Match M28 brought together two Group E cigars seeking their first victory. Plasencia El Año del Caballo entered after a narrow loss to E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic, while Illusione Epernay L'Excellence arrived after facing the same group leader in its opening match.
Plasencia used a commanding 7 x 58 Parejo Gordo made in Nicaragua with an organic Jalapa wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan-Honduran filler. Illusione used a slimmer 6 3/4 x 48 Churchill made in Honduras with Nicaraguan binder and filler beneath a shade-grown Corojo '99 wrapper.
Draw, burn and balance tied at 4.5. Plasencia won construction, flavor complexity and finish 5.0 to 4.5, producing three category wins and a 28.5 to 27.0 victory that moved it back into contention for a Top 16 position.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Plasencia El Año del Caballo | Illusione Epernay L'Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Plasencia | Illusione |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Honduras |
| Wrapper | Organic Nicaraguan Jalapa | Nicaraguan shade-grown Corojo '99 |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan and Honduran | Nicaraguan |
| Factory | Plasencia Cigars S.A. | Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas |
| Vitola | Parejo Gordo, 7 x 58 | Churchill, 6 3/4 x 48 |
| Strength | Full | Medium |
| Ashology score | 28.5/30 - Elite | 27.0/30 - Premium |
| M28 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 first third. Coffee, leather and raisin-like sweetness added richness before oak, espresso and pepper grew stronger over a continuing cocoa foundation.
Epernay began with hay, floral notes, cedar and mild sweetness. Cream, cedar, white pepper, flowers and black tea formed a delicate opening. Almond, honey and toasted bread brought greater richness through the middle before cedar and pepper became more noticeable without erasing the floral sweetness.
Both cigars delivered cedar, sweetness, pepper, coffee and nutty development, but their personalities were sharply different. Plasencia emphasized dark cocoa, leather, espresso and full-strength depth. Illusione remained lighter and more aromatic, favoring cream, honey, tea and flowers in a graceful Churchill format.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Draw, burn and balance tied at 4.5, showing that both cigars delivered Outstanding airflow, combustion and overall integration. With half the scorecard even, the matchup depended entirely on construction, complexity and finish.
Plasencia won three categories; Illusione won none; three categories tied.
Plasencia earned the technical edge in construction, scoring 5.0 against Illusione's 4.5. Its controlled draw, substantial smoke output and reliable combustion supported an Exceptional construction result, while Epernay remained refined and clean at the Outstanding level.
The remaining point came from the smoking experience. Plasencia's darker transitions and broader flavor range won complexity 5.0 to 4.5, while its rich, warming and long close won finish by the same margin over Illusione's clean, floral and medium-length conclusion.
Official Result: Plasencia El Año del Caballo Wins Match M28
Plasencia El Año del Caballo defeated Illusione Epernay L'Excellence and improved to 1-1 in Group E. The rebound placed Plasencia firmly back in the advancement race after its opening loss to Encore Majestic.
Illusione fell to 0-2 before defeating HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro in Match M30. It completed group play at 1-2, leaving the tournament with one victory and a Premium 27.0 evaluation.
Plasencia followed this result with a victory over HVC, finishing Group E at 2-1 and advancing in second place. Its run ended in the Top 16 against Davidoff Year of the Horse Limited Edition 2026, producing a 2-2 overall tournament record.
Final Ashology Verdict
Illusione Epernay L'Excellence earned a Premium 27.0 through six Outstanding 4.5 scores. Its cream, floral sweetness, tea, honey, almond and toasted bread created an elegant medium-strength experience with impressive consistency across every category.
Plasencia El Año del Caballo earned an Elite 28.5 with perfect construction, complexity and finish. Its large format, full-bodied depth and darker progression created the three half-point advantages that decided the matchup.
M28 demonstrated how three tied performance categories can shift attention to a cigar's defining strengths. Plasencia separated itself through craftsmanship, broader flavor development and a more commanding finish, producing the exact 1.5-point margin.
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.