Plasencia Alma Fuerte Robustus II Review

There are cigars you can light up without thinking too much about it, and then there are cigars like the Alma Fuerte  Robustus II from Plasencia Cigars that ask a little more from you.

This is a premium cigar, no way around it. You’re looking at around twenty bucks for a single, which immediately raises the question: Is it actually worth it, or is it just another expensive cigar with a good name behind it?

I spent real time with this Colorado Claro to figure that out. This isn’t a cigar that hits you all at once. It builds, it evolves, and it rewards you if you’re paying attention. So the real question isn’t just whether it’s good. It’s whether it’s worth your time and money.

Quick Answer: Is the Alma Fuerte Robustus II Worth It?

If you’ve got some experience with cigars, I’d say yes, it’s worth trying at least once. If you’re new to cigars or just getting into cigars, you probably won’t get everything out of it yet.

This is a medium-strength cigar with a medium-full body, built on Nicaraguan tobacco and subtle transitions. You’ll notice the difference if you’ve spent time paying attention to how cigars evolve. If not, it might just feel like a good cigar that happens to cost twenty bucks.

Cigar Details & Blend Breakdown: Alma Fuerte 

Profile: Medium-Full

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Colorado Claro wrapper (Jalapa region, aged 10 years)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A., Estelí, Nicaragua

Size Reviewed: 5 1/8 x 55

Vitola: Robustus II (round parejo)

Sizes Available: Sixto I (6 x 60), Eduardo I (6 1/4 x 54), Robustus II (5 1/8 x 55), and Robusto Corto (4 x 52)

Notable Features: 10-year-aged Colorado Claro wrapper, all-Nicaraguan blend, rounded format (not box pressed), dense construction

Flavor Highlights: Cedar, earth, pretzel-like dryness, nuttiness, black pepper, dark chocolate, espresso, leather

Price Point: Around $20 - $22 per cigar, typically less per cigar when bought in boxes of 10

The Story Behind the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Line

The Plasencia family isn’t new to this. Their roots in tobacco go back to 1865, when the family began growing tobacco after emigrating from the Canary Islands to Cuba. Over generations, they built a reputation as one of the most respected names in the cigar business, supplying tobacco to some of the biggest brands in the industry.

The Alma Fuerte line, introduced in 2016, marked a shift. Instead of just growing tobacco for others, the Plasencia family leaned fully into producing their own premium cigars under their own name.

The Colorado Claro variation came later, built around a carefully aged wrapper that had been over a decade in the making. That kind of time growing tobacco and refining the process shows up in the final product.

Everything in this cigar, from the wrapper to the filler, is produced under the control of the Plasencia factory in Nicaragua. That level of vertical integration is part of what gives this cigar its consistency and identity.

There’s a reason the Alma Fuerte line is often compared to other high-end cigars. It’s not just branding. It’s the result of a fifth-generation family putting everything they know into one product.

Cold Draw & Initial Impressions

Before I even lit it up, this cigar already felt like it had some weight to it. The wrapper had that clean Colorado Claro look, lighter than the original Alma Fuerte, but still with some oil and texture to it. Just a cigar that looked very well-made and consistent.

On the cold draw, I was getting cedar, light cocoa, and a dry, slightly grainy note that ended up showing up again once it was lit. There was also a faint floral edge along with some natural tobacco sweetness. The draw had just enough resistance, which is usually a good sign going in.

First Third: Pretzel, Cedar & Earth

Right from the first few puffs, I could tell this cigar had its own thing going on. The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Robustus II opens with cedar and earth, but what really stood out to me was that dry, almost pretzel-like character. It’s one of those notes that sounds strange until you actually taste it, and then it just clicks.

There’s a grainy quality to the smoke, something that leans toward toasted bread or dough layered over that core of Nicaraguan tobacco. I picked up a little natural sweetness underneath it, but the profile stays more dry and structured than sweet.

That pretzel note really felt like the defining flavor early on, and it’s one of the things that makes this cigar stand out. The Colorado wrapper keeps the cigar from coming out too strong right away. I was getting some white pepper on the retrohale, but it stayed more in the background than anything.

Draw and smoke output were both solid right away. This first third feels like the cigar is laying the groundwork for more to come. 

Second Third: Transition Into Depth

As I moved into the second third, the cigar started to shift, but not in an overly drastic way. That pretzel-like dryness was still there, but it stopped leading everything. Instead, a nuttier profile started to come through, along with a deeper earth note.

I also picked up leather, a little oak, and even a slight floral note that would come and go. Nothing jumps out and takes over, but everything felt a bit more layered.

What I noticed as I worked into the middle of the cigar is that the profile started to rebalance itself. The wood and earth trade places a bit, and the cigar becomes more centered around natural tobacco and earth. 

