Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown with some slightly darker marbling. Some small veins are visible but they are very well pressed. The seams are smooth and hardly detectable while the head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. There are three bands, the primary being gray, white and silver and having the brand and line name on it. The secondary is unique as it is above the primary band and has the company logo repeating around it. There is also a foot band that denotes Cosecha Privada. The aroma from the wrapper gives an initial sweet hay note, but then leather and cocoa become present. The foot is a mix of wood and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw consists of green hay sweetness, very light wood and a very mild spiciness on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Plasencia Cosecha 146 La Vega has a very attractive Colorado Maduro to Red wrapper shade. Construction feels and looks good as seams are tight, veins well pressed, bunch and roll uniform and head finished off with a well applied triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper give powerful barnyard, cedar and dried nuts. Foot aromas give the same notes but on intensified manners. Cold draw tells jammed plums and dried nuts.

First Third

The cigar begins with some creamy wood and a pretty decent amount of black pepper with a long finish. At a quarter inch in, the black pepper mellows quite a bit as the wood becomes a bit fuller. At an inch in, the wood and cream are at equal levels while the black pepper is now very faint in the background. The retrohale is primarily wood with a slight amount of black pepper present. As the third comes to a close, the wood becomes more defined as cedar and gains a mild spiciness while the cream remains at an even level. The black pepper is no longer detectable. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

The first third’s main underlying note is a toasted/slightly charred oak note. Once I get past that, notes of semi-sweet chocolate, fudge and a slight effervescence are tasted. The finish is all about a long and lingering toasted charred oak note. Retrohaling brings a much needed abundance of black pepper spice and dried nuts. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

The second third continues on with the slightly spicy cedar and cream. There’s also a bit of earthiness that has joined in. At a half inch in, the cedar transitions back to a general wood note and loses the spice while the cream reduces a bit and the earthiness is slightly dry. At an inch in, the wood and earthiness are up front with a slight cream in the background. The retrohale also carries the wood and dry earthiness. As the third comes to a close, the cream goes away while the wood and dry earthiness remain. The strength in this third bumped up to right at medium.

Second Third

Getting into the second third, the main thing I notice is the underlying toasted charred oak is tapering off, allowing for the semi-sweet chocolate, fudge and faint effervescence to further shine. Retrohaling is by far the best part of the cigar giving full and direct notes of dried nuts and black pepper. Strength is inching towards medium-full while body stays medium.

Final Third

The final third begins with a continuation of the wood and dry earthiness. At a quarter inch in, a slight cream rejoins the profile as the wood gains a bit of char. The retrohale brings some charred wood and dry earthiness. At a half inch in, the char begins to increase quite a bit, allowing the wood to take over the lead from the earthiness. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third continues to show the toasted charred oak backing off. The core flavor profile is semi-sweet chocolate, fudge and faint effervescence that is almost baking soda like. Strength also moves to medium-full, while body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn got off a bit in the first third but self corrected and stayed pretty straight the rest of the way. In the second half of the second third, it had a hard time staying lit and required two re-lights.

Burn

Burn performance was overall very good. Just a re-light within the last third. But overall, tight ashes, good smoke production and relatively even burn.

Draw

The draw was a bit more snug than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

This was my first experience with a Plasencia branded cigar and I think it’s a good introduction. It provided a nice flavor profile that built up as it progressed, but did fall down a bit in the final third. The burn was a bit of a challenge with the cigar going out a couple of times, but I don’t think it effected things too much. Strength was right around medium the whole time and I think the cigar would be approachable for most smokers. I’m interested in trying the other lines as well. I’d be up for smoking some more of these on occasion.

Draw

Very good draw. A bit tight but not a concerning issue whatsoever.

Overall

Interestingly enough, this is a cigar that starts mediocre but builds into a better tasting profile as it goes. The first third’s underlying toasted charred oak is not exactly desired, but as the cigar progressed, that note starts to dissipate, allowing for better tasting notes of semi-sweet chocolate, fudge and baking soda to shine. It’ll be a disservice to not retrohale the Plasencia Cosecha 146 La Vega as it’s the best part of it, giving full notes of dried nuts and black pepper. The strength build up helped the cigar to not be mundane rather attention grabbing. All in all, I would smoke one again but not in a rush to reach for more.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.37

Cost/Point

$1.70

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.57

Cost/Point

$1.64

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Plasencia Cosecha 146 La Vega