was welcomed, as it lent itself to the toasted wood and earth leaving a fantastic retrohale.

Final Third/Nub:

Beginning the final third, the spice from the beginning started to come back, not with a vengeance, but instead a more mellow comeback. This played well into the wood, dirt, chocolate, and vanilla, leaving a nice combination of flavors through the remaining smoke. The aroma of the cigar ramped up as well, with a nice, sweet, woody smell, almost reminiscent of a toasted marshmallow around a campfire. Getting to the nub was well worth the wait, as the spice and chocolate took over and the toasted wood took a backseat, leaving the vanilla and earth as an afterthought.

Overall, this cigar was fantastic with the flavor and burn leaving me impressed and satisfied. Hopefully, this review is helpful, as it's my first here and first ever outside my little notebook.