The pepper notes were still there, but more on the finish than upfront. This was probably my favorite stretch. Paired with black coffee, everything just locked in, and it was incredibly enjoyable. .

Final Third: Pepper, Chocolate & Strength

By the time I got into the final third, the cigar leaned into a darker, more concentrated profile. That nuttiness took over from the pretzel note, but it also got drier and a little sharper. Black pepper became more noticeable, especially on the finish.

I was getting dark chocolate, espresso bean, richer earth, and some leather, all working together. The sweetness shifted into more of a semi-sweet chocolate rather than anything creamy. I could see how some people would read this as more earth and pepper forward, but to me, it felt balanced with those darker flavors filling everything out.

The cigar held together the whole way through. No unraveling, no harsh finish, no drop-off. It just tightened up and finished stronger than it started.

Construction, Burn & Draw Performance

One thing I always pay attention to with anything from the Plasencia family is whether the construction actually matches the price, and this one did... as I totally expected. 

The draw landed right where I like it. Not too loose, not plugged, just enough resistance to feel controlled. The burn line stayed pretty clean overall, holding a straight burn path with only minor waviness.

It’s also worth calling this out clearly, the Robustus II is not box pressed. It’s a round parejo, and while I normally am a fan of box pressed cigars, I think that works in its favor. Smoke production stayed strong the whole way through, and the cigar never overheated or got harsh.

Is the Alma Fuerte Robustus II Worth $20?

Let’s be honest, this isn’t a cheap cigar. You’re usually looking at around $20 to $22 per cigar, depending on where you buy it, which puts it firmly in premium territory.

For me, it’s worth it, but not in an everyday kind of way. This isn’t the cigar I’m grabbing when I want something quick or mindless. It’s the cigar I reach for when I’ve actually got time to sit down and pay attention.

What stood out to me is how consistent it stays while still changing. It doesn’t rely on one big moment. It builds, shifts, and tightens up as it goes.

If your palate leans toward something smoother and easier to settle into, Plasencia has other cigars that make more sense as a starting point. The Plasencia Reserva Original, for example, sits in a much milder lane compared to the Alma Fuerte line. This Robustus II is fuller, more layered, and asks a lot more from you as you work through it.

Does the Alma Fuerte Robustus II Live Up to the Price?

I think it does, but mostly if you’ve got enough experience to appreciate what it’s doing. This isn’t a cigar that wins you over with one big moment. It builds, shifts, and tightens up as it goes, and by the end, you realize how much it actually changed without feeling forced.

That’s something I’ve noticed across the Alma Fuerte line as a whole. It knows what it is, and it does a really good job at it. If you go into it expecting something incredibly bold right away, you might miss what makes it good. But if you take your time with it, it delivers.

Does The Alma Fuerte Robustus II Deserve a Spot?

I’ll put it this way, this isn’t a cigar that’s going to hit you with one big moment and win you over right away.

What it does instead is build on itself the whole time you’re smoking it. That pretzel note early on turns into more nuttiness, the earth deepens, and by the end you’re getting darker flavors like chocolate and espresso that weren’t as noticeable at the start.

It’s not dramatic, but it’s noticeable if you’re paying attention. That’s kind of how I see the Alma Fuerte line in general. It’s less about one standout flavor and more about how everything develops as you go.

If you’re the type of smoker that just wants something bold right away, this might not be the one that stands out to you. But if you like cigars that actually change as you work through them, this one does a really good job of that.

When to Smoke the Alma Fuerte Robustus II

This isn’t a grab-and-go cigar for me. Between the price and the way the profile develops, this is something I’d rather smoke in the evening when things have slowed down, and I’ve actually got time to sit with it. It rewards you more when you’re not rushing it.

As for pairings, I’d keep it simple, this cigar paired with black coffee works really well, a solid bourbon makes sense, and even water is fine if you want the cigar to stay the focus.

I wouldn’t hand this to someone brand new to cigars, but if you’ve got some experience and you want something that feels like a step up, this fits that role really well.

Ratings Breakdown

(Comparable to a 90–91 on a traditional cigar scale)

A well-built, medium-full cigar that delivers a steady progression of flavor and a refined smoking experience. Not the loudest cigar in the humidor, but one of the more complete.

Where to Buy Plasencia Cigars Online

If this sounds like something you’d want to spend time with, you can find the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Robustus II and other Plasencia cigars in our humidor at After Action Cigars.

If you’re already familiar with the Plasencia Alma Fuerte line, this is an easy one to add into your rotation. And if you’re just getting into fuller-bodied cigars, this is a solid place to see what Nicaraguan tobacco can really do.