Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Size: 5.5 x 55 “Box Press”
Body: Medium
Price: $5.00 by the box

The brand is called Foundry Tobacco Compounds, Elements, and Musings. In 2012, the idea came from General Cigars’ Creative Director Michael Giannini, who was in awe of Victorian-era science fiction, the Steampunk genre and the mechanisms of England’s Industrial Revolution. The packaging of the cigars was almost as important to Giannini as the blends themselves.

Foundry Tobacco is a totally separate company from General Cigar; although under its umbrella. He was given full reign on the whole schlimazel. And the frustrating part for someone who writes about cigars is that basically the ingredients are a secret. Although some info leaked out.
The list of all 11 blends:
Gold, argon, vanadium, xenon, plutonium, [From this point on, the following blends can only be found in B & M’s]: Carbon, H20, Hydrogen, Uranium, Helium, and Titanium. I have reviewed Argon, Vanadium and Plutonium.

The sticks made their debut at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show and they went like hot cakes. And the word is that once they are gone, they’re gone.

Construction isn’t bad. The wrapper has a golden color. But the seams are a bit sloppy. The cap is a bit funky. Lots of Frankenstein veins. The wrapper has a matte finish and is very smooth. The cigar is box pressed nicely with rounded corners.

The double cigar bands are pretty cool. The main one, which is huge, is a ‘49er panning for gold. I love the artwork. The other band, at the foot, is like the other blends; showing the name of the cigar from the Periodic Table.

I clip the cap and find aromas of cinnamon, spice, sweetness, mint, and then I double sneeze from the spiciness.
Time to light up.

Removing the foot band takes a huge chunk of wrapper with it. Nasty looking.

The first puffs taste like Suzy cream cheese. This is a first. And then some black pepper begins to show itself. The draw is very good but not perfect. This cigar is jammed with tobacco. The char line is a bit wavy and a correction is in order. I have to get past the near catastrophe the removal of the foot band caused.

I’m half an inch in and there isn’t a lot going on. The cigar hits the 10 circle of medium body perfectly. But I sense that it is going to get stronger. The fact that Foundry Tobacco won’t disclose the leaf stats is maddening. This project is the only thing going that matches the mass hysteria of Eddie Ortega’s Wild Bunch series. You gotta be nuts to crunch out all those blends. Yet, they have done it wonderfully.

A coincidence, I’m sure, but once past the screwed up wrapper, flavors bloom. Obviously, the wrapper component is very important to the flavor profile. A wonderful creaminess appears and yes, it still has a cream cheese flavor. The black pepper is on a slow climb upwards. A strong leather element appears. Only halfway to through the first third, the cigar presents a very nice balance. The taste of all those tobaccos make a statement all their own. And become the leader of the flavor profile pack.

I approach the end of the first third and the cigar is more potent in both flavor and strength. I’ve reviewed three other elements: Argon, Vanadium and Plutonium. Each one was totally different from the other. Same goes here. This is a very unique blending.

On BestCigarPrices.com’s description, they seem to have the inside track of the leaf stats saying that they are “..Nicaraguan, Ecuadorian, and from the United States.” Clearly, the wrapper is Connecticut.

The second third begins without much change. In fact, nothing has changed. I was really hoping for a progressively flavorful cigar. I’ve had this stick a while and it should be showing me it’s potential. So far, the other sticks were ready to go after a few weeks. I can’t believe Gianinni changed his style to go old school for this blend.

This is a slow burner. At the halfway point, flavors are bolder. There is some lemon zest present now. Creaminess pushes ahead of the tobacco flavor. The black pepper is on its steady climb. There is the leather moving a bit to the background. A new flavor is a café latte. And some sweetness. I’m guessing the cigar will find its sweet spot by the time I get to the last third.

I have the heebie jeebies about removing this giant cigar band after what happened with the foot band. I carefully remove it and it comes off like a dream. No damage done. Now the cigar looks really naked. Like me when I write my reviews. So far, the neighbors haven’t complained much; and when they knock on the front door, I meet them holding my Mossberg. At that point, they only look at me in the eyes and they don’t wander over this magnificent 64 year old body.

I am very close to the start of the last third and of the four I have reviewed, this is my least favorite. No oomph. It must need months of humidor time. I only gave it a month or so.

The last third begins and the flavor profile has not changed an iota. It is pleasant and nice, but that’s it. The strength is back to classic medium. Funny…in the sunlight, the naked stick looks like a bar of gold. If gold bullion had big veins.

The stick begins to lose its flavors except for the spiciness. Drat. I’ve been duped by the other three I reviewed. Or maybe this is all there is to it. After all, it is only a $5 stick. I shouldn’t be expecting magic.

The last third lets me down. The cigar is on cruise control. Nice flavors but tastes more like an inexpensive bundle cigar and doesn’t seem to belong with the rest of the blends.

I’ve got a couple inches to go but the cigar bores me and I put it down.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: au, cigar review, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, foundry tobacco co., gold, Gold (Au) by Foundry Tobacco Co. Cigar Review