Foundation Cigar Company: Menelik Toro Cigars

Originally offered as an event-only cigar, Foundation's Menelik has been around since 2017 but, in 2019, was added to the brand's standard portfolio as a limited production line. Named for the first emperor of Ethiopia from the 10th century BC, Menelik fits in well with Foundation's other cigars, El Güegüense ("The Wise Man") and The Tabernacle. Emperor Menelik is traditionally believed to have been the son of King Solomon (aka The Wise Man) and the Queen of Sheba, having been called Ibn al-Hakim ("Son of the Wise") and is credited with having brought the Ark of the Covenant (housed in Solomon's temple, aka The Tabernacle) to Ethiopia after visiting his father in Jerusalem.

As a cigar, Menelik also shares commonalities with The Wise Man. Considered the "Son of the Wise Man," Menelik features the same Mexican San Andrés wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers as The Wise Man Maduro, but is box-pressed and displays a pig tail cap. Marked by a complex flavor profile, Menelik is a full-bodied blend with notes of spice, earth, and leather — a cigar fit for an emperor.