In the June of 2023 Nick Melillo owner of Foundation Cigar Company announced the release of Charter Oak Pasquale.
According to their website, The “Charter Oak Pegnataro and Pasquale” cigars embody the commitment to excellence and artistry that define Foundation Cigar Company. Crafted by Nicholas Melillo, Founder and Master Blender, these cigars pay homage to the unwavering spirit and timeless wisdom passed down by his grandfathers. They also serve to pay tribute the opening of Foundation’s new office on a 300-acre farm in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley tobacco growing region.
According to Melillo, “My love for handmade cigars exists only because of my grandfather’s. One was an avid CT Broadleaf smoker and the other loved CT shade. These blends are completely different than the core line of Charter Oak. They are richer and more complex.”
Charter Oak CT Broadleaf Pasquale is a cigar that revolves around the renowned Connecticut Broadleaf seed, resulting in a captivating Maduro wrapper with a dark, rich complexion. This full-bodied blend embraces the senses with deep, earthy undertones, balanced by notes of sweetness and strength. It is a bold and flavorful choice for those seeking an indulgent smoking experience with robust character.
Cigar Review: Charter Oak Pasquale
Size: 5.5 x 48 (Soft Box Press)
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli & Jalapa)
Debut: October 2023
Box Count: 12
The Cigar: That Charter Oak Pasquale looks more like Broadleaf than the original Charter Oak Maduro which has a painted look to it due to the even coloring of that wrapper. The Broadleaf wrapper of this cigar has a fair amount of oils to it with a nice brindle like appearance. There are a couple of noteworthy veins on the appearance but it doesn’t detract from it’s look. The cigar is firm with no voids of tobacco and a well packed foot.
The Taste: Once we clip the cap of the Charter Oak Pasquale the cold draw serves up a subtle cocoa and leather note with an added hint of sweetness while the foot has a touch of cocoa as well. The sweetness really stands out and the tobacco appears to be well aged.
Once the cigar is toasted and lit there are faint notes of mocha with even more subtle nuances of nuts and leather. The retrohale serves up some cedar and an abundance of red pepper. The flavors aren’t pronounced enough to make this a flavor bomb but it is a remarkably tasty cigar.
In the second third, the cigar becomes more of what I hoped for with robust flavors including dark chocolate, pie crust and coffee notes. There is also an abundance of leather and cashews with a spice bomb of a retrohale as well as the resting aroma of the cigar between puffs.
The final third continues to see notes of leather that linger on the long finish with additional notes of chocolate and some added rye which adds an interesting dimension. The cigar is unique with a lot of flavor and a nice amount of complexity. The retrohale enhances the leather notes with an abundance of spice.
Conclusion: While the Connecticut version of the Charter Oak Especiales was good, it did fall a bit short in my expectations. The Charter Oak Pasquale version was a complete 180 in the sense that it totally exceeded them. These versions are considerably more expensive than the original release which is one of the best value cigars on the market. It is worth every penny of that added price. While I doubt Nick played favorites with his grandparents I am definitely going to play favorites here. The Pasquale is an exceptional cigar.
Score: 95
Price: $13.00 (Before local and state taxes)
