PCA Magazine Winter 2020

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG WINTER 2020 | PCA The Magazine 35 C Nicholas Melillo of Foundation Cigars Over the past five years, FoundationCigar Company has experienced monumental growth.With a relentless commitment to producing exceptional cigars thatmeet the highest standards of quality, consistency, balance and flavor, Foundation is building a brand that retailers and consumers can rely on. In January, I sat down with NicholasMelillo , the mastermind behind the brand, to learnmore about the growing brand that is emerging as leader in the premiumcigar industry. Can you share a bit about your background in the industry? I started in the hand-made cigar business inAugust 1996, at the height of the cigar boom. Every Friday, my brother and I would go to theCalabash Shoppe inHamden, Connecticut—a full-fledged tobacconist with the largest briar pipe collection in the state. And every Friday therewere lines out the humidor. One day, I went up to the register and said “if you need any help….” Oneweek later, they hiredme, and that same year, just after the 1996RTDATrade Show, they putme in charge of their humidor. The shop owners, MaryRusso andCarol Velardi, becamemy secondmothers. They sawmy passion for cigars and hiredme to run their humidor just as I was startingmy first year at university, studying international business.When I wasn’t in class, I was in the shop. This was the cornerstone ofmy career in the industry. Those days are some ofmy fondestmemories inmy life and very muchmademewho I amtoday. I graduated fromcollege in 2000 andmoved toRome towork for the Vatican, helping pilgrims fromaround theworld for the Gran Jubileo. I did that for some time and then backpacked aroundEurope, touringwithZiggyMarley and theMelody Makers. In 2002, I traveled around theworld to Italy, Spain, France, India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China and Japan, before returning home to theU.S. InMarch 2003, I set out again, this time toNicaragua, whichwould becomemy second home. Over the next 11-plus years, I learned how to roll, blend, ferment, develop quality control systems and helped build one of the largest factories inNicaragua—and I had a lot of help froma lot of amazing people along theway.