The Montecristo Espada Ricasso comes swinging with Nicaraguan muscle under its iconic sword band. This 5x54 parejo from Plasencia's factory packs aged Jalapa wrapper over multi-vintage fillers (2008-2010) at $141.52 per 10-count box. Darker and bolder than Dominican Montecristos, it's the brand's first serious Nicaraguan play with tobacco pedigree - think Plasencia's field expertise meets Altadis' blending crew.
Oily dark wrapper smells like fermenting stone fruits. Cold draw brings black pepper and barnyard - classic Nicaraguan foreplay. Solid construction with dense pack feels like a cigar that means business.
Black coffee blast hits immediately through cream-colored smoke. Smoldering Brazilian walnut notes emerge at ½ inch, with cinnamon sugar lingering in retrohale. Burn line holds razor-sharp despite full-bodied assault.
Leather and mineral tones surface as strength builds. Charred hickory sweetness balances the punch - reminiscent of My Father Le Bijou but less floral. Ash holds 2 inches before first drop. Watch that nicotine creep though.
Dark chocolate bitterness takes over as combustion heat rises. Retrohale reveals raisin-like Olor Dominicano characteristics - surprising given Nicaraguan origin. Stub at 1.5" when tar buildup starts biting back.
Plasencia's blending magic uses Jalapa's sweetness (wrapper) to temper Estelí's volcanic minerality (binder) and Condega's spice (filler). The 2008-2010 vintage mixing creates depth usually found in Cuban regional editions. Aging potential? Try 3+ years to mellow the volcanic bite.
Montecristo's Nicaraguan gambit pays off - this makes Cohiba Black look like amateur hour. Best for after dinner when you can handle its freight-train strength. Pro tip: Retrohale carefully - those white pepper notes bite harder than a scorpion's tail.
