The Cosecha 149 by Plasencia

BRAND / CO:  Plasencia

CIGAR:  Cosecha 149 [Azacualpa]

VITOLA:  Toro (Box Press) - 6" x 52
STRENGTH:  Medium - Full
WRAPPER:  Honduran, Natural
BINDER:  Honduras (Jamastran)
FILLER:  Honduras (Jamastran, Olancho San Agustín, Talanga)
ORIGIN:  Honduras, Tabacos de Oriente

APPEARANCE & CONSTRUCTION:   Good
Super dark chocolate brown with a lot of red to it.  It's somewhat dry, but still has a light sheen, yet a lot of mottling.  It's an interesting juxtaposition.  There are a couple predominant veins but they're pressed in with a soft box press that squares off the cigar.  Seams and cap are all tight and well done.  The copper accents on the bands are the perfect complement to the dark color of the wrapper.

DRAW & BURN:   Good / Good
The draw is perfect and the burn starts nicely.  The ash is a light gray with thicker crack gaps that are wobbly.  It holds to almost the end of the first third before falling.  Another Plasencia that generates a lovely thick white smoke too.  The burn line is a bit wavy, but controlled. Box pressed cigars just always seem a bit more troublesome with the burn line.

FLAVOR PROFILE:   Excellent
The blend starts very earthy, bits of leather and spice; cinnamon and pepper.  It's funny how some cigars start with an immediate full profile while others like to trick you.  The 149 is a trickster because as I'm wondering if I'll like this blend, it brings in the rest.  Bittersweet dark chocolate, coffee, charred wood, toasted breadiness and raisiny sweetness.   It's got a nice kick from the pepper and finishes a medium creamy even though it's burning the mouth and lips.

It just becomes a fucking laugh riot of flavor in the second third.  Is it mesquite BBQ?  Is it that molasses bread and honey butter at Outback?  Is it a warm brownie with dark chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream with a coffee? It's the whole damn three course meal.  Please tip your waiter accordingly.  The sweet is surprisingly strong and perfectly cuts the other flavors offsetting the charred oak and pepper.  It's a bit heavy on the coffee for my palate, bringing some extra natural bitterness, but I'm still digging it. 

Final third keeps the flavor bomb status in full effect.  Another blend that just builds and maintains throughout the smoke.  Full on banger. 

OVERALL EXPERIENCE:   Excellent
I'm pretty sure this is a universally loved cigar by everybody who smokes it because of the fantastic profile. If you don't hold Honduran tobacco in as high a regard as Nicaraguan, this is the cigar you need to smoke to dispel those preconceived notions. You'll be glad you did.

Purchase Singles or by the box HERE

Reviewed by Sean McCloskey of The Collective.