Plasencia: Alma Fuerte Natural Sixto I Hexagon Cigars

The roots of the Plasencia family's cigar tradition stretch back to 1865, when Eduardo Plasencia migrated to Cuba to cultivate tobacco. Over the following decades, the Plasencia family moved across Central America, founding farms in both Honduras and Nicaragua. Despite the success of their tobacco farms, the Plasencias never made cigars, deciding instead to sell their tobacco to prestigious cigar brands. However, in 2017, the fifth generation of Plasencia growers, Néstor Andrés Plasencia, ventured into the world of crafting premium cigars. Today, Plasencia is one of the most venerated names in the industry, boasting an expansive portfolio that fully utilizes their exquisite leaf.

Plasencia's Alma series, translating into English as "Soul," represents the highest tier within the brand's regular release portfolio and is planned to include five different blends when fully realized by the company. Introduced in 2016, the series debuted with the Alma Fuerte, was expanded in 2017 with the Alma del Campo, and was further emboldened by the Alma del Fuego in 2019. The Alma Fuerte translates into English as "Strong Soul" and is a Nicaraguan puro that boasts a robust, complex flavor profile with a medium-full body. Utilizing tobacco grown exclusively on Plasencia's estates across Nicaragua, the blend comprises primarily Criollo leaf and includes aged tobacco throughout. The Alma Fuerte Natural retains the original's binder and filler blend, but trades the dark wrapper for one of Jalapa Colorado Claro, and it's available here as the Sixto I Hexagon vitola.