Lord Carnarvon, Adam Von Gootkin and Nicholas Melillo (Foundation Cigar Company) are men with great historical insight, pinpoint attention to detail and veritably vast vision, and it is with these qualities that they embarked on their mission to follow the Highclere Castle Edwardian. Their goal was incredibly
simple yet seemingly impossible – using records meticulously kept at Highclere Castle, they would recreate the kind of cigar that was smoked at Highclere Castle during the 19th century, the very first Cuban cigars smoked in Great Britain, the very kind of cigar that was smoked in celebration by the 4th Earl following the very founding of Canada, the very kind of cigar that was smoked by a young Edward VII on his numerous social and political visits to Highclere Castle, the very kind of cigar that was smoked in those hallowed walls by royalty, aristocracy, politicians, artists and musicians, all at their very peak during the Victorian era.

The Highclere Castle Victorian is the successful fruit of this noble endeavour. Rated 93 by Cigar Afficionado and reaching their top 25 of 2020, the Highclere Castle Victorian is a distinctly unusual, delicately balanced, and notably refined smoke. Boasting the very finest upper priming Ecuadorian Habano wrapper that is simply brimming with oil and beautifully presented in a rosado colorado shade, rare and meticulously selected Mata Fina binder, and fillers of astounding corojo and
criollo from Nicaragua’s Estelli, Jalapa and Ometepe. Yes, this is yet another astounding and groundbreaking blend from Nick Melillo of Foundation Cigar Company, made to the exacting nature of Highclere Castle Cigar.

These exceptionally unusual and perfectly balanced tobaccos create a phenomenal flavour profile, one which many strive for, yet few achieve. Whilst being as a mild to medium bodied cigar, the Highclere Castle Victorian is incredibly full in flavour, with great development. Distinguished espresso, oak, caramel, maple and black pepper all meld in to a viscous and creamy feel on the palate, changing distinctly with each third and developing to a gloriously mineral rich finish. The Highclere Castle Victorian is a true expression of the beautiful nature of cigars in the 19th century, a cigar straight from an era when cigars changed the world, encounter by encounter.

A balanced yet peppery first half of an inch develops quickly into a characteristically creamy, oaky base. Notes of nougat, caramel and espresso are expressed throughout the cigar’s development, with a gentle yet distinct maple woodiness increasing alongside body.