Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is dark brown with a bit of a marbling effect to it. There are a couple of slightly raised veins present and the seams are easily visible due to the color variations in the wrapper. The cigar has a slight press on two sides of the cigar and the head has a very well applied triple cap. The band has the standard El Gueguense design, but this iteration is primarily burgundy where the original was blue. The aroma from the wrapper is a distinct barnyard while the foot provides natural tobacco sweetness, hay and a mild white pepper. The pre-light draw brings a creamy leather with a decent spicy tingle on my lips and the tip of my tongue.

Pre-light Experience

The Foundation The Wise Man Maduro Churchill has an espresso brown maduro wrapper shade. Feel and construction is top notch as veins are well pressed, seams tight, uniformed bunch and roll and a well applied triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper give spicy cedar, barnyard and chocolate. Nosing the foot gives rich nuttiness, white pepper and cedar. Cold draw gives cedar, nuts and a white pepper spice on the tip of the tongue and lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with a dry profile of wood and baking spice. At a quarter inch in, the profile becomes slightly less drying as a mild cocoa joins in and the baking spice settle down a bit. At an inch in, the dryness has left the profile and the wood is mixing well with the combination of cocoa and baking spice. The retrohale has a bit of a peppery bite to it with a slight wood finish. At an inch and three quarters, the cocoa has left while the wood and baking spice remain. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third has a mixture of cedar, bread and Mexican hot chocolate powder. It’s interesting and unique to taste the spicier all spice nature of Mexican hot chocolate. Retrohaling deepens the spice but also maintains the chocolate aspect of the cigar. The finish is earth driven being cedar dominant and black pepper on the back end. Strength is slightly above medium and body medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the profile becomes slightly drying again with the wood up front and baking spice in the background. The retrohale has settled down as it now provides a similar profile to the mouth draws. At a quarter inch in, some coffee joins the profile which knocks out the dryness. At an inch in, the wood and coffee notes are working together well while the baking spice is very faint now. At an inch and three quarters, the wood gains a slight char which diminishes the coffee note a bit. The baking spice has completely left the profile. As the third comes to a close, the coffee increases, more than it had been previously to even out with the slightly charred wood. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Second Third

Two notable changes within the second third. The first is an increase in spice, especially noticeable through the mouth draws. Second, is the uptick in strength delivery now being a consistent medium-full. Other than that, the profile is still very much so a mixture of cedar, bread and Mexican hot chocolate. Body stays medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the coffee leaves the profile as a fair amount of mustiness and a slight vegetal note join in with the charred wood. At a half inch in, the mustiness settles down some and the profile becomes much more balanced. The retrohale provides a musty wood note. At an inch in, a slight creaminess joins the musty wood. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Final Third

The last third takes the complexities down a tad. The profile is still a tasty one centered around cedar, black pepper and less so of the Mexican hot chocolate. The strength, although still medium-full, is starting to really settle in, making me feel slightly light headed. Body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy throughout but never needed any attention. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

Burn performance was spectacular. Even burn, solid ashes averaging 1.5 inches, cool burning temperature.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

Having already reviewed the Corona Gorda, I was interested to see if the Churchill would provide the same flavorful profile just in a longer smoking format. I felt this vitola didn’t capture the same level of flavors that the Corona Gorda did. While still an enjoyable experience it just wasn’t at the same level. With a Churchill, if you aren’t really enjoying it, then it can become a bit boring and that’s what I found here. For fans of Churchill’s, this is one to check out, but in my opinion, a smaller vitola for this line packs a better flavor profile and with that, better value.

Draw

The draw was perfection, striking the ideal balance between air flow and resistance.

Overall

Taking another shot at The Wise Man Maduro (although different vitola) 10 months after the initial review, I was expecting changes. Changes in the sense that I felt the initial review needed rest to work out the sharp edges of the cigar. In the story of the Foundation The Wise Man Maduro Churchill, the cigar showed no signs of being sharp or being rough around the edges. Flavors of Mexican hot chocolate powder, cedar and bread worked very well together, keeping my attention for the entire, longer smoke. The strength does sneak up, as by the end of the cigar, sugar was required. All in all, this is an easy recommendation.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.57

Cost/Point

$1.68

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.52

Cost/Point

$1.46

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Foundation The Wise Man Maduro Churchill