The next box of Plasencia Cigars’ Alma Fuerte that you buy might just have a new look, as the company has begun shipping a new box design that removes the multi-purpose lid with its built-in ashtray in favor of a more traditional box design.

The updated boxes were received at Plasencia’s warehouse last week and have just begun shipping to retailers. They feature a more durable box and lid design, accented with heavy duty hinges. “It’s classic, elegantly practical, and will stand the test of time,” the company wrote in an e-mail announcing the change. “We’re proud of this new design and we have our retailers and customers to thank.”

The new look Alma Fuerte line will maintain the same price as the version with the ashtray, as the company never charged for that built-in accessory.

Alma Fuerte is a Nicaraguan puro that and uses a wrapper from Jalapa, a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Condega, Estelí, Jalapa and Ometepe. All of the tobacco is grown on Plasencia’s farms, with production handled by the Plasencia Cigars S.A. factory in Nicaragua. It is offered in four sizes, all packed in 10-count boxes:

Plasencia released the Alma Fuerte line in 2016. Its original box design looked like this:

Additionally, the company has begun putting its Alma Fuerte line in cellophane in recent weeks, a change brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. “We know it hides the beauty and aroma,” the company said, “but we care more about the health and safety of our customers.” The company noted that the change is being made for the time being.

The company has not yet announced if it will be updating the packaging of its Alma del Campo or Alma del Fuego lines, which also come with ashtrays integrated into the lid.

Image courtesy of Plasencia Cigars.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.