Foundation Cigars and the Firing Line Lounge

As the CANCON event series continues to grow, we continue to offer new, unique, tailored experiences for attendees and vendors alike. It’s more than just being the world’s largest fully suppressed public range day — it’s a peek behind the pages of our publications, and a full immersion into the RECOIL lifestyle. 

At our most recent CANCON in Clinton, South Carolina, there was an unexpected but perfectly fitting experience: the Foundation Cigar Company booth, which featured not only retail space but a dedicated lounge space for folks to take a seat, light a stick, and bond with both fellow enthusiasts and members of the industry.

Set up directly on the range, Foundation’s cigar lounge became a natural regroup point between firing lines, food trucks, and the CANCON stores. After long strings of fire behind suppressed guns, shooters stepped off the line to enjoy a different kind of precision: handcrafted cigars built with the same attention to detail they demand from their equipment. It wasn’t just a place to light up — it was a place to reset, recalibrate, and connect. 

For those in search of more suppressed excitement, there were unique opportunities at the intersection of powder and leaf, like dumping a mag on a fully suppressed 5.56 and lighting up a cigar off a smoking-hot can, or testing your marksmanship by cutting the end off a cigar with a single round of “Hollywood quiet” .300 Blackout? 

Front and center at the Foundation lounge were their Charter Oak cigars, a line whose lineage should resonate loudly with this audience. Named for the historic tree in Hartford, Connecticut, that once safeguarded the colony’s Royal Charter, this brand reflects independence, resilience, and American grit. More than that, it’s a direct nod to the Connecticut River Valley — one of the most important tobacco-growing regions in the world, and a cornerstone of Foundation’s identity.

That connection shows up in the cigars themselves. Charter Oak delivers approachable, no-nonsense performance with options like Connecticut Shade, Broadleaf, and Habano wrappers — each offering a distinct profile without sacrificing balance. Whether it was a first smoke of the day or a post-range wind-down, Charter Oak smokes consistently and reliably, offering a superior experience.

Foundation Cigars operates with a mindset RECOIL readers understand — respect the craft, know your materials, and execute with purpose. Their commitment to preserving and promoting Connecticut-grown tobacco isn’t just about heritage; it’s about keeping a proven tradition alive for those who still value quality in a mass-market world.

Nick Melillo, Founder & CEO of Foundation Cigars, had this to say about their CANCON debut:

“The RECOIL community and the premium cigar world overlap more than people might think. Both communities appreciate craftsmanship, dependability, and quality … and know the difference between something built to last and something built fast.” 

At an event dominated by cutting-edge firearms, suppressors, and gear, Foundation brought something equally refined — but deliberately slower. A reminder that not everything worth doing needs to be rushed.

If you missed out on our Carolina event this year, and Foundation’s on-range cigar lounge, don’t worry — Foundation Cigars will return to CANCON again. So, make it a point to stop by their “firing line lounge” at CANCON in Boulder City, Nevada, and experience it for yourself.

In the meantime, Find Your Foundation at www.foundationcigarcompany.com.

Why you can trust RECOIL

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Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. 

Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. 

At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. 

Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products.

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