Some titles are honorary. Nick Melillo’s isn’t. The Ethiopian Crown Council awarded him the title of Knight Commander of The Ethiopian Star of Honor — a genuine order of knighthood established to recognize those who have rendered extraordinary service to Ethiopia. For Melillo, a man whose entire portfolio is woven through with Ethiopian history and culture, it was the kind of recognition that demanded a response worthy of the honor. The Tabernacle Knight Commander is that response.

Built on the same foundation as the core Tabernacle blend — Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, and a combination of long-fillers from Estelí, Jalapa, and Honduras — the Knight Commander differs in one profound way: after rolling, every cigar spends an additional 15 months aging in cedar, softening and refining the Tabernacle’s characteristically bold profile into something more nuanced, more layered, and more contemplative. The cedar aging shifts the blend toward subtlety — roasted nuts, leather, and black pepper delivered with a creaminess and refinement the regular Tabernacle doesn’t quite reach. Limited to just 700 boxes of 12 cigars per year, and 100% of proceeds donated to the Royal Ethiopian Trust — supporting educational scholarships, church restoration, and community development across Ethiopia — this is one of the most purposeful smokes in premium cigars.

Why You’ll Love It

A Cigar With A Cause: Every dollar from every Knight Commander sold goes directly to the Royal Ethiopian Trust — scholarships, cultural restoration, and community development in Ethiopia. Smoking well and doing good, simultaneously.

Cedar-Aged Refinement: Fifteen additional months in cedar transforms the already complex Tabernacle blend into something mellower, creamier, and more evolved — a noticeably different and more refined expression of a beloved blend.

Limited and Purposeful: With only 700 boxes produced annually, the Knight Commander isn’t just rare — it means something. Every box represents Nick Melillo’s personal commitment to the country and the people who honored him.