I have come to believe the most powerful people in the cigar business are the tobacco growers.

Even amongst the cigar manufacturers, the ones that have risen to the very top seem to all have one thing in common: a massive tobacco growing operation behind them.

So there is Plasencia.

It’s a name that, despite its real lack of retail presence, many consumers are probably familiar with. It’s not fair to say the family—which grows tobacco and manufacturers cigars in both Honduras and Nicaragua—has not had its name on a cigar; it has. However, in the last year the family has show a newfound interest in selling its own cigars.

Plasencia grows tobacco and makes cigars for an extremely long list of companies. Its most noted client is Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, which has many of its cigars made in a Plasencia factory in Honduras. But there are others including Altadis U.S.A., Nat Sherman and Quesada as well as smaller brands like 1502, Crux and Regius.

Last year, two new brands emerged from Plasencia family members. One is Cigar Golf Club, a brand of cigars centered around golf that is headed by Alexandria Plasencia. The other is Alma Fuerte, a high-priced Nicaraguan puro offered in three sizes.

Alma Fuerte uses a wrapper from Jalapa, a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Condega, Estelí, Jalapa and Ometepe.

  • Plasencia Alma Fuerte Nestor IV (6 1/4 x 54)
  • Plasencia Alma Fuerte Sixto ii (6 x 60)
  • Plasencia Alma Fuerte Generacion V Salomon (7 x 58)

Much like it has done with the Casa Magna Domus Magnus II, the Sixto ii features a unique size, this time a six-sided cigar that resembles a honeycomb.

Once empty, the 10-count boxes turn into an ashtray.

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Generacion V Salomon 1

  • Cigar Reviewed: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Generacion V Salomon
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Length: 7 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 58
  • Vitola: Salomon
  • MSRP: $22 (Boxes of 10, $220)
  • Release Date: October 2016
  • Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

It’s a very pretty cigar distinguished by three bands that look like they belong more on a golf club than a cigar. Aroma off the Nicaraguan wrapper is burnt beef, some peanut shells or lots of earth. I don’t bother trying to pick up anything from the bottom of the cigar, but the cold draw provides a very vibrant spearmint, a bit of black leather, some leather and peaches.

The Alma Fuerte begins at a medium-plus level, with a deep wet earth, some wet leaves, anise, coffee beans, bark, saltiness and sourdough bread. Much like as the cigar starts, it continues as a very complex profile. Redwoods eek out the rest of the flavors, but right behind it is apple skin, nuttiness, burnt bark and some generic earthiness. One sample provides a notable cinnamon flavor, though it’s not present on the other two cigars. The draw is unfortunately a bit tight on one sample and I make a second cut, which seems to remedy the issue, though all three cigars require a touch-up. Body is medium-full and strength is medium, though there’s no indication the latter wants to increase.

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Generacion V Salomon 2

 

While the redwoods and earthiness stick around for the second third, things get much fruitier. There’s an added strawberry cream cheese, dried cranberry and sweet port. In addition to the fruitiness, there’s also a lot more salivation in the mouth. Construction woes continue with my lighter getting a decent work out. As expected, strength doesn’t increase in any noticeable way.

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Generacion V Salomon 3

The fruitiness retracts almost entirely leaving a profile that reminds me much more of the first third. Redwoods continue to be the dominant flavor, there’s some added sunflower seed, toastiness, a fair bit of white pepper and a touch of herbs. Surprisingly, strength picks up to medium-full, though the flavor and body both remain medium-full.

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Generacion V Salomon 4

Final Notes

  • I’d like to say that debuting with a $20 cigar is uncommon, but it’s not. A few other companies have started with high-priced cigars as their initial offerings, something I cannot imagine is particularly helpful.
  • A second cut didn’t entirely alleviate the draw issues on the first cigar. What did help was cutting more than a half-inch off the other two cigars.
  • Unfortunately, draw woes weren’t the only issue. I made touch-ups to the cigar to correct uneven burns for much of each of the cigar.
  • While the cigar certainly looks better for it, the foot band has to be removed before smoking, leaving not one, but two additional bands.
  • I try to avoid smoking any cigar I will review before I start the review process. In the case of the Alma Fuerte, I smoked one in January at Puro Sabor, the Nicaraguan cigar festival. I am not sure if it was this size, but in the interest of full disclosure:
    • I don’t remember much about the cigar other than it was enjoyable.
    • My palate was pretty abused at that point.
    • Plasencia gave me—and all other attendees—the cigar at Puro Sabor.
  • Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
  • Final smoking time was three hours and 20 minutes on average with nearly an hour of that being the first inch and a half.
  • Site sponsor Elite Cigar Cafe (972.661.9136) has the Plasencia Alma Fuerte in stock.
85 Overall Score

Burn issues aside, this was a really good cigar. The flavors were rich and developed, the draw—as long as I took a bit more off than I normally do—was great, and the body was enjoyable. Plasencia makes some great cigars and this is very close to being one of them, but it’s also very expensive. At this price point any imperfections are magnified, but I think this is a worthy option on which to spend your Andrew Jacksons or future Harriet Tubmans.

Avatar photo

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.