Plasencia Cigars

The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I is made by Plasencia Cigars at Plasencia’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I is an extension to Plasencia’s regular Alma Fuerte line, changing the original’s wrapper to a lighter leaf that has been aged for 10 years.  The toro vitola we are reviewing today is named for Eduardo Plasencia, who was one of the first family members to grow tobacco after leaving the Canary Islands for Cuba in 1865. This new extension blend is also offered in Plasencias’ trademark hexagon vitola as well.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I
• Wrapper: Nicaragua (Jalapa Colorado Claro)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 6 1/4 x 54

Blind Review Notes: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a triple capped box press toro. The cigar is graced with a light chocolate wrapper that resembles a cracked sidewalk.  The body and foot of the cigar smell of sweet cedar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cold draw is loose with alot of cedar on the breath.

First puff is very light and sweet, with the slightest spice on the backend.  Ideal smoke production! Retrohale is hot and spicy. Flavors progress to leather, sweet cream,  and more spice then at first.  Theres also a flavor that reminds me of NYC tap water with ice. Perfumey retrohale with a salty mouthfeel.  Then a marshmellow retrohale, with fruity notes.  Lots of mini-transitions, as you can see.

By the second third, I realize the cigar reminds me a lot of vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone.  So good I have to slow my pace down. The cigar is burning too hot! Billowing smoke production.  Ash build-up looks like a stack of coins. Lots of lingering sweetness and cedar.  Hot leather retro with a continued vanilla nuance.

Last third needs a touch up.  The cigar is burning a little wonky.  What a shame! The cigar needs more then one touch up.  The flavor profile stays sweet with the spice picking back up.  Leather, cedar, vanilla, pepper. Tingling baking spices on the tongue. A sea of nuanced flavors, but I am dissapointed in the construction issues that keep distracting me. The retrohale is toasty hazelnut.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I, was a light strenght/medium body cigar with layers of different flavors.  If not for the combustion issues on the last third, this cigar would have easily achieved a 90+ score.  Unlike the maduro version of this cigar, which was released before the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I, it has a lingering sweetness.  I find this same flavor to be present on the Plasencia Alma del Campo cigar.  I still prefer the maduro version of this stick, regardless of the situation. Plasencia in my mind is the undistibuted champ of tobacco farming and his aging and fermentation process take his cigars to the next level, seperating them from the rest of the market place.  All that said, give the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I a try, and let us know what you think.

Final Score: 86

Man, Plasencia Cigars has been on a roll in 2019. Not only have they continued to expand their self-branded cigars with blends like the one up for review today, they’ve also had a series of big hits with collaborations on blends for Montecristo, Trinidad, and (coming soon) RyJ.

All that to say, that’s why I was so excited to get to review the new Plasencia Alma del Fuego panatela which arrived in my monthly Platinum Box from Luxury Cigar Club. I just had to know if the new release could live up to the reputation developed by the Alma del Fuerte.

Appearance & Construction

The Plasencia Alma del Fuego is visually striking, with three total bands: two near the cap and one on the foot. The red and white color scheme is eye catching, as is the flat design approach of the overall asthetic. The outer wrapper on the other hand is positively rustic, with some very noticeable veins as well as some visible inconsistencies in the shape of the cigar.

When squeezed gently, the cigar has a bit of give that is consistent down the length of the cigar. The draw is ideal, about a 7/10 in terms of restrictiveness though I’m not sure what will happen once the closed foot opens up. The cold draw is a mix of cooking spices, toasted bread, and sweet coffee.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Once lit, the Plasencia Alma del Fuego opens with hearty, medium bodied smoke that contains notes of hot spices, vegetal, white pepper, coffee, and a sweet floral flavor. Overall, the smoke is balanced between spicy, bitter, and sweet flavor categories. The retrohale mirrors this experience. Like the wrapper, a very rustic smoking experience. Smoke production is on point, and the smoke, though spicy, is cool. It’s an excellent start and a flavor profile I can’t say I’ve experienced before, which is awesome.

The first ash holds for more than an inch and a half, with a mostly straight burn. Here the balance shifts more toward the spicy end of the spectrum and the smoke hits the tip of the tongue hard. The profile is a mix of charcoal, black and cayenne pepper, oak, and a funky vegetal note that would likely be awful on its own but is great next to the other flavors. Good complexity.  

In the second third, the strength and body start to creep up into the medium plus range. The funky vegetal note takes the spotlight, at times becoming a bit overly aggressive but still very enjoyable. At the same time, some cocoa and cream notes sneak in, balancing the spicy and bitter notes well. Interestingly, the sweeter notes also find their way into the retrohale, which is smooth and rich with notes of finely ground black pepper and cocoa. Throughout the second third, construction is effortless: a great burn, excellent smoke production, and a well structured ash. Excellent. 

In the final third of the Plasencia Alma del Fuego panatela, the flavors start to condense, with strong notes of charred cedar planks, espresso and cooking spices. It isn’t nearly as complex as the first two thirds, but it is a fitting conclusion. Construction never wavers, and the smoke only heats up in the last inch. 

Very enjoyable.

Conclusion 

I was really looking forward to smoking the Plasencia Alma del Fuego because of my love for the Alma Fuerte. However, I wasn’t prepared to like the Alma del Fuego even MORE than the Fuerte. 

