Highclere Castle Senetjer by Foundation Cigar Co. - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Nick Melillo is too smart to be a cigar blender but not smart enough to know that. Lucky for us! The man ran production at Drew Estate, studied biblical archaeology, operates Foundation's headquarters on a 50-acre Connecticut tobacco field, and somehow convinced the Earl of Carnarvon - yes, the Downton Abbey castle guy - to let him create cigars commemorating his great-grandfather's discovery of King Tut's tomb. This is the kind of resume that either lands you a TED talk or a restraining order, and Melillo chose cigars instead. The Senetjer (ancient Egyptian for "incense" or "of the gods") launched in 2022 for the 100th anniversary of Howard Carter cracking open Tutankhamun's final resting place, and the result is so good it makes you wonder what other archaeological events deserve tobacco tributes. Pompeii blend when?

Cracked Wrapper came that way in a box.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Highclere Castle Senetjer

Master Blender: Nick Melillo - A biblical scholar turned cigar maker who left Drew Estate to start his own company on a Connecticut tobacco farm, which is either the American Dream or an extremely elaborate midlife crisis with excellent smoke output

Size: 6 3/4" x 52 (Perfecto)

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.

Wrapper: 7th Priming Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina

Filler: Undisclosed (Aged 3 Years)

Price: $33.00 MSRP

Strength: Medium to Medium-Full

Production: Limited - approximately 500-700 boxes annually (November release)

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Perfect - worth writing hieroglyphics about

Burn: Straight as a pharaoh's sarcophagus

Smoke Output: Clouds thick enough to communicate with the afterlife

Ash: Very white, compact, holds like it's protecting ancient treasure

The 7th priming Ecuadorian Habano wrapper - that's the top of the plant where the sun does its most aggressive work - presents in a gorgeous reddish-brown Colorado shade with subtle oil. Construction is flawless because AJ Fernandez rolls these, and that man treats quality control like a religious experience. Except for the fact this one came cracked.. All the other's in the box were immaculate. The perfecto shape tapers elegantly at both ends, requiring patience through the nipple foot before rewarding you with proper draw. The packaging deserves mention: the box is a literal replica of storage containers found in King Tut's tomb, complete with Highclere Castle translated into hieroglyphics. It's the kind of attention to detail that makes you feel guilty just throwing away the cellophane.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: The Excavation Begins

cedar, dark chocolate, citrus, earth

Cedar leads the charge with dark chocolate riding shotgun, delivering immediate complexity that announces this isn't your average Tuesday smoke. Citrus weaves through the profile - not aggressive, more like orange peel contemplating its existence - while earth provides the foundation that reminds you this is Nicaraguan tobacco doing what Nicaraguan tobacco does best. The 7th priming wrapper contributes genuine depth rather than just marketing copy about sun exposure. The Brazilian Mata Fina binder adds sweetness that balances the earthier notes without becoming cloying. This is Nick Melillo firing on all cylinders, blending components that have no business working together into something that absolutely works.

SECOND THIRD: The Tomb Opens

sweet tobacco, dried fruit, cedar

Sweet tobacco emerges as the dominant force, transforming the profile into something almost dessert-adjacent without losing its savory backbone. Dried fruit - think raisins and figs rather than artificial grape - creates layers that unfold with each draw. Cedar remains the through-line, providing structure while the sweeter notes dance around it like archaeologists celebrating a discovery. The smoke thickens, the retrohale smooths out, and suddenly you understand why Melillo charges $33 for this and why people pay it gladly. The three-year-aged filler is doing invisible work here, contributing complexity that you feel rather than identify - the tobacco equivalent of expensive foundation garments.

FINAL THIRD: The Pharaoh's Reward

coffee, sweet tobacco, earth

Coffee joins the party, integrating with the persistent sweet tobacco notes for a closing act that delivers genuine satisfaction rather than just endurance. Earth returns to remind you where this journey started while the sweet tobacco maintains its presence through the nub. There's no harshness, no bitterness, no reason to put this down early - just a perfecto doing perfecto things all the way to a cool, soft finish. The profile maintains complexity without introducing chaos, proving that Melillo understands when to let excellent tobacco speak for itself. This is what an S-tier cigar tastes like: rewarding at every stage, memorable at the close, and leaving you genuinely sad it's over.

