Foundation Charter Oak Maduro Grande 6″ * 60

Charter Oak is Nick Melillo’s value line, named for the white oak that Connecticut has treated as a state emblem since colonial days. Fitting, since the wrappers come off that same valley.

A Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper covers Nicaraguan Habano binder and Nicaraguan filler, medium to full in body. Expect dark chocolate, espresso, earth and pepper. At 6 by 60, the thick ring keeps the smoke cool and the burn slow.

Broadleaf comes off the same Connecticut ground as the pale shade leaf, handled the opposite way: full sun instead of cloth, stalk cut instead of picked, and fermented hard.

Pairs well with bourbon, espresso, or porter.