Foreign Affair

(Rothchild) 4 1/2 x48

• Half wheel Rating: 89
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Luciano Cigars Factory
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Sumatra)
• Binder: Ecuador & Nicaragua
• Filler: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
• Length: 4 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 48

The line was developed by Luciano Meirelles, CEO and co-founder of Luciano Cigars, along with Mike Dounoulis, Luciano Cigars’ regional sales manager, and Frank Cossio, co-owner of Astorian Cigar Co. in West Palm Beach, Fla. It took the trio approximately a year to finalize the blend, which uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, binders from both Ecuador and Nicaragua, and fillers from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

You find boldness alongside sweetness, and it’s so balanced you can fully enjoy it without becoming overwhelmed,” said Cossio via a press release, adding that the blend offers a taste profile that contradicts itself.

After lighting up the Foreign Affair Rothschild, I was pleased to find a familiar profile that was well-executed, though I was wondering just how distinctive this would end up being. While the profile has a number of familiar notes, it's the way they are sequenced that makes this cigar shine. In particular, there is a cyclical nature to the profile, with the flavors entering and departing on a near-regular schedule to keep the palate engaged and seemingly receiving just what it wants at the right time. For instance, when the pepper or toast gets a bit dominant, creaminess comes in to smooth things over and provide some relief. When the creaminess is at its fullest, the toast and pepper emerge, a cycle that continues until the final inch or so when earth and coffee grounds emerge and the body of the smoke fills out. For a short cigar, the Foreign Affair Rothschild provides an impressive and enjoyable dance of flavors, making it a cigar worth checking out.