01
Core Line
Charter Oak Connecticut Shade
The mild, creamy Connecticut Shade side of the line. An easy recommendation for newer smokers and daytime service.
Wholesale Charter Oak cigars - distributed by MDC.
Charter Oak is Foundation Cigar Company's tribute to Connecticut tobacco country, blended by Nicholas Melillo. It has become one of the most respected value lines in the premium category - real craftsmanship at a box price built for volume.
Years in Charter Oak Rotation
14+
14 years·Trusted by Four Seasons, The Broadmoor, Caesars Entertainment
MDC + Charter Oak
Why MDC stocks Charter Oak
Charter Oak solves a real problem for venues: customers want a well-made cigar that does not cost steakhouse money. Nick Melillo built his name on premium blends, and Charter Oak brings that same care to a value box. It smokes above its price, and customers notice.
MDC carries 17 active Charter Oak SKUs across its wrapper styles. It stays in our rotation because it reorders itself - the everyday slot in a humidor needs a cigar people trust, and Charter Oak has quietly become that cigar for a lot of our accounts.
“Charter Oak is in our standing rotation because the accounts we serve - from casinos to cigar bars - sell through it consistently. That's the only reason a brand stays on our line card.”
Core Line-up
Charter Oak blends MDC distributes
Not every SKU in the Charter Oak catalog is in our standing rotation - we curate to what actually moves at retail. These are the core lines we keep in depth.
02
Core Line
Charter Oak Connecticut Broadleaf
The maduro counterpart - dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, sweeter and fuller. The pick for maduro customers on a budget.
03
Core Line
Charter Oak Habano
A Habano-wrapped middle path with more spice than the Shade. Rounds out the trio so the line covers the full flavor curve.
Venue Fit
Which venues stock Charter Oak
Charter Oak's portfolio spans the flavor curve - mild Connecticut Shade through fuller Broadleaf maduro - at a wholesale box price that sits squarely in the value tier. That makes it a natural volume play: golf pro shops move the Shade all season, liquor stores stock Shade and Broadleaf side by side as the everyday premium pair, and cigar lounges use it as the house value line that keeps regulars from trading down to gas-station sticks. Hotel and casino bars can run it as the approachable opener under their premium selections.
The retail margin math for Charter Oak
MDC's active Charter Oak SKUs run roughly $117-$148 per box wholesale, and venues typically retail at 1.8x-2.5x wholesale. That tight wholesale band makes the math easy: a $117 box supports roughly $210-$290 at retail, and every wrapper style in the line prices out about the same - so you can stock the full trio without juggling price tiers.
How to build a Charter Oak program with MDC
The MDC approach to any brand is the same: start with a curated core rotation sized to your venue, prove sell-through, then layer in deeper SKU coverage as the account matures. For a typical hospitality account, a Charter Oak program begins with 2–3 vitolas across 40–60 cigars of opening depth, paired with the other brands that complement your overall humidor structure.
Because Charter Oak is one of the core workhorse brands in the category, it's almost always part of the MDC opening-proposal for any new account - the exact SKUs and depth vary by whether you're running a bar-led hospitality program, a dedicated cigar lounge, or a pro-shop display. Your rep builds the proposal fast once you apply, with real numbers keyed to your venue.
Related wholesale brands + programs
Other brands frequently paired with Charter Oak in MDC programs: The Tabernacle , Aladino , Brick House , Undercrown . For the complete list of brands MDC distributes, see the wholesale cigar brands index. For the programs each brand fits - hospitality, retail, cigar bar - see Cigars for Hospitality and Cigars for Retail.
Wholesale FAQ
Buying Charter Oak wholesale - common questions.
Who is the wholesale distributor for Charter Oak cigars?
MDC Wholesale Cigars distributes Charter Oak to licensed venues and retailers nationwide - casinos, hotels, steakhouses, golf shops, liquor stores, and cigar bars. Charter Oak has been in MDC's standing rotation for 14+ years.
How do I buy Charter Oak cigars wholesale?
Apply for an MDC wholesale account - it starts with a short qualification form. Once you're approved, your rep builds a curated first order with Charter Oak SKUs matched to your venue. Most new accounts get their first shipment within a week of approval.
How much do Charter Oak cigars cost wholesale?
Most premium boxes run roughly $80-$300 wholesale depending on the line and vitola, and venues typically retail at 1.8x-2.5x wholesale. Your exact Charter Oak pricing depends on your account and order size - your rep quotes real numbers before you commit to anything.
Can I return Charter Oak cigars that don't sell?
Yes. Every MDC order is backed by our no-risk exchange: if a Charter Oak SKU doesn't move for your crowd, we swap it for one that will. Cigar orders over $1,000 ship free.
Ready to Stock Charter Oak?
Open an MDC account. We'll tell you where Charter Oak fits in your rotation.
Apply to open an MDC account. We'll look at your venue profile, your existing rotation (if any), and tell you exactly what a Charter Oak program should look like on your floor - opening SKUs, depth, price points, and how it pairs with the rest of your humidor.
Cost of Waiting
Every month without Charter Oak on your shelf is margin your competitors are collecting. Your rep can have it in your first shipment within a week of approval.
We only take 4 new accounts a month
4 spots open for July
P.S. Charter Oak has been in MDC's standing rotation for 14+ years. If MDC can help your business, we can get you into a first shipment within a week of qualifying.