Pre-light Experience

The Plasencia Alma Del Campo Guajiro is firm in the hand and is finished with a nice cap. The wrapper is applied well and is almost seamless from head to foot. There is a slight bit of tooth present and it is oily throughout. There are some veins present but they are fairly small to medium in size. The wrapper has a nice chocolate brown coloring to it and it is a dark Natural coloring with some Colorado aspects. The foot has a tight aroma and is giving off some leather, nuts, earth and fruit. There is a touch of spice present and the wrapper is delivering a chocolaty, woody and leather profile.

First Third

The first third opens up with a nice sweet spice and it has this almond like quality with that. There are some dry earthy qualities present and I am getting some soft black pepper, toast, barnyard and leather. It is a very filling and balanced cigar. The balance between the spice and sweetness is really enjoyable and you can tell that this is really good Nicaraguan Criollo ’98. I would classify the cigar as being medium-full in body and strength and the flavors are there as well. The construction is solid thus far and the cigar is producing an even burn line with a nice charcoal colored ash on the end which is holding on firmly.

Second Third

I am in the second third of the cigar now and the flavor profile continues to be balanced and going back and forth between being spicy and sweet. There is that almond flavor present and it is paired with this sweet dough like flavoring that has sugar and cinnamon in it. The finish is earthy with some barnyard, black pepper, tobacco and leather flavors, and like before is filling and complex. I would still classify the cigar as being medium-full in all areas and the construction remains top notch as well. The ash is charcoal in coloring and holding on firmly to the end The draw is perfect, not too tight or loose and smooth as well while producing a nice bit of smoke.

Final Third

When I get into the final third of the cigar the nutty aspect really opens up and it is delivering some noticeable almond flavors with that dough and sweet cinnamon flavor. It has some cocoa qualities to it and with that is some earth, barnyard and tobacco. The sweet spice combo continues to be present in the cigar and that is what I find with Criollo ’98 from Nicaragua. It is medium-full on all counts and it has a great finish. The finish is cool and the draw remains perfect to the end. There is a razor sharp burn line to the nub of the cigar and with that burn line is an ash that is charcoal in coloring and holding on firmly.

Burn

From start to finish the cigar had a perfect burn line and presented no problems. It naturally smoked slow, which was great and it really helps in letting you focus on the flavors being delivered. I don’t rush cigars, but if you tried with this it would be rather difficult and would ruin the experience. It was naturally a tighter and densely packed cigar.

Draw

The draw was absolutely perfect on the samples I smoked for this review. It was never too loose or tight. Some might say it was a little snug, but I would say it is perfect and it made the smoker have to slow down while smoking.

Overall

This sophomore release from Plasencia is the best cigar they have released year to date. The flavor profile is complex with a nice bit of depth and it has this great medium-full body and strength level throughout. The cigar is focused on Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 tobacco, which I love and it delivers this great combination between being sweet and spicy throughout. So many people think of the Plasencia Family as being tobacco growers and individuals who own factories, but this cigar, along with its predecessor, show those individuals that they really know how to make great blends. Why the company did not have their own brand years ago baffles me, but I am glad they are here now. I highly recommend this cigar and I look forward to trying out the line in different vitolas.

Seth Geise

SCORE

8.58

Cost/Point

$1.68

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Plasencia Alma del Campo Guajiro