First, a bit of an introduction. The Plasencia Alma del Fuego Cortez TAA became one of the fastest-selling TAA releases of 2023—and it is easy to understand why.

Created in extremely limited quantities for select TAA retailers, the Cortez offers collectors a rare expression from one of the cigar industry’s most respected names. Plasencia releases are already known for selling quickly, and the combination of limited availability, strong demand, and the popularity of the Alma del Fuego line made this cigar especially difficult to keep in stock.

The original Alma del Fuego has become a favorite among smokers who enjoy bold, full-flavored Nicaraguan cigars. For this exclusive release, Plasencia presented the blend in an impressive box-pressed perfecto shape with a pigtail cap, giving the Cortez a distinctive appearance and a smoking experience worthy of its limited-edition status.

Over the years, Plasencia has earned a reputation for producing premium Nicaraguan cigars with excellent construction, rich flavor, and enough refinement to keep stronger blends from becoming overwhelming. The Alma del Fuego Cortez fits that reputation well. Created as the company’s first release exclusively for the Tobacconists’ Association of America, this substantial 5¾ × 56 box-pressed figurado immediately felt like a distinctive and collectible expression of the Alma del Fuego line.

So, knowing the blend was inspired by tobacco grown in the volcanic soils of Ometepe Island, I expected a bold and earthy smoking experience. The cigar delivered that character early, opening with a noticeable combination of red pepper, earth, and warm Nicaraguan spice. There was plenty of intensity, but it never came across as rough or uncontrolled.

After the opening settled down, I began to notice the profile becoming darker and more rounded. The sharper pepper moved into the background, making room for flavors of roasted coffee, charred oak, dark cocoa, and mineral earth. A restrained natural sweetness helped soften those heavier notes, while an occasional roasted-cashew character added another layer to the smoke.

What I enjoyed most about the Cortez was the way the figurado shape influenced the experience. The narrower beginning seemed to focus the pepper and spice, while the wider sections produced a fuller and more expansive smoke. As the cigar progressed, coffee and dark wood remained at the center, but the balance between cocoa, earth, spice, and sweetness continued to shift enough to keep my attention.

By the middle portion, the cigar had developed into a rich, medium-to-full-bodied smoke with plenty of depth. The flavors felt more integrated at this point, with the pepper providing structure rather than dominating the profile. The draw remained controlled, the burn performed well, and the cigar produced thick, satisfying smoke throughout.

As I reached the later stages, the profile became deeper and slightly more intense. The charred wood and roasted coffee notes grew stronger, while the cocoa and natural sweetness kept the finish from becoming too dry. Even near the end, the cigar maintained the polished character I have come to associate with Plasencia.

Looking back on the experience, what impressed me most was how naturally the Cortez combined power with balance. It had the bold volcanic character I expected from an Ometepe-driven Nicaraguan puro, but it also offered enough refinement, sweetness, and movement to remain enjoyable from beginning to end.

The Plasencia Alma del Fuego Cortez is a memorable cigar for smokers who appreciate rich, evolving flavors. Its combination of red pepper, roasted coffee, charred oak, dark cocoa, earth, and restrained sweetness gave it plenty of personality without overwhelming my palate.

Strength: Medium to Full
Body: Medium to Full
Pairing: Espresso, aged rum, bourbon, or añejo tequila
My Rating: 92 Points