Plasencia Nestor 75 - No. 1 Cigar of the Year 2024

It’s no secret that cigar manufacturers pride themselves on their legacies within the industry, never letting an anniversary, birthday, or other significant milestone go without a proper celebratory smoking experience fit for the occasion. In the final quarter of 2024, the Plasencias pushed this notion to its limits, releasing the Nestor 75 cigar as a means to celebrate Néstor Plasencia Sr.’s 75th birthday. Breaking from industry convention, this 7″ x 50 Churchill was never intended for sale—instead, the family distributed 750 boxes of 10 cigars as gifts to those who, in their words, “have walked this path with him.” This is not to say that the Nestor 75 cannot be obtained, as there are a number of retailers that were gifted the cigars that have since made them available to the general market. While blend details remain undisclosed, the cigar is said to be Néstor Sr.’s personal blend, offering a dense profile that is undeniably loaded with a sweet, syrupy smoke output. The cigar doesn’t beat around the bush, opening straight away with a chewy gingersnap cookie character. From the retrohale to the palate, the experience can be felt from every angle, offering a warm spice through the nostrils, developing into more complex layers of sweet earth, brownie batter, and a cinnamon character that may best be summed up as monkey bread. The experience serves as a fitting tribute to a man whose family legacy in tobacco spans back to 1865, standing today as the patriarch to one of the most respected tobacco operations the world over.