Protocol Cigars

The Protocol Bass Reeves is the third installment for the Lawmen Series from Cubariqueno. Reeves, the name sake for this cigar was a figure who was often known as the inspiration for the Lone Ranger.

Reeves was born into slavery in Arkansas in 1838. It is unclear exactly how, but he was able to escape at some point during Civil War. He fled to the Indian Territory, learned their language, and lived amongst the Cherokees until 1865, freed by the Thirteenth Amendment. 

Later in life, Reeves was recruited to serve as the first black deputy for the West of Mississippi River due to his familiarity with the land and knowing the Natives’ language. 

“I feel it truly shows the diversity of the law enforcement community as a whole, that men and women from all races and ethnicities come together to serve the public at large,” said Juan Cancel, the co-founder of Cubariqueno, in a press conference. 

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Protocol: Bass Reeves Natural
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan 
• Size: Toro (6″x52)

Appearance & Construction

The look and feel of this cigar reminded me of a tree branch. The cigar has a soft box-press, and it is a dusty brown color. There is one visible vein running from the cap to the end of the first third. And when I study the foot of the cigar, I can distinguish different types of tobacco used for fillers. 

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper has a sweet, toasty, molasses scent to it. I then get vanilla and white pepper spice off the foot. After slicing off the cap, I proceed with a cold draw and got a flavor that reminded me of a damp log with some spice lingering. 

As I light the cigar, a white stream of smoke spirals out from the foot, carrying a scent of freshly baked goods. The smoke is very buttery, and I got flavors of sweet chicory (earthy and nutty), star anise, cocoa nibs, and red pepper spice. The retrohale on this cigar is intense with black pepper spice, roasted coffee beans, cocoa, and oak. There is a distinguished taste of sweet and spicy vanilla flavor in the finish that reminds me of Chinese sunflower seeds.

Overall, this cigar is a little overwhelming; my mouth is drying out with each puff, the black pepper spice dominates my palate, and there is a high amount of nicotine in this cigar. Nevertheless, the construction is pretty good for this cigar. The burn line is even, the ash is holding on at the 1.5-inch mark, and the draw restrictiveness is about 7 out of 10. 

Arriving at the second third, the profile continues to build on the sweetness and spiciness with flavors of dark cocoa, chicory, smokey oak wood, and sunflower seeds. The spice is receding on the palate while keeping the sweetness in the finish. The retrohale is still pepper forward. 

As I continue to smoke, there hasn’t been any change until I reach the nub. It feels like all the different flavors stop fighting against one another and becomes more cohesive. The flavor is sweet, oaky, nutty, and just enough spice to excite the palate. The spice on the retrohale has reduced, and I ended my experience with roasted nuts, vanilla, and leather.   

Conclusion

The Protocol Bass Reeves is a cigar aimed at veteran smokers. The unique and abundant flavors of cocoa, chicory, oak wood, vanilla, and pepper spice that I got from this smoke can be interpreted as complex at first. However, it becomes very overwhelming soon after with little to no alteration to it. The two highlights of this cigar are its construction and how it ended. The construction is so good that I honestly forgot to pay attention to it since it gave me no issue visually or during the smoking experience. In addition, I wish this cigar can start the way it ended: the final few puffs I got out of the Bass Reeves Natural was a harmonious experience. 

Final Rating: 87

The Protocol launched the Lawmen Series to acknowledge and pay recognition to figures who has impacted in law enforcement throughout history. It all started in 2019 with Sir Robert Peel, the founder of Scotland Yard. Then in early 2021, introducing Eliot Ness, the second line in the Lawmen Series who is best known for capturing Al Capone during the Prohibition era. Lastly, the newest addition to the series, Bass Reeves, showcased at PCA 2021.

Being the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshal in history, Bass Reeves had many achievements throughout his career. One of the most notable is his arresting more than 3,000 dangerous criminals since he got sworn in in 1875.

With such accomplishments, having only one blend would not do him justice. Therefore, following up on the Natural, the Protocol: Bass Reeves Maduro is next on the blind review chopping board.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Protocol: Bass Reeves Maduro
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Size: Box Pressed Toro (6″x52)

Appearance & Construction

The cigar appearance is a cafe au lait color with few visible veins on the wrapper. The seam on the wrapper leaf is raised and detached from the surface. Nonetheless, it did not affect the construction as it still feels sturdy while holding it in my hand.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

There is a faint sweet and tangy scent coming off the wrapper and an abundance of pepper spice off the foot of the cigar. Using my Xikar XO cutter, I sliced off the cap and did a cold draw. It tastes fruity, musty, and has a freshness that reminds me of jalapenos. While lighting the cigar, the scent reinforced what I got from the cold draw, as if I was roasting fresh jalapenos over a live fire.

My first puff of this cigar surprised me with a copious amount of spice and nicotine, more than I thought it would have. As the nicotine slowly settled down in my stomach, I got bitter and sweet coffee, oak wood, charcoal, and black pepper spice on my palate. The retrohale isn’t too far from what I got on my palate: black pepper spice, coffee, and damp wood. The construction is pretty on point, the ash is holding together loosely, and the burn line is very even. Other than the flavor challenges, I have no trouble puffing on this cigar.

