Cigar Review: Plasencia Reserva Original Robusto – Rated 91

Presented at the 2017 IPCPR, the Plasencia Reserva Original is a cigar blend that Plasencia Cigars describe as an “organic cigar“. This means the cigar is made from tobacco certified by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). What does this mean to you the consumer?

According to the OCIA websiite:

No chemicals or non-natural fertilizers have been applied to fields, pastures, orchards, or vineyards for three years prior to harvest.

Operations have been annually inspected by an independent inspector and are subject to unannounced verification inspections at any time.

So you can be assured that nothing artificial has found itself into the leaf you are about to enjoy. It is just not the brand owner stating it, you are assured that the fields and processes have been inspected and certified.

Plasencia Reserva Original Robusto

Besides being completely organic in its growing, Plasencia ages all the leaf in the Reserva Original an additional five years after the leaf is cured and fermented.

The blend of the Reserva Original is described by Plasencia as 100% Nicaragua (a puro indeed). They keep it simple:

Wrapper – Nicaragua
Binder – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaragua

Of course all the leaf used in the cigar are grown on Plasencia farms.

As introduced at the 2017 IPCPR, the Reserva Original is available in 7 vitolas and come packaged in 20-count boxes:

Nestico (4 1/2 x 36) MSRP $4.40
Corona (6 1/4 x 44) MSRP $7.90
Robusto (4 3/4 x 52) MSRP $7.90
Original Toro (6 x 50) MSRP $8.90
Cortez (5 3/4 x 56) MSRP $9.00
Churchill (7 x 48) MSRP $9.50
Piramide (6 3/16 x 52) MSRP $9.90

For this review, I sampled the Plasencia Reserva Original Robusto which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.

Pre-Light Examination

Looking over the Plasencia Reserva Original, you can help but notice the beautiful marbled, medium brown wrapper that is light on veins and has a slight sheen in the light. The cigar is solid to the touch and is finished with a well applied triple cap.

There are three bands that adorn this cigar. They all use a copper and bronze and white motif. The primary band wraps around the center of the cigar and proudly displays the name PLASENCIA across the front with the words “Reserva Original” above and below the company name. There is a footer band that simply declares this as the “Reserva Original” and finally a third band is presented above the primary which has a series of circles with the letter “P” in them all around.

Running the Reserva Original across the nose I picked up a distinct fermented leaf aroma along the barrel and a fruit and cracker aroma off the foot.

Proceeding the slice the cap, I used my Palio double blade cutter to cut across the first line of the triple cap. As I took some cold draw puffs that had a nice restriction and pleased the palate with a notes of earth and fruit along with a growing peppery spice on the lips.

So far so good with positive check marks on the pre-light exam. It was time to fire it up which I did using my dual flame torch, holding the flame away from the foot to warm it gently, rotating the cigar till it started to take to the heat. A few good puffs to get it started to an even orange glow.

Cigar Review Notes

Plasencia Reserva Original Robusto

First light offers a fairly smooth smoke
Just a mild nose burn and fruit on the palate
Light grey ash evolves on a medium char line
Vanilla cream notes enter to join the fruit
A slight off burn develops after an inch
Astringent notes enter for a few puffs
Syrupy aroma rises off the foot
Coffee notes enter
Draw is a bit tight with medium volume of smoke
The wave grew and required a touch up to even it out
Nut enters near the end of the first third
Ash fell just south of the band revealing a flat cone
Sweetness fills in the background midway
Aroma shifts to more of a roasted oak
Fruit follows near end of the second third
Finishes with a light spice
Medium Strength
Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes

Overall, I rate the Plasencia Reserva Original Robusto an 91. This cigar had a full body of flavor with excellent nuances in both flavor and aroma. I especially enjoyed the sweetness and vanilla cream notes. There was an off burn early on that eventually grew to the point where it required a touch-up. Once the ash fell there was a flat burn cone and the draw was tighter than I like through the burn offering only a medium volume of smoke. At a price of $7.90 this is priced fine and I may buy one again if I saw it on the shelf.