Today we are confronting a cigar named after the biblical character Goliath, a man described as a philistine giant. This towering 5-inch by 58-ring smoke is the creation of Foundation Cigars and draws inspiration from the famous parable found in the Old Testament where the underdog David slays Goliath.
Produced at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, the Foundation Tabernacle Goliath comes in a zeppelin perfecto shape and is dressed in a glorious dark espresso brown Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The classic and distinctive perfecto shape is traditionally associated with Connecticut-wrapped cigars. Here, it’s also intended to complement the blend of aged Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers.
Its smaller counterpart (Foundation The Tabernacle David) comes in a 5 x 54 format but features an identical blend profile, wrapper, and Mexican San Andres binder. Foundation owner, Nick Melillo, says these two sizes “deliver depth, complexity, body, and flavor.”
Of course, there’s only one way to determine if this is the case. Without further ado, here’s our official review of the Foundation Tabernacle Goliath.
Brand Overview
Established in 2015, Melillo’s company has laid strong foundations relatively quickly. It should be no surprise given the master blender and self-proclaimed “chief of broadleaf” was previously executive vice-president of international operations for Drew Estate Tobacco Company.
Foundation cigars are loved for their superior flavor and high-quality construction, with Melillo demonstrating his expertise of the earthy, rich, and subtly sweet Connecticut Broadleaf in the Foundation Tabernacle line. Named after Tabernacle, meaning “house of worship”, these premium smokes are designed to result in a wholesome spiritual experience.
Before I ensue with the cold draw, it would be prudent of me to mention the stunning band art equivalent to the brand. The Foundation Tabernacle Goliath is no exception, with its top band depicting an Ethiopian-style rendition of David about to topple the seemingly invincible beast.
Cigar specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium-Full
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
- Binder: Mexican San Andres
- Filler: Honduran/Nicaraguan
- Sizes Available: Foundation The Tabernacle Goliath (5 x 58)
Cold draw
The Goliath looks sensational, and its aroma is equally alluring. The veiny and oily wrapper gave off rich earth, anise, and lightly damp wood, while the foot kicked out a faint berry sweetness. Before toasting this titan, I had a pre-light taste of the cigar to see if it would indicate the flavor profile to follow.
The dry draw oozed complexity, with notes of strong barnyard, tea, hay, and black cherries preparing me for battle with this medium to full-bodied stogie.
First Third
Once I’d fired Goliath up, I noticed that many of the leading elements prominent in the original Tabernacle Broadleaf came through. Strong hits of dark chocolate, espresso, red pepper, and leather broke out among the billowing smoke, but the underlying anise took me by surprise.
It gave a licorice sweetness to the powerful and peppery opening, with the retrohale giving a fresh red pepper blast that stayed sharp on the nose for a fair amount of time.
Second Third
The second third exhibited some transitioning as the initial thickness of the smoke withered, and the sweet anise became less pronounced. The profile became noticeably sweeter, which helped balance out those rich flurries of coffee and dark chocolate.
At a quarter inch in, some gritty earthiness developed, balanced out by mellow nuances of cream and cedar, while the leather re-emerged in a much lighter form.
There was still a potent black pepper hit on the retrohale, but even that had a hint of vanilla sweetness which coated my palate between puffs.
Final Third
This torpedo-tipped cigar continued to deliver a perfect draw with just the right amount of resistance as I entered the final phase of burning down Goliath.
The flavor profile intensified as the smoke progressed, with earth, dark roast coffee, and charred wood taking their seat at the table. Some herbal and salty touches (generic nuts and hay) also provided a delightful addition and complexity to the crescendo.
The cigar moved into the full-bodied territory at this stage, with the pepper spice at its most compelling through the nose. It remained well-balanced thanks to some deep cocoa sweetness.
Conclusion
The Foundation Tabernacle Goliath lives up to its name with a gigantic flavor profile that keeps the palate engaged throughout the entire smoking experience. It delivered the rich Connecticut Broadleaf flavors I expected (and desired), but its revelation was in the subtle sweetness that added complexity and enjoyment to my hour-and-a-half smoking time.
Presented in 25-count boxes, this is the only battle with Goliath you’ll relish.