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🏆 THE VERDICT:

S- TIER

Flavor: S-

Construction: A+

Availability: D

Price: A-

Final Rating: S- TIER

Is this the first S Tier of the blog? Maybe. The Senetjer earns its "of the gods" translation through execution rather than hype - a genuinely exceptional cigar that justifies its premium positioning and limited availability.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

The Foundation Highclere Castle Senetjer proves that Nick Melillo's obsession with ancient history and premium tobacco creates cigars worth hunting for. The 7th priming Ecuadorian wrapper over Brazilian Mata Fina binder and three-year-aged fillers produces complexity that evolves beautifully across two hours of smoking. At $33 MSRP, it's premium pricing that delivers premium experience - you're paying for genuine quality rather than allocation theater. The D availability rating reflects reality: only 500-700 boxes drop each November, and they disappear faster than artifacts into a museum basement. If you see one, buy it. If you see a box, buy it and hide it from your cigar friends.

TLDR: Buy it. Smoke it. Thank me later.

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Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Sucesor LE 2024 Toro by My Father Cigars - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

If you judge a cigar by its first inch then this one ain't for you. My Father always told me the first inch was enough to… nevermind. The Sucesor (Spanish for "successor") is the 2024 limited edition follow-up to the original Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial that debuted back in 2009 at a NYC event where it was so well-received they decided to actually give it a name and keep making it. Fifteen years later, Jaime Garcia and his legendary father Don Pepin Garcia have released this "limited edition" that somehow ended up on every retailer's shelf faster than your buddy's crypto advice. The cigar was announced via a Facebook post with all the fanfare of a dental appointment reminder, which is either refreshingly humble or a sign that even My Father knows this one needs time to open up.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Sucesor LE 2024 Toro

Master Blender: Jaime Garcia & Jose "Don Pepin" Garcia

Size: 6" x 56 (Toro, Box-Pressed)

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sumatra-seed (Colorado)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Price: ~$14.00 MSRP

Strength: Medium

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Slightly too loose

Burn: Reasonably straight

Smoke Output: Respectable

Ash: Holds decently

The Nicaraguan Sumatra-seed wrapper presents in a red-hued Colorado shade that looks prettier than it smokes in the opening act. Construction is competent - this is a My Father operation after all, where quality control is tighter than your pants after Thanksgiving. The box-pressed format gives it that satisfying rectangular feel in hand, like holding a tiny tobacco briefcase full of disappointment that eventually becomes mild satisfaction. Two bands adorn this stick: the standard Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial band plus a secondary gold "Sucesor" identifier, because one band would be too subtle for a limited edition.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: The Barnyard Awakening

manure, charred wood, earth, leather

Let's address the elephant in the room - or rather, the horse in the stable. The opening delivers manure, charred wood, earth, and leather. Yes, manure. That barnyard funk hits the palate like walking into a petting zoo you didn't sign up for. The charred wood tries to class things up while earth and leather play supporting roles to the agricultural main event. This is the cigar equivalent of a first date who shows up 20 minutes late and immediately starts talking about their ex. The Sumatra-seed wrapper that one reviewer said the industry needs to "get away from" is doing exactly nothing to help the cause here. Push through or put it down - your call.

SECOND THIRD: The Redemption Arc

earth, vanilla, espresso, charred oak

And here's where the Sucesor starts earning its name. Earth remains the foundation but vanilla emerges like a peace offering after the barnyard assault. Espresso notes develop alongside charred oak, creating actual complexity rather than just confusion. The profile smooths considerably, transforming from "what did I pay for" to "okay, I see what you're doing." This is the middle chapter where the protagonist finally gets their act together - took long enough but we're here now. The medium body settles into a comfortable groove that suggests Jaime and Pepin know what they're doing when the tobacco cooperates.

FINAL THIRD: The Predictable Conclusion

earth, roasted coffee, charred wood, leather

Earth continues its through-line dominance while roasted coffee steps in to replace the vanilla sweetness. Charred wood returns alongside leather for a closing act that's perfectly adequate if entirely unsurprising. The profile has stabilized into something drinkable but not memorable - like ordering the house red at a steakhouse because you forgot to look at the wine list. No harshness, no fireworks, just a cigar doing cigar things until the nub. The Sucesor finishes exactly where you'd expect from a stick that spent its first third making you question your purchase.

