At the upcoming IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, Highclere Castle from Foundation Cigar Co. will be getting a maduro version, the Highclere Castle Victorian.

Like the original line, the maduro version uses an Ecuadorian wrapper, Brazilian mata fina binder and Nicaraguan filler, but only the binder is the same. While Melillo declined to discuss the project, he told Cigar Aficionado that the wrapper leaf is a high-priming habano leaf which not only gives the cigar a different look but a stronger flavor.

It’s a blend that is similar on paper to the original Highclere Castle line, which debuted in the summer of 2017 as a partnership between Foundation Cigar Co. and Highclere Castle Cigar Co. that was based on the idea of creating an early 1900s style of cigar. Specifically, the kind of cigar that would have been enjoyed by the ancestors of George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon and current owner of Highclere Castle and its surrounding campus, which is the setting of the television show Downton Abbey.

The Highclere Castle Victorian is reported to be offered in the same five sizes as the original line:

  • Highclere Castle Victorian Churchill (7 x 48)
  • Highclere Castle Victorian Toro (6 x 52)
  • Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto (5 x 50)
  • Highclere Castle Victorian Corona (5 1/2 x 46)
  • Highclere Castle Victorian Petit Corona (5 x 42)

Individual cigars are reported to be priced between $12-16. The line is being produced at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A., with shipping reported to begin in August.

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Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2019 IPCPR 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 MLB.com, 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.