It’s a cigar that carves out an entirely new flavor profile full of robust pepper, smoked meats, charred wood, and vegetal on one side and coffee, cocoa and cream on the other. Even more impressively, the balance of flavors shifts throughout, making it a riveting cigar to smoke and a likely contender for our Top 10 of 2019 list.

Go buy this cigar. I suggest spending some time alone smoking it so you can get the full experience.

Final Rating: 94

Up for review today is the Plasencia Reserva Original Nestico, a cigar released in the summer of 2017. It’s a unique cigar primarily because of its size. At 4 1/2″ x 36, it functions just like a lancero but at half the length.

The Plasencia operation is also unique. The Plasencias have been growing and farming tobacco for decades providing quality leaf to many companies. They also feature their own cigar lines and this one in particular has the privilege of being a cigar grown with 100% certified organic tobacco. Whether organically farmed tobacco tastes better or worse than chemically controlled farming is debatable, but consumers can rest assured this tobacco was treated using natural methods. Whatever the process, one needs to smoke it in order to assess its true quality.

Product Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Plasencia Reserva Original Nestico
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Size: 4 1/2 x 36

Appearance and Construction

This diminutive cigar has a white and muted gold band with the Plasencia name and the “Reserva Original” across it. The design is subdued for me with the attraction being its color scheme. On the foot is another band with “Reserva Original” across it. The milk chocolate wrapper has some veins without being excessive. Well rolled and a bit soft to the touch.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The Plasencia starts off with some sweetness and spice upfront. The retrohale gives up a bit of black pepper and secondary flavors of wood and pronounced sweetness. The next few puffs coat the palate with a creamy texture and a bit of coffee on the finish. The draw and burn are excellent

The second half yields oak, allspice and cream. A bit of cocoa grabs you midway along with another hit of spice. Almond paste is coming through while the cigar burns. Lots of flavor emoting from this smoke and a slight nicotine buzz which catches you by surprise. Rounding out the finish is the all spice and clotted cream on the palate.

The last third sweet cream interplay’s with chocolate and spice. A taste of nougat and cocoa coats the mouth and lingers. The Plasencia finishes with a creamy pleasant nuttiness.

Conclusion

For a short smoke the Plasencia Reserva Original Nestico offers rounded flavors of sweet spice, cream and nuts. Its starts off medium bodied and mid way you get a nice hit of nicotine strength. This is not a morning smoke unless you’ve had a hearty breakfast then this would be a wonderful cigar with an espresso afterward. I recommend picking one up for a pleasant afternoon cigar or an after dinner smoke as it will hold up well.

Earlier this week I stopped by Nat Sherman on 42nd and 5th ave to pick out a new smoke. I was happy to find a new shipment of Plasencia Cosecha 146 cigars in stock. I’ve been a big fan of the Plasencia Alma Fuerte for a while now, so trying another new line was an exciting prospect.

The Cosecha 146 was created to commemorate the Plasencia family’s first-ever tobacco harvest in 1865 in Cuba. Here’s what the Plasencia website says about the 146 Cosecha:

Plasencia Cosecha 146 is an exquisite combination of tobacco leaves from our 146th harvest (2011-2012). The leaves are grown in the best regions of Honduras and Nicaragua to produce a unique flavor profile, resulting from blending the crops of two great tobacco countries.

Plasencia Cosecha 146 Review

Blend Specifics

• Factory: Plasencia Cigars
• Wrapper: Honduras
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Honduras / Nicaragua
• Size: Toro (5 3/4 x 54)

Appearance & Construction

The Plasencia Cosecha 146 is a beautifully branded cigar, and right in line with the Alma Fuerte and Alma Del Campo. Like the Alma Fuerte, this cigar actually seems to weigh more than an average cigar of its size. It has a great weight in the hand, which really increases my anticipation to smoke this cigar.

The Honduran wrapper is chocolate brown, smooth with a touch of oil, and completely flawless. The pre light draw is somewhat restrictive, with subtle notes of sweet tobacco and wood.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Right out of the gate, the Plasencia Cosecha 146 opens up with notes of campfire logs, baking spices, and light cocoa. There is also a spiciness that tickles the top of my tongue and I can also sense on the back of my throat. The texture of the smoke, which is voluminous, is soft and fine, almost flour like. So far, a medium to full bodied smoke.

Moving into the second third, the spice has picked up a bit. Construction up to this point has been good, but the burn has been consistently wavy. Notes are savory spiciness, wood, leather, all with some delicate floral notes in the background. Overall, very complex and well balanced.

At halfway, the spice is joined by salt and black pepper, with a touch of sweetness, making for full bodied smoke. At this point, construction issues are starting to get a bit annoying, and seem to be the result of the Honduran wrapper having trouble staying lit.

The final third is mostly the same, with the addition of a bit of heat to the smoke.

Conclusion

The Plasencia Cosecha 146 is an enjoyable and unique offering from Plasencia. I really enjoyed the flavor profile that the cigar offered, as well as the changes in flavor throughout the smoke. Two factors that I didn’t enjoy: first, the flavors at time seemed to be out of balance and at war with each other for dominance. Second, the construction issues were a real inhibition toward free enjoyment of the product.

Overall, this is a cigar I recommend you try at least once to make up your own mind. And, Halfwheel reports that Plasencia plans on more installments in the Cosecha line, so keep your eyes peeled for new releases.

Final Score: 89