Wrapper: Ecuadorian HVA
Binder: Peruvian Pelo de Oro
Filler: Caribbean & Central American
Size: 6 x 52 Toro
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $16.00
The cigars have been sitting unclothed in my humidor for nearly two months.
BACKGROUND:
Blend designed by Felipe Gregorio.
Never heard of this manufacturer until I visited the 100 Fundadores website. Apparently, it is a group made up of wealthy men whose creed, as stated on the website is: “The 100 Fundadores are a fraternity of worldly men that share an interest in the finer things of life – Exceptional Wines & Spirits – Gourmet Meals – Golf – Travel and tailored made cigars. We strive to have the rare and unique made especially for us.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the members. This organization was born in 2020.
Wow. Guys just like you and me. Ha.
From the 100 Fundadores website:
“Each one of our cigars are handmade and expertly rolled by 9th category Master Torcedores, the filler, binder & wrapper tobaccos are taken from the best priming’s, years and select fincas.
“After being rolled they are aged a minimum of 3 months in cedar chests, before being boxed. Over 30 years of experience goes into every cigar I make for our group, I am very proud to be part of such a small and select group of aficionados and this is shown in the quality of the cigars I produce for us.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Well, I’m impressed. How about you? A bunch of elitist wealthy men have put together a whole coterie of things that you can purchase that represent their privileged backgrounds in having the best of everything. I tell you this…the cigar better be hitting for the fences. One last thing…describing their cigars as having at least ‘3 months’ of aging in cedar chest is not impressive as tobacco that is aged for years. But the caveat of “at least” is their loophole.
There are strong sweet floral notes. Very intoxicating. Didn’t Dorothy fall asleep while prancing through a field of poppies? She must have been near a heroin processing plant. Afghanistan was the real Land of Oz.
Other aromas are milk chocolate, creaminess that hovers at scones and clotted cream…cinnamon graham crackers, malt, red pepper (my nose tingles and burns), and espresso.
The cigar is a middleweight contender in size, density, and heft.
The draw is spot on. My PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool sleeps the sleep of the evil in its dank cellar beneath my bed. I do not wake it for fear of a brow beating.
I feel like a little Paul McCartney Channel on Amazon this morning. “Maybe I’m Amazed” is first up. I hope this is a sign from the gods that this cigar passes muster.
The first puffs are unusual…I swear I taste peaches. Followed by an immediate wonderful depth that is rich and filling. Like eating an entire cheesecake by yourself.
One of my all-time fave Tom Petty tunes: “Free Fallin’.” I still lament the loss of Petty. What a shame.
The Fundadores reminds me of a good Casdagli, but cheaper. You know how rich Jeremy’s blends can be and those wonderful overtones of flavors layered one atop each other.
Maybe the Rich Boys’ Club got it right.
Strength is a solid medium.
Jeremy recommends 4 months of naked humi time. This blend is being reviewed with half that time. I betcha’ a buck that with more time, this cigar will be a wanted killer from Wisconsin. We have an unusual quantity of serial killers from here. Spend a decade or so here and the reasons become clear.
The burn is slow and easy. It reminds me to take my time. The depth and complexity are rising with every puff. Letting it settle in and concentrate on the long-lasting finish is decadent and very enjoyable.
This is one of those sophisticated manly cigars…not a girly-man’s cigar. You don’t need a sophisticated palate to appreciate the blending.
I bought a five pack and this is my first stab at the cigar. I didn’t make the mistake of smoking and trashing one too early in its nude beach lay-about.
Not a flavor bomb. The wonderfully chosen tobacco is doing all the work. While I do love very flavorful cigars, I love the he-man sticks where I taste the tobacco in all its debauchery.
That lucky S.O.B. Andrew Considine of Small Batch Cigar is the only online store that is authorized to sell these cigars. Andrew is not a sonovabitch but I know I will get an immediate email from him telling me I’m not kind. I love you, Andrew. You can see this on the 100 Fundadores website.
