I’ve been looking forward to lighting up this one ever since discovering Founders, partly because Founders Cigar Co. is a local Minnesota brand, and partly because they’re veteran-owned and built on values that align with my own.
Those values carry right over into their lineup, which pays tribute to historical figures who stood for freedom, courage, and conviction. The Douglass Habano Toro, named for famed orator Frederick Douglass, fits that mission perfectly. It’s the kind of concept that instantly caught my attention, cigars that don’t just smoke well, but say something
This was my first cigar review of a Founders cigar, and I went in curious, not just about the blend, but about what this young, fast-rising American cigar maker brings to the table.
Profile: Medium
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Wrapper
Binder: Habano Binder
Filler: Aged Nicaraguan (Cubano Ligero, Nicaraguan Seco, & Pennsylvanian Broadleaf Viso)
Factory: Nicaragua
Sizes Available: Toro (6" x 52)
Notable Feature: Pays tribute to Frederick Douglass, an icon of freedom, intellect, and resilience
Price Point: Around $10–12 per cigar
Founders Cigar Co. is a veteran-owned American brand based in Minnesota that honors great statesmen and thinkers through its cigars, including men like Franklin, Hamilton, and Roosevelt. Each blend is crafted around the story and spirit of a historical figure, combining old-world tradition with a distinctly American sense of purpose.
The Douglass Habano was designed to reflect Frederick Douglass’s intellect and quiet strength, a man who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful voices for freedom in American history. The goal seems clear: create a cigar that earns respect through balance and refinement rather than sheer power, much like Douglass himself.
It features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a core of aged Nicaraguan tobaccos, delivering classic Habano character, cedar, coffee, and gentle spice, with clean construction and smooth draw.
Founders may be young, but cigars like this show real promise: a company grounded in craftsmanship, respect for history, and pride in doing things the right way.
The presentation makes a strong first impression, deep navy blue with gold accents, featuring a silhouette of Frederick Douglass that looks both patriotic and classy. It feels premium before you even cut the cap.
The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper has a warm, medium-brown hue with fine veins and a soft sheen. My sample showed light cracking near the foot, nothing catastrophic, likely from transit, and otherwise had a solid, even roll.
Off the foot, the aroma carried notes of cedar, sweet tobacco, and faint coffee. On the cold draw, I picked up mild pepper, a bit of cream, and subtle sweetness, a clean, balanced preview of the medium-bodied Habano experience to come.
Once lit, the Douglass Habano opens with an approachable mix of cedar, coffee, and a mild pepper tingle through the retrohale. The Habano wrapper adds a layer of toastiness and faint sweetness, tying everything together with that familiar Ecuadorian character.
The draw is spot-on, producing steady, dense smoke with no resistance. A gentle creaminess rounds out the edges, making it an easy and relaxing start. While the cracked foot had me cautious, the burn line corrected itself quickly and burned evenly for most of this third.
This opening section sets the tone, refined, medium-bodied, and steady. Nothing flashy, but balanced and smooth.
As the cigar progresses, the flavor profile stays cohesive, still cedar, coffee, and a touch of sweet tobacco, with a bit more warmth developing in the aroma. A faint leather note joins the mix, adding depth without changing the overall tone.
The smoke remains creamy, filling the air with a pleasant, toasted scent. What stands out most is the consistency, no big transitions, no dramatic shifts. Just a calm, steady rhythm of flavor that invites slow pacing.
Despite the early foot crack, construction holds strong here. The burn line wavers occasionally, but nothing requiring intervention. The draw remains ideal. This middle section really highlights the blend’s easygoing craftsmanship, approachable, flavorful, and well-behaved.
As the final third rolls in, the Douglass Habano keeps that steady, composed character. The same blend of cedar, light coffee, and mild spice carries through to the end, joined now by toasted tobacco and a faint sweetness.
Even near the nub, the smoke stays cool and clean, a sign of thoughtful aging and blending. The ash does flake a bit, but the cigar stays structurally sound. It’s not a cigar that tries to impress through major transitions; rather, it focuses on smooth consistency and an enjoyable finish.
By the time it’s down to the final inch, the takeaway is clear: this is a cigar made for steady enjoyment, an ideal pick when you want a relaxing, balanced Habano experience.
Construction was solid overall, though not without a few minor quirks. My sample showed light cracking near the foot before lighting, likely from transit, that carried through the first half of the cigar. While it wasn’t enough to affect draw or flavor, it did lead to some flaky ash and occasional unevenness.
Once burning, the draw was open and smooth, with smoke output on the lighter side, medium at best, but consistent enough to deliver clean, cool flavor. The burn line required brief attention at times but never full correction.
These small imperfections didn’t take away from the experience, though they did hold it back slightly from feeling fully refined. For a cigar in this price range, the flavor, balance, and approachable character still make it easy to appreciate, and I’m confident Founders will continue fine-tuning their already strong foundation.
At around $10–12 per stick, the Founders Douglass Habano Toro sits comfortably in the boutique cigar tier. While the construction quirks keep it from punching above its class, the flavor, balance, and approachable nature make it easy to recommend.
It’s a good cigar, not perfect, but genuine and well-intentioned. For those looking to support a veteran-owned, Minnesota-based cigar company with a strong sense of identity, this is an easy addition to the humidor.
The Founders Douglass Habano Toro feels like a fitting tribute to Frederick Douglass, steady, composed, and rooted in principle. Medium-bodied with smooth flavors of cedar, coffee, and sweet tobacco, it focuses on balance rather than boldness.
While the wrapper cracking and uneven burn showed some room for improvement, the draw and flavor consistency carried the experience. The smoke stayed cool, the aroma clean, and the blend approachable from start to finish.
It’s a cigar that reflects a brand still finding its rhythm, but one built with pride, craftsmanship, and clear promise. Not flawless, but full of character, a cigar with a story and a mission.
| Category | Rating (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Flavor | 8.8 |
| Construction | 8.0 |
| Burn / Draw |
7.8 |
| Value | 8.5 |
| Overall Rating | ⭐ 8.3 / 10 |
A well-crafted Habano cigar that delivers steady satisfaction and shows a promising future for Founders Cigar Co.
You can find the Founders Douglass Habano Toro and other blends from Founders Cigar Co., including the Roosevelt Maduro and Signature Dual Wrap, available now at After Action Cigars.
If you enjoy cigars that tell a story and honor craftsmanship, this one definitely deserves a spot in your humidor.
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