The Foundation Aksum Claro delivers a refined medium to full-bodied smoking experience featuring an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper that provides a light-medium tawny shade with creamy sweetness and clarity. The blend offers notes of sweetness, spice, and earth underscored by rich creaminess, with documented tasting notes including toasted almond, warm cedar, light cocoa, coffee bean, cinnamon sweetness, leather, and touches of dark chocolate and dried fruit. This cigar has received exceptional recognition, earning a 93-point rating from Cigar Aficionado and ranking as the #12 Cigar of the Year in 2024. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Aksumite Kingdom in present-day Ethiopia, this cigar embodies Foundation Cigars' commitment to heritage and exceptional craftsmanship. The blend features a Connecticut Broadleaf binder paired with Nicaraguan long-fillers from the prized tobacco-growing regions of Estelí and Jalapa. Handcrafted at AJ Fernandez's prestigious factory in Nicaragua, the Aksum Claro represents the first time Foundation Cigars has developed a blend using Ecuadorian Sumatra tobacco, showcasing innovation within their traditional approach. The cigar strikes a perfect balance between strength and finesse, appealing to a wide range of cigar enthusiasts from those seeking relaxation to collectors celebrating special occasions. The Aksum line pays homage to the legendary resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, with packaging featuring an image of Ras Makonnen, regarded as one of Ethiopia's greatest leaders.