Mission Zero
Cigars that have been named after long-defunct empires have a certain appeal to them, and nobody seems to do it better than Foundation Cigar Co. But whereas the mighty Olmec maduro pays tribute to the OG cigar smokers of Mesoamerica, the Aksum Claro from the boutique blender takes us straight over to Ethiopia.
While there isn't any Ethiopian tobacco inside this firmly pressed cigar, which is a shame come to think of it, there is some seriously deep history here. This cigar, as well as its maduro counterpart, is named after the Aksumite Empire, which once ruled the North African country and is rumored to be where the Arch of the Covenant was stowed in secret countless moons ago. Regardless of whether you believe in this Biblical hypothesis or not, you've got to give it to Foundation for getting creative with its cigar naming process.
Now, as for the stogie under the spotlight at the moment, we're dealing with an AJ Fernandez production here, and one that is borderline trunk-pressed in form, with a bulbous pigtail cigar cap on one end. Wrapper-wise, you're looking at a Sumatran Claro leaf from Ecuador, which is incredibly fragile, and may look strikingly lighter or darker depending upon the type of light it is under. Under that comes a Connecticut Broadleaf binder from the jolly ol' U.S. of A., and then all Nicaraguan long-filler leaves, presumably from AJF's farms.
Together, in robusto construction format, these choice tobacco leaves landed the Aksum Claro in Cigar Aficionado's "Top 25 Cigars of the Year" in 2024, with a #12 position and 93 points allotted to its name. But that's not the primary reason why we brought this blend into the Klaro collection. That was done purely out of selfish reasons, and no, we aren't a bit sorry about this decision. We absolutely adore some tasty Sumatran smoke, and finding a blend that uses a claro varietal that is this light in color, and then pairs it with a Connecticut Broadleaf binder is practically unheard of in the cigar game.
$90.29
Unlit Impressions
If you were to judge this blend's wrapper just on touch and look alone, you might think it were a Connecticut Shade cigar of some sort, for that's how light and soft that wood-colored outer leaf is in nature. So much so that each cigar I smoked had some form of damage along the barrel from transportation an/or storage. Thankfully, these scuffs and cracks were not structure-related, even though they were large enough to warrant a warning to those seeking to sample this blend.
Scents are also quite delicate, with gentle spices, nutty nougat, and a large slice of gingerbread being the main aromatics. Even more gingerbread can be found around the foot, which contains a sizable amount of sweet cedar, milky chai, and cream-of-wheat. There's also a smidgeon of fermented sourness here that is almost kombucha tea in nature, with a slightly spicy smell sitting inside.
Flavors from a cold draw are primarily vintage in character, with a combination of stale potpourri, light lavender, lemon zest, and yogurt being my top takeaways. Although the blend tastes a lot spicier than it smells, there is no underlying chai tea note, so you're left with what seems to be an incomplete series of tastes and smells. There isn't anything wrong with what's being tasted; it just seems like something is missing.
Physically, though, this sharply-pressed robusto is all A-grade all the way, with a great build showing zero sign of construction miscue. That wrapper really stands out beneath the colorful confines of that bright band, which looks equal parts artsy and solemn at the same time.
Tobacco Nerd Note: In case you were wondering who that serious-looking fella on that stylish cigar band was, that is an artistic reinvisioning of a photograph of Ras Makonnen. Not only was Makonnen a mighty general, but he was also a diplomat and the governor of the Aksumite Kingdom in modern-day Ethiopia. His son, Haile Selassie, would later become the last emperor of Ethiopia and was responsible for abolishing slavery, among many other things, thus earning him the devotion of the Rastafari, who call him "Jah," or God incarnate.
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Initial Smoke
Nutty and spicy, with a taste and texture that are equal parts dry and sweet, the smoke that hits the palate and nose within the first ten minutes is fuller in flavor than expected. Brown sugar and cinnamon, melted tabs of salted butter, and large amounts of Sumatran spice are the main tastes found on the tongue, with an earthy Broadleaf backing and plenty of tannins turning both retrohales and the finish into a secondary level of complexity. Draw flow is good, body is medium-minus, and strength is low, at least for now.
1st Half
Loamy and grounded down below, but creamy and toasty up top, the two sides of this cigar continue to divide the senses between Broadleaf and Sumatran tobacco strains. Although the walnut and almond nougat flavor is getting bigger, there's a decent amount of leather to be detected on the palate and nose. Exotic spices slowly grow spicier here, adding a sharp little zip of accentuation to the intricate floral scents found primarily in each exhale and finish.
Body soon hits medium, which would normally be notable, but in this case it is just a blip on the radar thanks to all of those floral aromatics converging upon the senses. Spicier and sweeter, with a soothing herbal secondary note, these cigar flavor profiles are better than one might expect, providing a clear path forward for the palate to follow. By now, the smoke is almost entirely Sumatran in nature, with the Broadleaf binder propping the blend up with just enough earth and dark fermentation to keep the cigar from growing too spicy or one-sided.