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🏆 THE VERDICT:

C+ TIER

Flavor: C+

Construction: B

Availability: A

Price: B-

Final Rating: C+ TIER

The Sucesor proves that limited edition doesn't always mean elevated experience - it survives its rough opening to deliver a passable middle and forgettable finish.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Sucesor LE 2024 Toro is a tale of patience rewarded with mediocrity. That first third barnyard funk is a genuine deterrent that will send casual smokers running for the hills, while the second third redemption arc doesn't quite reach the heights needed to justify the journey. At $14, you're paying My Father prices for a cigar that performs like it's still figuring out what it wants to be when it grows up. The A availability rating means you won't struggle to find these, which tracks - limited editions that sit on shelves usually have a reason. Grab the Torpedo with its Habano wrapper instead, or just buy regular Jaime Garcia and skip the 2024 experiment entirely.

TLDR: A limited edition that opens like a livestock auction, recovers into competence, and finishes without distinction - proof that succession planning doesn't always produce heirs worth celebrating.

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Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960's Work of Art - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

One in the pink two in the.. wait where was I? Oh right, reviewing Fuente's charitable perfecto that supports breast cancer research while simultaneously being harder to find than a parking spot at Costco on a Saturday. The Rare Pink line launched in 2020 when Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. decided to honor his daughter Liana's passion for breast cancer awareness after losing both her grandmother and aunt to the disease. Originally proceeds went to the American Cancer Society until they decided Fuente's tobacco money was too dirty, so now it goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The hypocrisy of a cancer charity rejecting donations from a tobacco company while presumably accepting money from pharmaceutical companies that market opioids is a philosophical rabbit hole we don't have time for today. What we do have time for is this gorgeous little figurado that costs more per inch than a Manhattan studio apartment.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Rare Pink Vintage 1960's Work of Art

Master Blender: Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr.

Size: 4 7/8" x 46/60 (Perfecto)

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano (from Oliva's La Mecca farm)

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Nicaraguan (Fuente's Estelí farms) & Dominican Republic

Price: $10.35 - $11.30 MSRP (if you can find it)

Strength: Medium

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Perfect with just enough resistance

Burn: Razor straight

Smoke Output: Billowing clouds worthy of a papal announcement

Ash: Firm with a salt and pepper complexion

The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper presents in a gorgeous colorado shade - milk chocolate brown with hints of crimson that catch light like a mahogany desk in a corner office you'll never afford. Construction is flawless. The perfecto shape tapers at both ends, a Hemingway-line signature that makes lighting feel like a ceremonial occasion. The double band setup - pink accents on gold and cream - takes up roughly 75% of this small cigar's real estate, which is aggressive branding energy but forgivable given the charitable cause.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST HALF: The Charitable Opening

The perfecto foot burns through its taper delivering earth and undergrowth right out of the gate, with a peppery undercurrent and roasted coffee notes that develop as the ring gauge expands. Natural tobacco sweetness emerges alongside cedar on the retrohale, while white pepper dances across the palate. There's cream, oak, and cocoa creating a foundation of complexity that justifies the Fuente premium - notes of citrus and nuts weave through like unexpected guests who actually improve the party. The strength sits comfortably at medium, letting the flavors speak without shouting. This is old-school Fuente craftsmanship channeled through the Hemingway perfecto tradition, and it delivers exactly what the pedigree promises.

SECOND HALF: The Accelerated Finale

As the cigar tapers toward the head, it appears to burn faster - this is physics, not a flaw. Earth and natural tobacco take command while pepper notes intensify into legitimate spice territory. Cedar increases in presence with a slight woody bite, while touches of citrus, nuts, and coffee continue playing supporting roles. The profile shifts from the brighter opening into darker, earthier territory with leather emerging in the background. Some vegetal notes appear alongside the intensifying pepper, and the finish stretches long with that characteristic Fuente complexity. The body holds at medium throughout, never punishing but demanding attention - a diplomatic cigar that knows when to assert itself.

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🏆 THE VERDICT:

A- TIER

Flavor: A-

Construction: A

Availability: D

Price: C+

Final Rating: A- TIER

The Work of Art delivers genuine complexity and impeccable construction, earning its lofty name through execution rather than just marketing.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

The Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Work of Art proves that Carlito Fuente can create a charitable cigar without sacrificing quality at the altar of feel-good marketing. The Ecuadorian wrapper over Fuente's estate-grown tobaccos produces layered complexity that rewards attention, and the perfecto format - while brief - packs legitimate flavor into every draw. The D availability rating is the real tragedy here; finding these requires either knowing a guy or refreshing Neptune Cigar's website like it's a Supreme drop. At $10-11 MSRP (when you can find them at retail), the price-per-minute ratio stings, but you're partially funding cancer research so the guilt is built into the value proposition.

TLDR: Fuente's charitable perfecto delivers old-school complexity and flawless construction - if only finding one didn't require a treasure map and a bribe.