The char line is uneven, but no run seems to be in the offing.
Let me find flavors that you can relate to: mild black pepper in the back of my throat, red pepper that tingles the tip of my tongue, malt up to here, very creamy, strong coffee, milk chocolate, heaps of cedar, ferret tongue on rye, and something slightly fruity.
“Hotel California” is playing. The Eagles are strictly elevator music now. Dr. Rod loves the band otherwise I’d never have mentioned this.
1-1/2” burned in 30 minutes. This is going to be a two-hour adventure. OK with me.
Strength is on a straight course of medium intent.
Even at this early stage, this is so Casdagli-like that it shows Gregorio ain’t no slouch.
Nothing linear. The depth grows like a beanstalk. I had a part time job in college for this dork who made me clean his pool. He owned two wolves for pets. They were huge. One was as friendly as a dog. The alpha wanted to maul me. The chain link fence around the pool had vines of green beans. I discovered that Meany Beanie liked the veggie and I made it a point to bring them and toss them in the opposite direction as I made a sprint for the safety of the guarded pool. I didn’t like that job. No one wants to be eaten by a wolf…while the second wolf licks your face with love. Yin and Yang.
The 100 Fundadores is overwhelming with richness and thick nuances. Complexity is through the roof.
Man, I wanted to eviscerate this cigar to show these rich guys that they didn’t know what they were doing as they entered the cigar blending endeavor. They knew exactly what they were doing and all I can say is, “If I were a rich man…Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum. All day long, I’d biddy biddy bum…If I were a wealthy man.”
Strength hits medium/full at 2” burned. This is nuts. It’s been 40 minutes. My prediction of the stick lasting two hours is a truthful statement. I hate telling the truth.
But as I am allowing the cigar to rest a few minutes between puffs, to milk the love from the blend, I could be here all morning.
Sometimes you get what you pay for. At $16 a pop the cigar is extremely reasonable for this quality. With my 10% off promo code, the price drops to $14.40. This is a deal. A Casdagli will cost you in the $20+ region.
The char line is chooglin’.
It seems the flavors are canonized in the first third. I enter the second third and step through the looking glass.
Time to take a break from writing and just shut the fuck up.
Mike Tyson’s favorite song is playing: “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins.
A genuine sweet spot explodes all over my face. In the 90’s, when we lived in Phoenix, Charlotte and I were good friends with the owner of a steel erection company. The guy’s live-in girlfriend was a wild cat. We sat at a table having drinks and ‘pearl necklace’ came up. I had no idea what that was. She explained it in detail. When Charlotte had breast cancer in 2000, the woman was Charlotte’s best caregiver. Such a kind lady. She later showed up on “Dateline” as she was brutally murdered a few years later. Just when you think you know how life works, something will change your perspective as you persevere through the aging process.
Well, that was a downer.
Flavors that were once subtle, blossom from a fancy caterpillar into a gorgeous butterfly. The cigar’s tobacco is doing the heavy lifting. But notes of creaminess, coffee, chocolate, malt, cinnamon, peaches, cedar, and spiciness flourish across my palate.
Strength hits full tilt.
My incandescent brain is overwhelmed with the richness of this blend. It is unbelievable. The growth of this cigar is stunning.
The halfway point arrives at one hour. I dare to guess how the second half will dazzle. Holy shit.
I am giddy that I still have four sticks in my humidor. There was no mention of this cigar being a limited edition. Otherwise, I’d stop rambling and snag another fiver.
Time to shut up again.
The cigar is like bathing at Lourdes.
What a stupid grin I have on my face. This is a monumental blend.
This blend rivals cigars in the $50+ range. $14.40 after promo code is ridiculous.
Maybe I’m amazed doesn’t begin to describe this cigar.
Small Batch Cigar carries this stick. Promo code ‘katman’ gets you 10% off.
RATING: 98
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
