After taking a break from new releases last year, Plasencia Cigars brought a new line to IPCPR 2019, Alma del Fuego. This is the third in the Alma Series, of which Nestor says there will eventually be a total of 5. This joing the Alma Fuerte and Alma del Campo.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Alma del Fuego translates to “Soul of the Fire.” This is a reference to the volcanic soils of Ometepe Island in Nicaragua where most of the filler in the cigar comes from. Alma del Fuego is a Nicaraguan puro with a sun-grown wrapper from Jalapa. It comes in three vitolas: Candente 5″ x 50 robusto, Flama, 6 ½” x 38 panatela, and Concepción 6″ x 54 toro. It comes in boxes of 10. Something unique about this cigar is that the box is an ashtray.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto Length: 5″ Ring Gauge: 50 Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Jalapa Sun Grown Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicarguan Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A. Blender: Nestor Plasencia Number of reviewers: 5 – Doug S.(Unpossible_1) John A.(Bostoneo) Mickey T.(irratebass) Ryan H.(Ryan H.) Jason H.(Jokey Smurf) Price: $15.00 Age: 3 Months Release Date: July 2019 Contributed by: Plasencia Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 94
“A box pressed robusto with a delicious looking dark chocolate brown wrapper. While no seams are visible, an array of tiny veins run all over the length of this cigar as well as a closed foot.” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Aroma: 87
“Not much going on in the aroma department. I barely get a wood aroma on the body and only barnyard aromas on the closed foot.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Flavor: 92 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“Started out with some nice cedar and espresso and a touch of black pepper. The retro added a delicious creaminess that reminded me of a Cuban Coffee. About an inch in, there was an unexpected transition to some nuttiness. This added with the creaminess on the retro immediately made me think of a tall glass or, bear with here, almond milk. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
“This cigar started off with a very nice cedar note and a light pepper spice on the palate…I was tricked, however, because I immediately decided this would be a safe cigar to retrohale… wrong… there is a ton of black pepper hiding in all that smoothness. My nose was blasted into reality… my watering eyes quickly reminding me that this is a cigar and not one to be trifled with. Another retro confirmed that this was one I’d have to pace myself with due to a significant hidden strength. All-in-all an eventful start!” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Flavor: 88 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“Still with chocolate and espresso. The notes do change and return from espresso to milk chocolate to dark chocolate and back to espresso, with cream poking in from tine to time. Draw and burn have been amazing.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“This is where the cigar became interesting. The cigar got much lighter in strength. It started out medium and started getting more lighter. The only flavors I picked up was Milk chocolate and cream. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Final Third
Flavor: 87 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“As I come into the home stretch of the final third, this puppy still has some bite to it. Pepper and earth jump out. I’m used to picking up earth from the get go, so this was a bit of a surprise. I’ve lost the cedar though and get more of a dry oaky profile. As the cigar burns, the pepper punch backs off and comes out as more green pepper goodness. Retro pretty much confirms this, as the kick in the teeth I was getting in the middle third is almost gone. Instead, the pepper is fading as quickly as my time with this cigars comes to the close. The cigar finishes with a much lighter feeling of green pepper and vegetal flavors. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
“The strength and flavors have decreased and in getting a delicious mix of earth and oak blended with leather. Through the nose the smoke is still spicy but totally tolerable and I find myself retrohaling every puff. I’m really digging this stick!” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 95
“The draw was just how I like it, with very little resistance ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Burn: 91
“There were a couple of touch ups needed, but 90% of the time it burned even. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Construction: 94
“Loved the soft box press and fullness. The cigar held up quite well the session, with no unraveling whatsoever. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
Overall Strength: Medium Overall Body/Complexity: Light-Medium Experience Overall: 90
“This cigar offered an excellent experience that transitioned each third. Started off with some creaminess and espresso, and built up to some power, and then finished like a bedtime story. The flavor profile was just in my wheelhouse and I wouldn’t mind adding them in my rotation for the times I want a little more oomph. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
“I was concerned from the lack of body this cigar offered. While the flavors were there, they were so light that I was smoking air past the initial half inch. This is truly unfortunate as it appeared it may be a flavor bomb by the color of the wrapper, but alas I digress…” –John A. (Bostoneo)
“I really enjoyed this cigar. There were plenty of transition to hold my attention with wood, floral, some nuts and quite a bit of milk chocolate. The interesting point to this cigar was the more I smoke it the lighter and creamier it got. I would definitely smoke this again. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“A good cigar, I am not personally a fan, but I know a lot if people will enjoy this cigar, so buy a single and make your own judgement.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“Whatever this is, I’m sold! Wonderful and robust flavors coupled with great construction equal a win every time in my book… this could be a daily smoke for me! I just hope I can find and then afford to have boxes of these on hand. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Blind Cigar Review: Plasencia | Alma del Fuego Candente
Summary
"I really enjoyed this cigar. There were plenty of transition to hold my attention with wood, floral, some nuts and quite a bit of milk chocolate. The interesting point to this cigar was the more I smoke it the lighter and creamier it got. I would definitely smoke this again. " -Mickey T. (irratebass)
