Cigar: Plasencia 146
- Size: Torpedo
- Smoke time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Appearance & Aroma
The wrapper of the Plasencia 146 is a beautifully medium shade of brown that appears just as smooth as the flavor of the cigar itself. There are minimal veins, if any, and the cigar is not toothy. On the pre-light, there is an aroma of creamy flowers.
Light Up & Draw
I traditionally V-cut this torpedo-shaped cigar. On the light, the floral scent remains with an added sensation of cedar and earth. This cigar lights easily and flawlessly every time. It immediately produces a robust and enjoyable volume of smoke.
Early Profile
After about ¼ of an inch, the complexity of the flavor profile takes shape. The cedar flavor takes the foreground with a subtle sweetness hidden underneath. The burn is slightly uneven but requires no touch-up, and, by the end of the first third, begins to even out on its own. The retrohale produces a peppery sensation on the back of the nose. The ash is a clean white shade that clings to the foot for the entire first third and often beyond.
Middle Profile & Burn
The ash remains intact, falling off around the midway point, and the burn is completely even. The peppery retrohale is now replaced with smooth and creamy leather. The smoke on this third is a floral, nutty sweet with hints of cedar remaining, which pick up a bit heading into the final third. It is a solid medium in body. As the middle third comes to a close, I generally remove the shiny silver and white band, which can be tricky with the strong adhesive and thick paper used by Plasencia.
Late Profile
With the ash now gone, the burn is slightly off-center but again corrects itself. The cedar and earthiness seem to take the main stage with less sweetness but the cigar is somehow still creamy. There is no longer any nuttiness and the retrohale has a prevalence of cedar with pepper. The consistency of quality really shows in this cigar … Plasencia for the win!
Overall Impression
This Honduran and Nicaraguan blended cigar is very versatile, with its medium body and full flavor. It is a perfect marriage of the two powerhouse countries in the cigar industry. I enjoy it equally as a first smoke of the day or a mid-afternoon hiatus. It is pleasantly leathery and creamy, with a touch of natural sweetness and hints of cedar intensity throughout.
– Review by Taylor Gant, a tobacconist at Long Ridge Cigars in Winchester, Virginia
This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 1, 2023. To receive a copy of this magazine you must be a current member of PCA. Join or renew today at premiumcigars.org/membership.