Today, we review the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro in the Robustus II size. When Plasencia Cigars launched their brand in 2017, one of the first lines they brought to market was the Plasencia Alma Fuerte. A dark Nicaraguan wrapper highlighted the original Alma Fuerte. In 2021, Plasencia introduced a variation of the Plasencia Alma Fuerte, known as the Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro. As the name indicates, the Colorado Claro extends the Alma Fuerte line with a lighter-colored reddish wrapper.
SPECIFICATIONS
The Nicaraguan Colorado Claro wrapper of the Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro comes from the Jalapa region of Nicaragua. The remainder of the tobaccos that make up the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro are also from Nicaragua. The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro production comes from the Plasencia factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Colorado Claro
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Plasencia S.A.
- Robustus II: 5 1/8 x 55
Robustus II is the third size in the Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro. It was initially released in the Sixto I size, Plasencia’s signature six-sided hexagon vitola. Eduardo I, a box-pressed Toro, followed this. Robustus II brings a thick Robusto in a parejo (rounded) format. It is a different size than the regular Alma Fuerte Robustus I.
PERFORMANCE
The Robustus II opened up with notes of natural tobacco, fruit, earth, and wood. This was soon joined by a mixed pepper note, which was also present on the retro-hale. The wood notes became primary early on, but as the cigar experience progressed, the earth, natural tobacco, and pepper notes increased. Natural tobacco and earth had displaced wood as the primary note by the second half. The final third saw the earth as the sole primary note, and the pepper joined this. The earth and pepper were the primary notes for the remainder of the smoking experience. The wood, fruit, and natural tobacco rounded out the flavor profile.
The Robustus II delivered mild to medium-bodied notes countered by medium strength. The strength had a slight edge over the body but didn’t throw off the equilibrium between both attributes. The construction of the Robustus II was excellent. This burn didn’t need many touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. The draw had enough resistance to make it ideal in my book.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
Back in 2023, the box-pressed Eduardo I landed at #10 on the Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. I had high expectations with the Robustus II. In the end, I didn’t find the thicker, shorter, rounded format of this Robustus II beats out the thinner, longer box-pressed version of the Eduardo l. The Robustus II has good flavor and excellent construction, landing a respectable 89 points. Given the Colorado Claro is not an inexpensive line, I’d be inclined to recommend the Eduardo I every time. Therefore, I recommend trying to obtain a sample of this cigar before making a purchase.
Summary
Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Earth, Fruit, Wood, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Mild to Medium
Finish: Excellent
Rating
Value: Try a Sample
Score: 89
REFERENCES
Previous Assessment: Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I
News: Plasencia Introduces Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Robustus II at PCA 2023
Price $21.50
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Plasencia
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
