Plasencia Alma Del Cielo by Plasencia | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars
- HB Cigars
- Aug 20
- 3 min read
Oh baby, the soul of the sky. If anyone has followed me for a while knows that I love Plasencia as a brand as much as they love naming their cigars after souls. From top to bottom, they are a unified brand. They own the tobacco, they own the factories, and it shows. This particular soul comes from tobacco grown at an unprecedented 3,500 feet above sea level at Finca San Julian in Condega, Nicaragua - making it the world's first high-elevation cigar.
The farm was originally a cattle and coffee operation owned by Nestor Andrés Plasencia's grandmother, sold in 1961, then repurchased by Nestor Sr. in 1998 as a surprise gift for his wife. I'd be hard-pressed to find a brand with as many quality blends and vitolas. Padron comes to mind, but Plasencia seems a little less snooty, more approachable like your weird uncle from Reno.
🔥 THE VITALS 🔥
Cigar: Alma Del Cielo Boreal(weird way to say Toro)
Master Blender: Nestor Andrés Plasencia
Size: Toro (6 1/8 x 54)
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan (including high-altitude tobacco from Finca San Julian)
Price: ~$26.50
Aging: Meticulously aged tobaccos, organically cultivated
🚀 WE ARE LIT!
Excellent if not slightly loose draw that flows easier than conversation at your ex's wedding. Tons of flavor and smoke production at light up - no waiting around for this cigar to get going. The construction is solid with a beautiful golden-hued wrapper that showcases the craftsmanship. Silky smoke texture coats the palate with a medium-long finish that lingers pleasantly.
🎯 FLAVOR JOURNEY
FIRST THIRD: THE OPENING ACT
Sweet Cream, leather, tobacco, slight spice/retro, cashews
Sweet cream and leather dominate the initial draws, creating a luxurious entry point. The tobacco presents itself clearly alongside these primary notes. A slight spice on the retrohale keeps things interesting without overwhelming - like that friend who brings just one conspiracy theory to dinner parties. As you approach the second third, cashew notes begin to emerge, adding a nutty complexity to the cream and leather foundation. Light pepper maintains a consistent background presence throughout.
SECOND THIRD: THE COMFORT ZONE
cream, cashews, leather, spice has diminished
The cream and cashews take center stage while the leather remains as a supporting character. The high-altitude tobacco's influence becomes apparent here, with the cooler nights and direct sunlight at 3,500 feet creating distinctive flavor nuances. The spice that was present in the first third has diminished significantly, allowing the creamy nuttiness to shine through. This is where the cigar finds its groove - smooth, balanced, and approachable. It's performing better than your investment portfolio but with less anxiety.
FINAL THIRD: THE HOMECOMING
tobacco sweetness, leather, some earth, light nuttiness
Tobacco notes become more prominent as we enter the final stretch, joined by leather and some earthiness. The organically cultivated, high-elevation tobacco exposed to mountain breezes and nourished by an untouched natural stream shows its terroir here. The complexity has simplified into core flavors that are robust but not overwhelming, which is how my wife describes my....Moving on. The finish remains consistent and satisfying through to the nub.
🏆 THE VERDICT:
A- TIER (WITH AGING POTENTIAL!)
Flavor: A-
Construction: A
Availability: A
Price: B
Is this the best Plasencia? No. Is it good? Yes! With some age on these bad boys, they will be absolute bangers. As the fourth release in the Alma series following Fuerte, Campo, and Fuego, this cigar represents Plasencia's continued innovation in premium tobacco cultivation. The use of high-altitude tobacco creates a unique profile that sets it apart from traditional valley-grown cigars, but not super different. The construction is excellent, the burn is even, and the progression from creamy sweetness to earthy tobacco is well-executed.
💨 BOTTOM LINE
The Alma Del Cielo demonstrates why Plasencia has earned its reputation as both a premier grower and manufacturer. This isn't just marketing fluff about altitude - the unique growing conditions genuinely translate to the smoking experience. At around $27.50, it's priced appropriately for the innovation and quality. While it may not dethrone the Alma Fuerte as the line's heavyweight champion, it offers something different: a medium-bodied journey that showcases what happens when you take tobacco cultivation to new heights, literally. Give these some time in your humidor and they'll reward you like finding an unopened box of thin mints in the freezer - unexpected but deeply satisfying.
TLDR: Pretty damn good, but pretty damn expensive
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