Foundation Cigar Company: Tabernacle Knight Commander Cigars

Hailing from Connecticut and owning a 50-acre tobacco farm there, Foundation's founder and master blender, Nicholas Melillo, has a passion for Connecticut Broadleaf. Melillo wanted a blend that showcased this special leaf, leading to the creation of The Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle cigars feature a blend of fillers from Jamastrán, Honduras and the Nicaraguan regions of Jalapa and Estelí, all wrapped in Connecticut Broadleaf and a Mexican San Andrés binder — another leaf that Melillo adores and an old variety that predates Cuban seed.

The Knight Commander is a special release of the Tabernacle, its name inspired by the Ethiopian Order of the Star of Honor, an award which Melillo was bestowed at the Knight Commander rank. The cigar itself utilizes the same blend as the original Tabernacle release, though it comes in a singular 6 3/4" x 52 Perfecto vitola and has been aged for 15 months, featuring special artwork that depicts the Star of Honor award. All of Foundation's proceeds from this cigar will be donated to Ethiopian charities dedicated to philanthropic causes such as rebuilding churches and paying for scholarships.