TheFoundation Charter Oak Connecticut Broadleaf Petite Corona brings together two Connecticut traditions in one decidedly old-school cigar. The Charter Oak was the great Hartford tree in which Connecticut's Royal Charter was said to have been hidden in 1687 when colonial authorities resisted an attempt by the Crown to confiscate it. It became a lasting symbol of Connecticut independence. For Foundation founder and Connecticut nativeNicholas Melillo, the name also provides a natural connection to the Connecticut River Valley and the tobacco culture that surrounded him growing up.
The5¼" x 42 Petite Corona is wrapped in genuineConnecticut Broadleaf, the thick, dark and famously flavorful tobacco that represents the other side of Connecticut's cigar heritage from delicate Shade leaf. Beneath it are a Nicaraguan Habano binder and Nicaraguan fillers. In this slender format, the wrapper-to-filler ratio becomes particularly important. Broadleaf moves decisively forward, bringing cocoa, dark earth, wood and natural sweetness, while the Nicaraguan interior contributes pepper, spice and enough strength to keep the cigar firmly structured. The narrower ring also gives the flavors greater definition, rather than the broader, heavier presentation found in the Toro.
For an experienced Broadleaf smoker, thePetite Corona may be the most interesting size of the three. Connecticut Broadleaf is expensive, distinctive tobacco, and a 42-ring cigar gives you proportionally more of what makes it special. The result is concentrated without being overpowering, rustic without being crude, and rich without needing an oversized ring gauge to deliver flavor. It's a traditional cigar format wrapped in traditional American tobacco and named for a piece of Connecticut history—a combination that makes Charter Oak feel considerably more authentic than its everyday price might suggest.
