Originally branded as Metapa, Foundation Cigar Co. changed the name to Aksum last year. The cigar band features a portrait of Ras Makonnen, a 19th-century governor of the region now known as Ethiopia. This rebranding continues Foundation’s biblical theme seen in the Tabernacle and David and Goliath series, as Aksum is believed to be the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: Robusto 5 x 50

The Aksum Claro Robusto is a soft box-pressed cigar with a lighter medium brown wrapper that is smooth and silky with a slight sheen. The draw is perfect, offering notes of hay, cream, and cashews.

Upon lighting, the cigar reveals flavors of leather, cream, and a tingle of spice. The retrohale is woody with black pepper, and the finish is creamy and nutty with hints of leather, hay, and citrus. The burn is excellent, producing a firm white ash that naturally falls off after about an inch.

As the cigar progresses, the flavors deepen, with the nutty notes taking on a slightly smoky profile. The creaminess fades, and the leather notes become more pronounced, joined by flavors of wood. The hints of citrus evolve into a more prominent orange zest, though still in the background. The retrohale becomes noticeably more peppery.

In the back half, the wood notes move to the forefront along with a noticeable earthiness, while the leather and nuts fade back. The retrohale is less peppery and has more pronounced leather notes. A caramel note emerges on the finish, accompanied by strong notes of leather and wood.

The Aksum Claro Robusto offers a lot of complexity and nuance, making for an engaging and enjoyable experience. It makes a great first cigar of the day and pairs excellently with a morning coffee. It is medium-bodied and medium in strength. The Aksum is not just blowing smoke and is worthy of being in your rotation. It was good enough for me to finish in my pipe, so it is also #PipeWorthy! Highly recommended.