Foundation Cigar Co.’s new Olmec line is boxed up and ready to begin shipping to stores today.

The company describes Olmec as a tribute to Mexico and its ancient Mesoamerican people, which inhabited the San Andrés Valley in Veracruz, where cigar tobacco is grown. As such, the Olmec blend uses two different Mexican San Andrés wrappers, as one blend uses a lighter claro wrapper and the other a darker and stronger maduro wrapper. Both versions use Nicaraguan binders and fillers, are being produced by AJ Fernandez in Nicaragua, and are offered in the same five sizes:

  • Olmec Claro/Maduro Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 48) — $12.50 (Box of 12, $150)
  • Olmec Claro/Maduro Robusto (5 x 50) — $13.50 (Box of 12, $162)
  • Olmec Claro/Maduro Toro (6 x 52) — $14.50 (Box of 12, $174)
  • Olmec Claro/Maduro Grande (6 x 60) — $15.50 (Box of 12, $186)
  • Olmec Claro/Maduro Double Corona (7 x 52) — $16 (Box of 12, $192)

Nicholas Melillo of Foundation Cigar Co. told halfwheel that the first shipment will go out to retailers in his home state of Connecticut, as well as Ligero Tobacco House in Buford, Ga., which is home to the only Foundation Cigar Co. lounge in the country. The cigars will then will begin shipping out in regional batches so that all stores should get the cigars around the same time. Melillo said that the plan is to get all the orders fulfilled by next Friday, Sept. 23.

The Olmec line was part of Foundation Cigar Co.’s new releases from the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.