2nd Half
Somewhere, midway through the second third, comes what I consider to be the epitome of Sumatran cigar smoking satisfaction. All of the herbal notes roll together with the floral aromas and strong tannin tastes to form this mesmerizing medley of roasted rooibos ginger tea and sweet cream. As the cigar grows fuller in body and oilier in smoke texture, I sit back and smile. Now this is a really good second third...
Although there isn't much to report for the next twenty minutes or so, another entry does arrive eventually, and it is the scent of cork. Think freshly popped bottles of bubbly mixed with some heavily aged red wine cork notes. This tannin-strong smell and taste soon find themselves serving as a counter to the increasingly potent notes of ginger, tea, roasted tree nuts, and sweet whipped cream. Thanks to the oily nature of the smoke, body grows a bit heavier here, without getting all the way into full territory, all while the spicier nuances within the cigar sharpen up a touch.
Parting Puffs
Smokier in a charred hardwood sense of the word, and most certainly funkier and leather-heavy, closing this blend out may take some people by surprise, for it turns the whole blend upside down. Spicier and sweeter, but also darker, soil-strong and cinnamon-focused, this last section is the moment when the whole cigar goes medium-full, and I am not entirely sure if I like it or not. Part of me enjoyed the intense, medium-full frenzy, but it also felt a touch jumbled and out-of-step with the rest of the experience. At least it wasn't bitter or sharp, so I will rack this one up as a win for now.
Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw
A rapid burn rate may seem like the main cause for concern at first, but once you realize that the cigar is prone to tunneling and going out for no apparent reason, you realize that there are bigger problems to worry yourself with. Ash bloom and flaking also became an issue once I got past the first third line on both sticks, with my sample cigar only faring slightly better in its burn quality.
However, smoke creation, as well as flow rates and textures, were all top tier, with the satiny feel of the stuff being one of the best parts of the blend. And even though the cigar does combust at an alarmingly fast rate, I didn't detect too much in the way of heat transfer along the way. While this area of consideration is both a tad good and bad, I am thankful that touch-ups and relights did not seem to influence flavor or aroma.
Final Thoughts
If I were to remove the burn issues encountered with this cigar from the equation, we would be left with a near-flawless review. Even though there are some lulls in the action earlier on, and conflicting flavors later down the line, the entire experience is about as close to perfect as it gets as far as flavor and aroma are concerned. Hell, smoke texture too is absolutely outstanding, adding a whole other level of pleasure to an already excellent smoking situation.
That combination of wine cork and wood tannins was also a pleasant surprise, and it made the entire rooibos tea and ginger mixture feel that much more complete. So yes, there's a whole lot to love here, especially if you are a fan of this sort of cigar wrapper and are wanting a lighter spin on the oily, darker Indonesian stuff.
Here is where I normally would reiterate some sort of warning about the persistent burn problems, or the overly sensitive nature of the wrapper. But instead I am going to close this one out on a high note, because I believe that's what this cigar deserves. Even though it stumbles along the way, it always gets right back up and right back to where it left off, with a cigar flavor profile and a set of aromatics that are Aksumite-certified for authenticity and creativity.
Stogie Specs
| Cigar | Foundation Cigar Co. "Aksum Claro" |
| Wrapper | Sumatran Claro (Ecuador) |
| Binder | Connecticut Broadleaf (USA) |
| Filler | Nicaragua |
| Factory | Nicaragua |
| Size | 5″ x 50 (Box-Pressed Robusto) |
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Pairing Drink | Sweet Orange & Pomegranate Iced Tea |
| Rating | 4.4/5 |
- Wrapper
- Sumatran-Seed Claro (Ecuador)
- Binder
- Connecticut Broadleaf (USA)
- Filler
- Estelí & Jalapa (Nicaragua)
- Origin
- Nicaragua
The Foundation Aksum Claro Robusto delivers a rich and complex medium-full-bodied experience in a compact 5" × 50 format. It pairs a light, elegant Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed Claro wrapper with a flavorful U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan long-fillers from Estelí and Jalapa. The combination creates a balanced profile featuring notes of cedar, cocoa, earth, spice, leather, and subtle sweetness.
Named after the ancient Aksumite Kingdom of Ethiopia, the cigar reflects Foundation's passion for history and storytelling. Its medium-full strength and layered flavor profile make it an excellent choice for smokers looking for a sophisticated cigar that delivers plenty of character without becoming overwhelmingly heavy. The Robusto format provides a satisfying, concentrated smoking experience while showcasing the blend's creamy, earthy, and spicy nuances.
