Foundation 'Charter Oak' Grande. CT Broadleaf. 6x60. Excellent construction with well subdued veins and ends. Medium-dark brown wrap with darker shades. Cut and lit well. Straight cut provided an easy draw pre- and post-flame. The wrapped foot roasted well, readying the cigar promptly. 

First third tastes of cedar, almond, faint sweet bread, earthy spice on the exhale. Second third includes fresh leaf, pepper notes, walnut, botanical herbal. Final third has more wood expression, further walnut and pepper but still balanced well. 

Mouthfeel was creamy from midway through the first third, continuing well to the band. Overall taste was mild-plus, round, balanced. Ash was clean, holding two inches with ease. Burn was mostly even, particularly in the second third, with little maintenance on my part. 

This is an excellent cigar at any price point, but stands tall within its value range. It smokes and tastes like an exclusive, expensive cigar. It’s also one of those smokes that has no “put it down” point. It never goes over the cliff with strong bitter pepper. From end to end, it’s rich, creamy, woodsy, spiced, and slightly sweet, developing a balance throughout. 

The combination of Connecticut broadleaf with Nicaraguan fill makes for a medium-to-full bodied smoke with an inviting rich taste that’s bold but not overpowering, a taste that both a long-time connoisseur and a first-timer can agree upon. A superb smoke that made for a nice lunchtime break. Highly recommended.

From the company:

"Foundation Cigar President Nick Melillo announces the completion of his newest brand, Charter Oak, set for release at the 2016 IPCPR Show in Las Vegas. Charter Oak also pays tribute to Melillo’s grandfather, who while earning a modest salary working for the Winchester Repeating Arms factory after WWII, smoked exclusively, broadleaf cigars manufactured by FD Graves on State St, while, no joke, Rick Ardito’s grandfather, a guard at Winchester, also smoked FD Graves biggest selling broadleaf, Muniemakers."

[source: foundationcigarcompany.com]

Joya de Nicaragua 'Red' Short Churchill. 4.75x48. Nice construction with mostly smooth lines, some pronounced veins. Medium brown wrap. Cut and lit well. Medium draw throughout. First half tastes of bright herbal spice under a mild tobacco leaf, slightly sweet, mellow pepper, nice balance of spice and creamy leaf. Second half is continued spice, pepper, toasted wood. 

Burn is mostly even throughout. Ash is clean, white, with some darker spots and stripes, holding an inch before a three-tap drop.

This is a nice, pleasant smoke. The taste starts off with bright herbal notes, progressing to a creamy, somewhat mellow flavor, with peppery aroma and spicy tones across the stick. A great half-hour break anytime. Highly recommended.

From the company:

"A cigar for the modern smoker. It offers a vibrant and extremely pleasant smoking experience you will enjoy anytime, anywhere. Classy as always, but a lot more fun."

[source: joyacigars.com]

"Joya de Nicaragua paints the town red... Many of Joya de Nicaragua's handmades rely on potent ligeros to deliver their feisty bouquet. This time, lower tobacco primings were chosen to impart the same core flavors, but in a much more palatable fashion. Long-fillers from the uber-fertile regions of Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa, were stuffed into a golden hued Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. This recipe yielded a medium-bodied bouquet boasting strong doses of roasted nuts and pepper, as hints of leather, toast, and coffee also enter the fray. In a nutshell, JOYA Red is going to appeal to fans of Joya de Nicaragua, as well as newcomers of all shapes and sizes. Heck, even those still licking their wounds should thoroughly enjoy this one. JOYA Red received a well-deserved '90' rating noting: The lush draw of this cigar delivers a strong black pepper character that settles down to show notes of hickory, brown sugar and earth."
[source: cigarsinternational.com]