Description
Foundation The Wise Man Maduro (Old Version, Discontinued)
Size: 6 × 56
Vitola: Toro Gordo
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo
Fillers: Nicaraguan (Estelí and Jalapa-grown Criollo and Corojo)
Flavor Notes: Black cocoa, espresso, chili chocolate, damp earth, dried cherry, leather, clove, charred oak, black pepper, brown sugar
Pairing Notes: Mezcal, black coffee, mole negro, cherry cola, stout beer, grilled lamb, tamarind candy, aged rum, cacao nibs
Manufacturer: Foundation Cigar Company; produced at Tabacalera Fernandez (AJ Fernandez), Estelí, Nicaragua
Privada Storytelling
Before the rebrand. Before the box redesign. Before the name became a shorthand for prestige. There was this. The Wise Man Maduro, in its original form, was Nick Melillo’s thunderclap—a San Andrés-wrapped powerhouse that whispered its wisdom in a dark, ancient tongue. Rooted in myth and drenched in volcanic Nicaraguan terroir, this blend told a story that was more temple than lounge, more tobacco sermon than cigar session. And then, quietly, it was gone. Discontinued but not forgotten, it survives in humidors like sacred text. Privada exists to preserve those moments.
Flavor Journey
The cold draw hints at cherry wood and dark chocolate. Upon ignition, waves of espresso, earth, and black pepper lead the charge. Midway, it opens to chili-laced cocoa, sweet leather, and touches of clove and oak char. A dried fruit layer hums beneath, occasionally flashing with cherry cola brightness. As it burns into the final third, brown sugar melds with umami and lingering spice, closing in a meditative haze of cocoa, char, and subtle minerality. Full-flavored, never flat, always reverent.
Why It Belongs in Privada
Because the original Wise Man Maduro is a relic of Nick Melillo’s early legacy—one of the blends that built his name in post-Drew Estate independence. Discontinued to make room for new chapters, its disappearance only amplified its cult status. This is the blend that helped write the modern boutique playbook. For Privada, it’s a cigar that doesn't just deserve preservation—it demands it. Because some wisdom, once spoken, should never be silenced.