Match M29 carried clear advancement stakes for Plasencia El Año del Caballo. After rebounding against Illusione Epernay L'Excellence, Plasencia entered at 1-1 with a chance to secure second place in Group E. HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro entered after its opening loss to E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic.
Plasencia used a 7 x 58 Parejo Gordo made in Nicaragua with an organic Jalapa wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan-Honduran filler. HVC used a 6 x 54 Poderosos rolled in Estelí with a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan Jalapa binder and Estelí-Jalapa filler.
Draw, burn and balance tied at 4.5. Plasencia won construction, flavor complexity and finish 5.0 to 4.5, earning three category victories and a 28.5 to 27.0 win that clinched a Top 16 berth with a 2-1 Group E record.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Plasencia El Año del Caballo | HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Plasencia | HVC Cigars |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Organic Nicaraguan Jalapa | Mexican San Andrés Maduro |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan Jalapa |
| Filler | Nicaraguan and Honduran | Nicaraguan Estelí and Jalapa |
| Factory | Plasencia Cigars S.A. | Fábrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. |
| Vitola | Parejo Gordo, 7 x 58 | Poderosos, 6 x 54 |
| Strength | Full | Medium-Full |
| Ashology score | 28.5/30 - Elite | 27.0/30 - Premium |
| M29 result | Winner | Loss |
El Año del Caballo opened with cedar, cocoa, dried fruit and pepper. Sweet cedar, dark cocoa, black pepper and toasted nuts created a luxurious beginning. Coffee, leather and raisin-like sweetness deepened the middle before oak, espresso and pepper intensified over a continuing cocoa base.
HVC began with cedar, grass, pepper and toasted grain. Fresh cedar, white pepper and bread formed a bright Cuban-inspired opening. Coffee, roasted peanuts and earth added body through the center while light citrus remained, then pepper and oak increased over a firmer coffee foundation.
The cigars shared cedar, pepper, coffee, nuts, earth and oak, yet their presentation differed. Plasencia delivered darker cocoa, dried-fruit sweetness, leather and espresso through a full-strength, large-format profile. HVC stayed drier and more energetic, using grain, citrus and pepper to create a traditional character.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Draw, burn and balance tied at 4.5. Both cigars therefore matched one another in airflow, combustion and overall integration, leaving construction, flavor complexity and finish to determine the result.
Plasencia won three categories; HVC won none; three categories tied.
Plasencia earned the construction edge 5.0 to 4.5. Its controlled draw, substantial smoke and reliable combustion supported an Exceptional craftsmanship score. HVC produced good airflow and smoke output, but occasional minor burn variation held its construction at Outstanding.
Plasencia added two more half-points through the smoking experience. Its broader transitions and darker layered profile won complexity 5.0 to 4.5, while its rich, warming and long finish defeated HVC's dry, lively and moderately long close by the same margin.
Official Result: Plasencia El Año del Caballo Wins Match M29
Plasencia El Año del Caballo defeated HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro and completed Group E at 2-1. The victory secured second place behind Encore Majestic and officially advanced Plasencia to the Top 16.
HVC fell to 0-2 and later lost to Illusione Epernay L'Excellence in Match M30, finishing 0-3. Its Premium 27.0 remained evidence of tournament-level quality despite a difficult draw in one of the field's strongest groups.
Plasencia's tournament continued against Davidoff Year of the Horse Limited Edition 2026 in the Top 16. The loss ended its run at 2-2 overall, but the 2-1 group record preserved its status as a 2026 Top 16 qualifier.
Final Ashology Verdict
HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro earned a Premium 27.0 with six Outstanding 4.5 categories. Its cedar, pepper, bread, coffee, peanuts, earth and citrus produced a distinctive medium-full experience supported by dependable construction and traditional energy.
Plasencia El Año del Caballo earned an Elite 28.5 through perfect construction, complexity and finish. Its organic Jalapa wrapper, full-bodied blend and commanding progression created the three direct advantages that secured advancement.
M29 matched the scoring pattern of Plasencia's previous win: three half-point victories and three tied categories. That exact 1.5-point margin completed Plasencia's recovery from an opening loss and sent it into the Top 16.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.