At this year’s 2023 Total Product Expo (TPE) in Las Vegas, Luciano Cigars launched a new cigar known as the Foreign Affair. The new cigar was carefully blended as an ode to the globalization of the cigar industry and its smokers, to the capacity we have of connecting with one another by experiencing a great cigar together. It is now available at Luciano retailers.
In the announcement, Luciano Meirelles – CEO & Co-founder of Luciano Cigars stated:
“There is something extraordinarily magical that occurs in the shared space of smoke, cigars, and people. It’s as if barriers are bridged, and guards lowered. The experience goes beyond language, culture, gender, or any sense of otherness. Varied pathways lead to this common ground, a sacred ambience where we can connect and understand that no matter how foreign we may be to one another, the humanity in us overwhelms our perceptive differences. Those once strangers to one another are brought together, under the influence of a worldly cigar.”
Foreign Affair is the invitation towards recognizing that what unites us will always be greater than what we allow to divide us. It’s emblematic of a journey with no fixed destination, the beckoning to travel to understand each other.
The Foreign Affair blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Sumatra
- Binder – Nicaragua and Ecuador
- Filler – Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic
The cigar is offered in four vitolas, each packaged in 24 count boxes:
- Corona (5 5/8 x 42) – MSRP $9.50
- Rothschild (4 1/2 x 48) – MSRP $10.35
- Toro Extra (6 1/2 x 52) – MSRP $11.80
- Belicoso (6 x 54) – MSRP $12.50
For this review, I sampled one of the Luciano Cigars Foreign Affair Belicosos that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Luciano Cigars Foreign Affair is a masterfully constructed cigar that boasts a smooth milk chocolate brown wrapper that is slightly oily to the touch. The wrapper is expertly rolled, with virtually invisible seams that speak to the skill of the cigar maker. When held in the hand, the cigar has a decent weight to it, and it is firmly packed from head to foot. The belicoso tip cap is a testament to the attention to detail that has gone into crafting this cigar.
A single band adorns the cigar, using a black, gold, and red motif. A golden cigar leaf is emblazoned in the center of a red, gold rimmed circle. The name “Foreign Affair” is printed in gold above and below the center circle. The Luciano Cigars logo is printed on the right side of the band.
Running the cigar along the nose, I noted a baking spice note off the foot but nothing significant along the barrel.
Once I opened the tip with a double cut of my CigarMedics Baller cutter, I gave the Foreign Affair a few cold draw puffs that was right on with restriction and offered notes of peppery spice with a mild tanginess.
With my double flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of peppery smoke that awoke the nasals to begin the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper blast to the nose to start opening the nasals
- Light grey ash forms on top of a tin char line
- Citrus tang enters behind the pepper
- Smoke is full in volume
- Sweet aroma wafts off the foot
- Citrus maintains with a mild chocolate like note forming in the background
- Ash is holding solid into second third
- Aroma morphs into a vanilla cream note
- Mild jag in the burn
- Ash fell after a long hold revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Pepper notes grow back in
- Off burn develops midway which required a touch-up
- Touch of mint leaf deep in second third
- Black Tea notes
- Pepper continues to increase in the final
- Full Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 45 minutes
Final Analysis
The Luciano Cigars Foreign Affair Belicoso greets you with a bold and spicy opening, as a blast of pepper hits your nose, immediately opening up your nasals. The smoke fills your palate with a rich and full-bodied flavor. As you take in each puff, a bright and zesty citrus tang enters the mix, adding a refreshing twist to the spiciness. The cigar exudes a sweet and pleasant aroma that wafts through the air, inviting you to indulge in the smoking experience. The citrus notes persist throughout, with a subtle and delicate chocolate-like note forming in the background, providing a perfect balance to the bold and spicy flavors. Meanwhile, the aroma takes on a new character, morphing into a creamy and luscious vanilla note, which is simply irresistible. The pepper notes make a comeback, growing in intensity and adding a pleasant heat to the palate. Deep in the burn, a touch of mint leaf emerges, providing a refreshing and cooling sensation that further complements the flavor profile and then black tea notes take over, providing a bold and robust flavor that lingers on the palate. Meanwhile, the pepper notes continue to increase in intensity, delivering a full-strength smoking experience that is both bold and invigorating. This is certainly a box buy and I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged Burn; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Touch-up Required; (-1) Flat Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Complex and Balanced; (+1) Long Solid Ash
A fine CIgar