The Lancero is the purist’s vitola — long, lean, and unforgiving, it demands perfect construction and rewards the smoker with an experience unlike any other format. Foundation Cigar Company knows this, and with The Wise Man Lancero, Nick Melillo makes his boldest statement yet in the Wise Man series. Rolled at the My Father factory in Estelí under the guidance of Don Pepín and Jaime García, this 7×40 extension of the acclaimed lineup is a tribute to Menelik I — the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba — a man whose story of wisdom, heritage, and cultural legacy has defined the entire Wise Man collection from the start.

Two distinct expressions, one iconic format. The Corojo Lancero wraps a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 leaf around the same dual Estelí and Jalapa binder and vintage Nicaraguan filler core, amplifying the spice, cedar, and natural sweetness that made the original Wise Man Corojo a standout. The Maduro Lancero trades the Corojo shell for a rich Mexican San Andrés wrapper, drawing out deeper notes of cocoa, espresso, and earth while the narrow ring gauge intensifies every layer from light to nub. For connoisseurs who appreciate the craft of the Lancero, this is the Wise Man at its most refined.

Why You’ll Love It

The Purist’s Format: The 7×40 Lancero is one of the most demanding vitolas to roll and smoke — but when it’s done right, nothing else comes close in terms of complexity and wrapper-forward intensity.

Two Characters, One Story: The Corojo and Maduro Lanceros share the same foundation but tell completely different stories — spice and sweetness versus dark earth and depth. Stock both and let the occasion decide.

My Father Craftsmanship: Rolling a perfect Lancero requires a level of skill most factories won’t even attempt. Entrusted to the García family’s torcedores in Estelí, every Wise Man Lancero is a testament to what Cuban-tradition rolling can achieve.