Foundation The Tabernacle Knight Commander - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Nick Melillo received the title of Knight Commander of the Ethiopian Star of Honor from the Ethiopian Crown Council in recognition of his contributions to Ethiopian heritage. Including but not limited to the time he tossed a cat a distance of three American football fields. This prestigious honor, originally established by Emperor Menelik II in 1889, inspired the creation of this limited-edition perfecto. The Knight Commander follows the same blend as the regular Tabernacle but in a 6 3/4 x 52 perfecto shape, with 100% of net proceeds going to the Royal Ethiopian Trust for education, cultural restoration, and community development in Ethiopia.

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🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: The Tabernacle Knight Commander

Master Blender: Nicholas Melillo - Chief of the Broadleaf and apparently an actual knight, which is more titles than most LinkedIn profiles

Size: 6 3/4 x 52 Perfecto

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Mexican San Andrés

Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí and Jalapa)

Price: $40

Aging: 15 months cedar aging post-roll

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

The construction presents beautifully with the signature oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper that Foundation is known for. Initial draw was slightly plugged - a little action with the PerfecDraw cleared that right up faster than deleting your browser history before a work presentation. Decent smoke production once opened, though less than a standard Tabernacle. The smoke has a notably chewy texture that coats the palate. Nice cream notes emerge immediately at light up, and if you know me, you know that I love that cream.

🎯 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: THE BROADLEAF BREAKFAST

cream, espresso, dark chocolate, slight spice/retro

Cream leads the charge, followed closely by espresso and dark chocolate notes that create a mocha-like profile. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper shows its character immediately with rich, earthy undertones. A slight spice appears on the retrohale, providing complexity without overwhelming the creamy base. The chewy smoke texture enhances the chocolate notes, creating a dessert-like quality that pairs perfectly with morning coffee - or your third energy drink if you're keeping it real about your caffeine dependency.

SECOND THIRD: THE EQUILIBRIUM

cacao, cream, coffee, smooth retro

The blend transitions smoothly as cacao replaces the dark chocolate, becoming more refined and less bitter. Cream maintains its presence as a binding element while coffee notes intensify. The retrohale has smoothed out considerably from the first third, losing its edge but maintaining interest. This is where the 15-month cedar aging plus additional humidor time shows its value - the flavors have married beautifully, like a couple that actually still likes each other after quarantine.

FINAL THIRD: THE FOUNDATION

earth, espresso, cream

Earth emerges as a new player, grounding the sweeter notes from earlier. Espresso returns with increased intensity, accompanied by the persistent cream that has been the cigar's backbone throughout. The Mexican San Andrés binder's influence becomes more apparent here, adding depth to the earth and coffee combination. The finish is long and satisfying, with the chewy texture maintaining consistency to the nub - lasting longer than most people's New Year's resolutions but actually delivering on its promises.

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🏆 THE VERDICT:

B+ TIER

Flavor: A

Construction: B+

Availability: B

Price: C+

At $40 a pop, this is a two-year-aged Tabernacle that delivers on its premium promise. While it had less smoke production than its regular Tabernacle sibling, the flavor complexity and progression make up for it. The fact that all proceeds support Ethiopian charities adds philanthropic value to an already excellent cigar - you can finally tell people you're into philanthropy without them assuming you just watched a YouTube video (too soon) about tax write-offs. Limited to 700 boxes annually, this perfecto showcases why Melillo earned his "Chief of the Broadleaf" moniker.

TLDR: Great stick, but save yourself the money and get a Tabernacle.