Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is dark brown with some underlying marbling to the colors and has a nice, slick feel. There is one visible vein towards the foot and the seams are slightly raised due to the thickness of the wrapper. There are three well applied caps that are pretty hard to pick up on. The band is similar to the original El Güegüense band but with a primarily red background rather than the blue. The aroma from the wrapper has a refreshing quality to it as odd as it sounds since it’s a very light barnyard note. The foot brings some lightly sweet hay and leather. The pre-light draw is a mix of light hay and cardboard.

Pre-light Experience

The Foundation The Wise Man Maduro Corona Gorda has an attractive rich, red hued, Colorado red wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight but clearly visible. The soft pressed cigar’s bunch and roll is done well as there is a uniformed give throughout. The head is finished off with a thick triple cap. Nosing the wrapper tells deep cedar and faint white pepper. Nosing the foot gives powerful white pepper and intense cedar. Cold draw reveals dry red peppers and spicy cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with a nice mix of baking spice and wood. At a quarter inch in, an underlying coffee note joins the mix of spice and wood. The retrohale is a pretty full version of the same profile. At three quarters of an inch, the baking spice settles way down as some cream joins in and enhances the coffee note while the wood is still prevalent in the profile as well. As the third begins to wrap up, the coffee note fades away while the cream is now pairing with the slightly dark wood note. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

First third is the epitome of deep flavors giving full and distinct notes of dry red pepper, baker’s chocolate and cedar. Retrohaling gives fierce red pepper that scorches my nostrils with the same level of intensity in spicy cedar as well. Luckily, this is somewhat balanced by a creamed nuttiness. The finish is long with dried red pepper and cedar coating the entire tongue and rear palate. Takes virtually no time for the cigar to be medium-full in strength. Body right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a slight bit of coffee rejoins the dark wood and cream profile. The retrohale is a pretty full version of the slightly dark wood. At a half inch in, the wood note becomes even darker as does the coffee note in the background. At an inch in, the cream and coffee notes go away leaving the dark wood as the lone flavor. As the third comes to a close, some cream rejoins to mix in with the dark wood. The strength in this third remains at slightly above medium.

Second Third

The part I mainly notice within the second third is the cigar’s ability to be so spice forward with strength to match. Strength kicks up once again nearing full. The deepness in flavors are still there, but with less notes now being centered around dried red pepper, cedar and roasted nuts. Retrohaling picks up a barnyard note with the same pre-existing intense dry red pepper and spicy cedar. The finish continues to coat the palate with heavy dry red pepper and cedar. Body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cream decreases some while the dark wood note is up front with a slight spice to it. At a quarter inch in, a slight mintiness joins the dark wood and cream. At a half inch in, a flood of earthiness mixes in with the dark wood and cream and pushes the mintiness out. At an inch in, things heat up a bit as the earthiness goes away and the dark wood remains along with some mintiness returning. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Final Third

The last third is namely comprised of a mixture of charred wood and dry red pepper. The charred wood note unfortunately overshadows much of the other notes. Retrohaling is most appreciated as it is a replica of the second third being deep in barnyard, dry red pepper and spicy cedar. The finish is still whole palate coating but with charred wood and dry red pepper. Strength still nears full and body medium.

Burn

There were some slight waves, but pretty straight the whole way. The ash was also a bit flaky and it held on in one inch increments.

Burn

Burn was an issue within the first third. There was major tunneling requiring three touch ups. But with a good purge I was still able to taste what the cigar had to offer. Past the first third, the cigar’s burn performance was good giving 1.5 inch increments, fairly tight ashes and a cool burn.

Draw

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

Overall

The flavor profile was pretty nice and exhibited some good complexities through the first two thirds. The final third became a bit linear, but that’s to be expected. Performance was very good and required no attention. Smokers that like a medium and above strength level will enjoy this. This is a good variant of the original El Güegüense. I would probably lean more towards the original, but for those that favor Maduro’s this might be the one they go after. Definitely give this a try as it’s one I’ll be looking forward to smoking more of.

Draw

Ideal draw. It was perfect in every way.

Overall

If only the cigar kept pace with the first third, this would be an overall fantastic tasting profile. But unfortunately, as the cigar progressed it, became too spice dominant and eventually too charred. I think this cigar deserves a proper re-visit down the road. I bet a few more months will tell a different (better) story. I will pick up a few of these for that exact purpose.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.92

Cost/Point

$1.43

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.87

Cost/Point

$1.44

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Foundation The Wise Man Maduro Corona Gorda