Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción is dark brown and has some darker freckles. There are a mix of veins that are well pressed as well as slightly raised. The seams are raised in some spots so it doesn’t make it too hard to see them while the head is fairly flat but finished with a very well applied triple cap. There are three bands with the primary having the traditional design from the company with the company and line name on it. The color combination is flat red and white. The secondary band which is above the primary is a strip that just has the company logo repeating in the same color combination. The foot band is white and flat red and denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper and closed foot are the same, which is a pretty faint damp wood. The pre-light draw reminds me of a cinnamon sugar cookie.

Pre-light Experience

The Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción is lovely in appearance and is dark marbled brown, clear Maduro in coloring. It is slightly silky in texture and smooth to the touch. There are some veins present throughout and the aroma off the cigar is of chocolate, rich earth, raisins and soft spices.

Pre-light Experience

The Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción is triple banded in an interesting way. The primary band is white on red, and is sandwiched between a white on red band on top, and a red on white band below, indicating Alma del Fuego. Adding to the complications, the cigar features a closed foot. Nosing the cigar, the wrapper has aromas of old barn wood, faint spices and nutmeg. As the foot was closed, I wasn’t able to pull out anything else.

Pre-light Experience

The Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción has a gorgeous uniformed dark chocolate brown wrapper with plenty of oil seeping out of the wrapper. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and head well wrapped. Aromas from the wrapper give humidor cedar. Nosing the foot tells the same. Cold draw gives cedar and baking spices.

First Third

The cigar begins with dark wood, cocoa and some black pepper. At a quarter inch in, some mustiness joins the profile while the black pepper morphs into baking spice. At three quarters of an inch in, some earthiness joins the profile as the cocoa has left and the baking spice is in the background. At an inch in, the wood, mustiness, earth and spice are creating quite a nice flavor combination. The retrohale has a similar profile except the depth of the wood is increased. As the third comes to a close, the same profile is still going strong. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

The first third opens up by delivering some black pepper flavors. There are some black coffee notes present with that, and the finish is of rich earth and dark cocoa powder. The cocoa powder notes are very present and it has this powdery feel as well with the cigar. It is full in flavor, body and strength and this is a really enjoyable offering.

First Third

The first third kicks off with creamy, powdered cocoa and a cedar chaser. The retrohale has bready components with hints of leather and earth. There is a strong post draw cedar that settles in. Chlorophyll joins the retrohale soon after, and the leather on the post draw takes on a significant palate coating aspect. As the cigar settles in, mild mid palate sour citrus adds to the profile. At the halfway point, mild chocolate joins the middle of the profile.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile gives namely baker’s chocolate and cedar up front. Retrohaling brings a creamed cherry to the baker’s chocolate and cedar. The finish is on the shorter end, but it’s clean, with namely a soft cedar. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood and mustiness now have the lead over the earth and baking spice. At a half inch in, the baking spice is very faint while the musty wood remains up front and some earth remains in the background. At an inch in, the profile is becoming a bit dry. The retrohale carries the same profile. At an inch and a quarter, a slight meatiness joins the profile as the baking spice picks back up. As the third comes to a close, the profile is musty wood and earth with a faint baking spice. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Second Third

I am in the second third of the cigar now and I am picking up some new cinnamon notes. There is a sweet spice present, and with that is some red pepper. The earth notes are still prominent and the finish is of cafe mocha. Like the first third, the cigar is full in strength and body, and the flavors are right there as well.

Second Third

Leather is at the front of the profile leading into the second third. Creamy cedar and cocoa take up the middle of the profile. Bready notes return into the mid profile, adding to the complex mix. Those flavor combinations continue for the remainder of the second third and there are no other major change ups or evolution.

Second Third

The second third has more of the creamed cherry note capturing not only the retrohale, but also through the mouth draws. The profile also gets a bit dry, requiring more sips of water. Strength and body continues to be medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some creamy coffee joins the profile. At a half inch in, the creamy coffee has left as the profile returns to just musty wood and earth. The retrohale has a slightly young wood note to go along with the mustiness and earth. At an inch in, the slightly young wood comes to the mouth draws as the mustiness and earth remain the same. At an inch and a quarter, a faint creamy coffee returns to the profile. As the cigar comes to a close, the creamy coffee has increased in fullness and become even with the young wood, mustiness and earth. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Final Third

I am in the final third now and I am picking up some further transitioning from before. The spice notes are much more prominent, but it is balanced by this metallic flavor profile with some dry earth and wood. The dark cocoa powder notes really make a comeback as well, and it makes for a lovely finish. The cigar finishes like it began, and it is full in body, strength and flavors.

Final Third

Earthy cedar leads the flavor profile into the last third. Sour citrus returns into the middle of the profile as the third settles in. That earthy component increases in strength and becomes the dominant flavor for the remainder of the experience.

Final Third

The last third is a slight degradation to the second third such that the dryness has increased and the baker’s chocolate became harsh and a bit burnt. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy throughout, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

The Alma del Fuego started out fairly weak in the burn line, but as the cigar progressed things improved. One of the biggest problems was the wrapper leaf. I think it was a thick leaf with a lot of flavors and that hurt the burn. With that being said, that is not a deal breaker.

Burn

The Alma del Fuego burned extremely well for the entire experience, with a clean straight burn line.

Burn

Burn was flawless. Sturdy tight ashes, even burn and cool burning temperature.

Draw

The draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with dark wood, cocoa and black pepper. Fairly soon after, some earth joined to replace the cocoa and the pepper morphed into baking spice. In the second third, wood, mustiness and earth were the core profile and then the final third saw some creamy coffee go in and out as the wood became a bit younger. Construction was very good and the strength was medium the whole way. The first third of the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción really reminded me of Christmas for some reason, but after that, things became average until the final third when creamy coffee rescued the cigar from continuing to be average. I’m interested to smoke this in another vitola in hopes of seeing that first third profile last longer as I really enjoyed it. I would smoke this again and see this as a nice addition to the company portfolio.

Draw

I found the draw to be a little loose. With that, the cigar smoked fairly quickly. I think if the draw was a little bit tighter the cigar would have smoked better.

Overall

I am a fan of the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción and I believe this is one of the best cigars Plasencia has released to date. It is rich and filling and there are a lot of enjoyable flavors throughout. There is subtle transitioning from the first to final third, nothing major but enough to make for an enjoyable and slightly complex experience. The body and strength go well with the flavors and it’s a really solid Nicaraguan puro. With that being said, they have really focused on the Nicaraguan puro offerings and I would love for them to show the diversity of the tobacco they have on hand in their blends. This is a premium cigar that delivers for the cost.

Draw

The draw had at most a one notch resistance to it, but still inside the zone of what I consider to be an ideal draw.

Overall

The Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción was slow to start, and reading all the first third flavors you might be surprised that I rated the first third average. While the flavors were pleasant, they seemed to only add a small measure to the overall flavor experience. The second third is where the cigar established itself, and though it didn’t seem to have a lot of evolution, the overall experience was enjoyable. The last third was rather simple with largely notes of earth. Overall construction was excellent. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 55 minutes.

Draw

The draw was also flawless providing the best pull.

Overall

Not that there is a definitive correlation between wrapper looks and smoking experience, but based on how beautifully dark, rich and oily the wrapper on the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción was, the smoking experience proved to be actually quite subtle. The mix of baker’s chocolate, cedar and creamed cherry were nuanced and delicate. The only inhibiting factor was the dryness and odd harshness seeping into the middle of the cigar, which was a major downturn to the cigar.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.38

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

6.52

Cost/Point

$2.46

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$2.62

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$2.62

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepción