Alma del Cielo from Plasencia debuted at the 2025 PCA Trade Show in New Orleans
Alma del Cielo is the first-ever high-elevation cigar with the name meaning “Soul from the Sky,” captures the essence of tobacco grown at Finca San Julian in Condega, situated at greater than 3500 feet above sea level.
Melalina Torres, wife of Don Nestor Plasencia, spent much of her childhood on a family-owned piece of land now named Finca San Julian in Estelí, Nicaragua. This unique mountain farmland was a cherished location where Melalina spent many holidays and summer vacations with her family, surrounded by coffee plants and golden grain fields. As time passed, her father had to sell the farm, turning her childhood experiences into cherished but distant memories.
Years later, Melalina crossed paths with Don Nestor Plasencia at a celebratory gathering in Estelí, and an instant romance blossomed. Their marriage brought children and successes, but also challenges and difficult decisions, including relocating their operations to Honduras. In the 1990s, Don Nestor and his family moved back to Nicaragua and discovered that the beloved farm was available for purchase. As a surprise, Don Nestor acquired the land and gifted it to his wife Melalina, presenting her with this special piece of her childhood as an anniversary gift.
Today the farm grows tobacco and the tobacco grown in this field benefits from higher sunlight exposure and cooler climates, resulting in a unique and captivating flavor. Situated high above sea level, Finca San Julian is nurtured by an untouched stream that flows through the farm. “This cigar is more than a product,” said Don Nestor’s son, Nestor Andres:.“It is a living memory, a symbol of our family, a reflection of our sustainable farming practices, and of nature at its most generous.” The soil is meticulously nurtured and done so in a manner as close as possible to how Mother Nature does this when on her own, in order to create tobacco that is not only more sustainable, but which ultimately yields a memorable cigar experience like no other in the world.”
Available in three sizes:
- Celeste – Robusto (4 7/8 x 52) MSRP / Cigar: $25.00 | MSRP / Box of 10: $250.00
- Boreal – Toro (6 1/8 x 54) MSRP / Cigar: $27.50 | MSRP / Box of 10: $275.00
- Amanecer– Hexágono (6 x 60) MSRP / Cigar: $29.50 | MSRP / Box of 10: $295.00
Cigar Review: Plasencia Alma del Cielo
Size: 6 1/8 x 54 ( Boreal / Toro)
Wrapper: Nicaragua (Condega)
Binder: Nicaragua
Fillers: Nicaragua
Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
Release Date: April 2025
Production: Regular
Box Size: 10
The Cigar: Featuring three bands that are blue & gold the presentation looks the same as other Plasencia releases with a small band denoted P encompassing the cigar. The primary band showcasing the Plasensencia full logo with the words Alma del Cielo is a small thin fond and a footband with Alma de Cielo in a larger bold font. This blue label plasencia has an almost Habano like appearance or the darker Connecticut shade depending on how the sun hits it. There are a visible network of veins present giving the wrapper an appearance as if micro fractures are forming. The cigar is coarse under the fingers, well packed and of an average weight.
The Taste: The aroma from the foot before we cut the cap has some subtle white pepper, cedar and the faintest hint of molasses. The cold draw serves up dry cookie dough, prunes and a wisp of cedar. After we carefully toast the foot we nervously begin to smoke the cigar that saw the foot band slightly tear the wrapper due to there being to much “glue” holding it in place.
Upon light the first third serves up notes of sourdough bread that is short lived. As we move past the tear uneventfully the cigar serves up some subtle pepper notes to start where it is joined by oats, lemon rind, and a floral component round our the first third. There is a bit of a strange aftertaste to the cigar which I can’t put my fingers on. The retrohale adds touches of cinnamon and brown sugar.
As we move into the second third some notes of earth begin to emerge with the addition of lychee nuts, lemon zest and a touch of cinnamon spice. the finish of the cigar serves up sourdough bread along with some floral elements. The retrohale continues to see some brown sugar with a growing caramel and red pepper flakes.
The final third of this medium-full bodied cigar continues to see notes of earth and nuts, though the nutty components are more generic as the cigar comes to a close. There is some continued sourdough notes and lemon citrus. There continues to be a finish that is different that I struggle to put my finger on which does hurt the balance of the cigar. The retrohale to close things out still sees a subtle brown sugar with added earth and red pepper flakes.
Conclusion: The marketing for the cigar states this is the first-ever high-elevation cigar with tobacco grown at Finca San Julian in Condega, situated at greater than 3500 feet above sea level. Perhaps this is the reason for their to be a distinct taste on the finish of the cigar. It reminds me of the first time I had Florida Sun Grown tobacco in a cigar. While the finish isn’t bad, it is distinct and something different that you will either love or hate as I do not think there is an in between on the Plasencia Alma Del Cielo. Even if you are a big fan of Plasencia I would tread softly with a couple of single before making a decision on whether or not to invest in a full box especially given the price point.
Score: 90
Price: $25.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
Our friends at Small Batch Cigar carry the Plasencia Alma del Cielo and you can use the coupon code BARRELBURNER to save 10% on your order (certain restrictions may apply).
