PLASENCIA ALMA DEL FUEGO CANDENTE

For more than five generations, the Plasencia family has been known as some of the best tobacco growers the world over. They have been manufacturing cigars for just as long and are known for their quality. Although not a household name (yet), you’ve likely seen their handiwork in brands like Rocky Patel, Gurkha, and Romeo y Julieta just to name a few. A few years ago, the Plasencias decided they wanted their moment in the limelight and launched the exceptional super-premium Plasencia Cigars. It was designed as a vehicle to showcase their talents as tobacco growers and cigar manufacturers. One of their most popular lines is the Alma del Fuego (Soul of Fire).

Utilizing some of the best tobaccos grown exclusively on Plasencia farms, the Plasencia Alma del Fuego is expertly constructed and features a blend of all Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos. The wrapper is another Plasencia-grown tobacco, but it is grown in the rich soils of the Jalapa Valley region which impart spectacular flavors to this special wrapper. This cigar may seem diminutive in stature, but it is an absolute powerhouse of rich, complex flavors. Tasting notes include flavors of pepper, earth, cedar, and roasted nuts with hints of sweet citrus, coffee, and cream. The Plasencia Alma del Fuego is another groundbreaking and flavorful cigar from the Plasencia family.

HIGHCLERE CASTLE VICTORIAN robusto

Nick Mellilo, aka Nick.R.Agua, is Foundation Cigar Co’s owner. He has a rich history in the premium cigar industry. He began his career by working at Drew Estate’s La Gran Fabrica in Nicaragua as their master of tobaccos. After he departed Drew Estate, he began making cigars under his own label, and he launched Foundation with great success. He had spent years exploring some of the world’s best and most unique tobaccos, and knew exactly what he wanted to create with his first offerings. George Carnarvon, the eighth Earl of Carnarvon and owner of Highclere Castle (the castle from the show Downton Abbey), saw potential in Foundation and commissioned them to create a cigar named after this spectacular English manor.

Foundation Cigar Co’s Highclere Castle Victorian is a beautiful cigar. Beginning with the label, you can tell this cigar was designed with nobility in mind. It features the Carnarvon’s family crest in gold over a luxurious reddish-orange label. Next you’ll notice the quality of the cigar itself. Made in Nicaragua, Highclere Castle Victorian uses select Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo tobaccos grown in Esteli for the filler. A Brazilian Mata Fina binder leaf is applied and the finest upper priming Habano Ecuador wrapper is carefully laid on top of this exquisite blend. Tasting notes include cedar, espresso, and caramel with hints black pepper and cinnamon. Highclere Castle Victorian is an elegant cigar fit for a lord or lady of the most discerning palate.

DAVIDOFF royal robusto (2015 vintage release)

Davidoff is an iconic name in the cigar industry. They were the first true luxury brand in the cigar industry and are known for producing some of the best, high-quality, and consistent handmade cigars in the world. Their factories in the Dominican Republic are cathedrals to the craft, and their tobacco stores are the envy of fellow manufacturers. It’s the company’s commitment to quality that drives them to regularly examine their work and adjust blends as necessary. Whether you grab a Davidoff today or 5 years from now, their process ensures that the cigars are remarkably consistent. It’s one of the many reasons why only a Davidoff is a Davidoff. Their cigars are truly timeless.

Davidoff is no stranger to super premium cigars, but the Davidoff Royal release elevates that idea to an even higher perch. They say that everything about the Royal Release line is “hand picked” using the best materials and talent. This begins with the seeds selected to grow the tobacco and the specific fields they are grown in, and ends up with their absolute best bunchers and rollers. These spectacular cigars were rolled in 2015 using a blend of Dominican Piloto Visus, San Vicente Ligero, Piloto Seco and hybrid Corojo/Olor Ligero tobaccos filler tobaccos, a hybrid Dominican Olor/Piloto Seco binder, and the pristine wrapper leaf is an Ecuadorian hybrid Connecticut/Habano Seco. These cigars feature lucious tasting notes of cream, natural tobacco, coffee, and honey roasted nuts along with perfectly balanced hints of pepper, baking spices, clove, leather, and dark chocolate. Davidoff Royal Release Robustos are the pinnacle of balance and flavor.

ROMEO Y JULIETA ENVY AMULET

One of the most recognized names in the cigar industry, Romeo y Julieta has a reputation to uphold. Typically, a Romeo y Julieta is a medium bodied experience that is always pleasant. When the brand decided to expand their portfolio with Connecticut Nicaragua, they decided to try something different, and a new chapter in the brand’s story began. To make this new Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua, the makers decided to use an all Nicaraguan blend to create a more richly flavored blend that stayed true to the brand’s identity while also appealing to a different base of aficionados. It was an instant success.

It seems like there is a new limited edition in the cigar business every other day, but Romeo y Julieta hardly releases one. When they do, you should take notice, and the Romeo y Julieta Envy Amulet is just such a cigar. These Nicaraguan puros are made by the team at Plasencia Cigars and use some of the finest, well aged tobaccos from their farms. Raphael Nodal led the blending team and scoured the Plasencia stores for some amazing tobaccos. When he found the perfect combination, he experimented with different ratios and sizes until this special Toro was ready. Tasting notes include flavors of dark chocolate, earth, and sweet cream along with hints of pepper, cedar, and dark coffee. As Rapahel Nodal says, “this cigar is absolutely fantastic!”