The name has always been there — El Güegüense, “The Wise Man,” was the cigar that put Foundation on the map. Now Nick Melillo has brought that title into a new era. After halting production of El Güegüense and parting ways with the TABSA factory, Melillo made a move that turned heads across the industry: he brought Foundation’s entire portfolio to the legendary My Father factory in Estelí, placing his cigars in the hands of Don Pepín and Jaime García.

The Wise Man Corojo isn’t simply a rebrand — it’s a reimagining. The story now draws from Ethiopian lore, honoring Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba — history’s original Wise Man. The blend is a true Nicaraguan puro, built around the same vintage 2011 and 2012 Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98 leaves that defined El Güegüense, now rolled with the García family’s unmistakable Cuban-tradition technique. A dual Estelí and Jalapa binder wraps a filler blend from three of Nicaragua’s finest growing regions, topped with a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper. From the first draw — a bold blast of Pepín pepper — to the refined finish of coffee, tea, and baker’s spice, this is a cigar that rewards patience and experience in equal measure.

Why You’ll Love It

A Legacy Reborn: The spirit of El Güegüense lives on in a new form, now produced at the My Father factory under the watchful eye of Don Pepín and Jaime García — two of the most respected names in the business.

Vintage Tobacco at its Core: Fillers from the 2011 and 2012 harvests give The Wise Man Corojo a depth and complexity that most cigars simply can’t replicate — aged tobacco that has been patiently waiting for this moment.

Two Wise Men, One Line: The Corojo and Maduro versions sit side by side — the Corojo for those who crave spice, sweetness, and refinement; the Maduro for those who want darker, deeper complexity from the same foundation.