It was a lifelong ambition for Connecticut native Nicholas Melillo to open an office on a tobacco field, even if it didn’t make the most economic or logistical sense. The dream was put on hold when he spent more than a decade working behind the scenes for Drew Estate, gaining experience and learning the ins and outs of tobacco, but he never lost sight of his long-term goal. Melillo finally went off on his own and today, his Foundation Cigar Co. is headquartered on a tobacco farm in Ellington, Connecticut, in the Connecticut River Valley.
Born in New Haven, the 45-year-old Melillo naturally has an affinity for Connecticut tobacco, and while his cigars are made in Nicaragua, he’s very close to the broadleaf and Habano-seed tobacco found in many of his…
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Cigar Aficionado (Digital) - 1 Issue, September/October 2023