Foundation Highclere Castle Senetjer

Often focusing on Biblical and/or ancient cultures with many of his cigars, it's no surprise that Nick Melillo's most recent creation—Highclere Castle Senetjer—ties into ancient Egypt and pharaoh Tutankhamun (aka King Tut). However, being released under the Highclere Castle banner, you may be wondering how ol' Nick aligned a 19th century English castle with a 14th century BC mummy...

Here's where things get interesting. You see, the Highclere Castle Senetjer cigar was crafted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the unearthing of King Tut's tomb. This excavation was led by famed archeologist Howard Carter and funded by George Herbert (the 5th Earl of Carnarvon), who is the great-grandfather of the current 8th Earl of Carnarvon, George Herbert. In other words, Highclere Castle is directly linked to the discovery of King Tut!

Setting out to honor such a significant achievement was no small task. Nick Melillo and the Highclere Castle team worked closely with the Herbert family, crafting unique boxes that resemble one of the artifacts found in Tut's tomb. This includes a hieroglyphic translation of "Highclere Castle" that was inscribed on the box facing. Additionally, <em>Senetjer</em> is the ancient Egyptian word for incense, which directly translates to “of the gods.” The cigars themselves are as ultra-premium as you'd expect, using a high-priming Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a Brazilian Mata Fina binder and an undisclosed filler that has been aged for three years. Highclere Castle Senetjer is a limited, one-time release, being crafted in a refined 6¾" x 52 perfecto.

There's no question, this is one for the history books!