Episode
A Decade of Foundation Cigars with Nick Melillo
- Published
- Feb 21, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 6221
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://share.transistor.fm/s/460f100a
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Summary
It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since Nick Melillo launched Foundation Cigars with El Güegüense (“The Wise Man”), a cigar that helped establish the brand’s identity from day one. Since then, Nick—also known as the “Chief of the Broadleaf” and “Nick R. Agua”—has continued building a portfolio that includes standout releases like Olmec and the 10 Year Anniversario, both earning strong placements on our year-end lists. While Nick has appeared on Smoke Night LIVE in the past, it’s been a few years since his last visit. This episode gives the Dojo crew a chance to reconnect, talk about the evolution of Foundation Cigars, and find out what’s next for one of the most respected voices in the industry.