The Upsetters Zola

Foundation The Upsetters Zola (Toro) is a medium bodied infused maduro with Nicaraguan and Jamaican tobacco. I am not a fan of infused cigars, although I have smoked an Isla del Sol – only because some of my cigar friends enjoy it.

So, here’s the back story. I AM a fan of Foundation Cigars. When I saw a single of The Upsetters Zola on sale, I bought one without doing my homework. Popped it in the humidor minus the cellophane, intending to smoke it in the next few days. When I opened my humidor after a couple of days, my olfactory system was assaulted by the smell of perfume. I was bewildered. “Damn, Dawg! Your humidor smells like a French whore!”

How did perfume get into the humidor? I sniffed the cedar, then the cigars. Finally, I discovered the fragrance was coming from The Upsetters Zola. I put it in a cigar zip lock, but I knew I probably had to smoke it soon. Even small Boveda packs and a zip lock can’t keep a naked cigar fresh for long. So yesterday I took the plunge. Let’s fire it up and experience an herbal stick.

I must say Foundation is solid on construction even with this infused offering. Excellent draw, near perfect burn line, good smoke output and kept a long ash until rolled off. It is a very well constructed cigar.

Now…with what beverage do you pair this? No way it’s scotch or bourbon or coffee. I considered pairing it with The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask. That might have worked, but alas that bottle was long gone from my bar. I decided the safest choice was d’Usse VSOP Cognac. In retrospect, spiced rum or sweet tea could have worked, but neither is in my wheelhouse.

Foundation calls this a Caribbean Atmospheric Herbal Infusion cigar. There is a sweet taste on the cap followed by a unique flavor profile with tea, citrus, spice, pepper and…wait for it. Herbal notes. Notes? More like a symphonic composition. Now how much of that is from the tobacco and how much is the herbal infusion? I would have to smoke the same blend sans the herbal infusion to know, which brought to mind a wine experience I had some years back.

I bought a bottle of Portuguese red wine from the Douro Valley for the experience of a still red wine from the region. Yes. It is unmistakably the taste of unfortified port. That was an interesting wine adventure. So, let’s call smoking The Upsetters Zola a kitschy cigar adventure. Until Foundation releases The Upsetters Zola uninfused -or is non-infused grammatically, correct? There has to be an English teacher-cigar smoker out there somewhere - this one stays in the X Files.

This is a tough one to rate. The construction was excellent. It was an intriguing experience, but not my idea of cigar flavors. I’m giving it a 2, but that’s based on me not being a fan of infused cigars.

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