Nicholas Melillo’s debut cigar is debuting.

El Gueguense 4

El Güegüense, the first release from Melillo’s Foundation Cigar Co., is now on its way to retailers. The Nicaraguan puro is made at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA) in Estelí and uses tobacco from AGANORSA including a corojo 99 wrapper from Finca Puntalito in Jalapa, a corojo 99 binder from Finca San Jose in Jalapa and corojo and criollo fillers from Estelí and Jalapa.

The name, which translates to the wiseman, pays homage to a Nicaraguan folk dance.

It’s offered in five sizes: Robusto (5 1/2 x 50), Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46), Toro Huaco (6 x 56), Torpedo (6 1/4 x 52) and Churchill (7 x 48). Pricing is set at $9-13.

El Gueguense 2

While El Güegüense is not limited, Melillo told halfwheel only 200 boxes of each size will ship each month.

This is the first release from Melillo since his departure from Drew Estate last year.

Avatar photo

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.