The spiciness slowly recedes as I’m approaching the second third. The flavors are more palatable: chocolate, oak wood, roasted peanuts, and red pepper spice. The pepper spice is still dominating the olfactory senses when I retrohale, but I was also able to get oak wood and roasted peanut shells. One characteristic of this cigar I am not a fan of is the finish. There is a saccharin or artificial sweetener aftertaste which I usually avoid in all my beverages. Therefore, it is not a pleasurable experience for me when smoking.

Upon reaching the final third, the flavors for this cigar bloomed. I got flavors of roasted nuts, caramel, oak wood, leather, and a hint of pepper spice. The retrohale becomes more enjoyable with caramel, peanuts, oak wood, and a hint of red pepper spice. It almost mirrors what I have on my palate.

Conclusion

The Bass Reeves Maduro started by striking me with a jarring set of tasting notes. The excessive amounts of pepper spice and nicotine content in the first third of this cigar almost made me quit smoking. But through patience, I was rewarded with delectable flavors such as caramel, oak bark, roasted peanuts, leather, and just enough spice to tingle the senses. I believe this cigar is meant for after a meal, paired with a dram of bourbon to optimize the appreciation for it.

Final Rating: 86

Up for review today is the Protocol Sir Robert Peel Natural from Cubariqueno Cigar Co. Produced at the La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, the cigar features an Ecuadorian rosado wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos.   

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Protocol Sir Robert Peel Natural
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian rosado
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 6×50 toro

Appearance & Construction

The outer rosado wrapper that drapes the Sir Robert Peel Natural has a few minor veins and a slight sandy texture to it. There’s a moderate amount of springiness to the cigar when squeezed, though I don’t detect any inconsistencies in the rolling.  The draw is perfect, about 7/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness. On the tongue, the pre light draw produces some spice, bright citrus, and oats. Taking a whiff off the foot, there’s a blast of aromas, with bright spiciness, sweet hay, cedar strips, and coffee bean.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

After toasting the foot for some time, I light up. The first few puffs of the Sir Robert Peel Natural are rich, spicy and aromatic. Wood hits the palate first, followed by sweet spiciness, coffee, and butter. The aroma is something else, a great mix of baking spices, chili powder, oak, and vanilla. All in all, a complex and very well balanced start, with strength at medium plus and body at medium. 

By about an inch in, the burn on the Robert Peel Natural begins to stay enough to warrant a touch up. The smoke loses some of its aggressiveness, taking on a more buttery complexion and adding a sweet nougat note that I really enjoy. The retrohale still has some oomph to it, showcasing confectionary spices and a bit of chili powder. The Peel produces about an average amount of smoke, but the production increases as the cigar hits the halfway mark. 

At halfway, black pepper enters on both the palate and the retrohale—and it’s perfectly balanced and harmonious. It’s an excellent development and really helps the cigar tell an interesting story. Otherwise, the profile is anchored by wood, nougat, chili powder, and Mexican chocolate. Both strength and body continues to increase, with both landing at medium plus by the end of the second third. 

In the final third of the Robert Peel Natural, the strength continues to build all the way up to just past medium-full. Black pepper and charred wood make up the bulk of the flavor profile while bitter sweet notes of coffee, baking spices, and leather play beneath. The retrohale on the other hand shifts toward charcoal and black pepper.  As the cigar edges towards the end, the heat on the smoke does pick up, but it doesn’t stop me from smoking the cigar down to the nub. 

Conclusion

The Robert Peel Natural puts forward strong but harmonious notes of wood, coffee, Nougat, chili powder, black pepper and baking spices. It’s got everything that I look for in a regular smoke: tons of flavor, well balanced complexity and a lot of flavor movement as the cigar progresses.

Delicious and highly recommended. 

Final Rating: 92

Up for review today is the Protocol Official Misconduct in the Corona Gordo size (5 5/8″ x 46). The cigars are made at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Nicaragua, a factory that produces (in my opinion) some of the most flavorful cigars on the market. I’ve likened La Zona in the past to Campbeltown, a region known for single malt flavor bombs like Springbank.

In any case, let’s light up and see how the cigar performs.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Protocol Official Misconduct
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 5 5/8″ x 46

Appearance & Construction

The outer wrapper of the Official Misconduct has a few minor veins and a slight sandy texture to it. Visually the cigar is striking, with a semi reflective silver and black double banding. The aromas are excellent: off of the foot are vibrant scents of fresh brownies, peanuts, butter, and light spicy woodiness. It’s the kind of aroma that gets me excited to get the cigar lit.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Protocol Official Misconduct kicks off with copious smoke production and a flavor profile split between spicy, savory, bitter and sweet flavor categories. That is to say: it’s very complex. Up front is dry cedar and red pepper that hits the tip of the tongue, followed by slight sweetness and a creamy finish that coats the palate. The aroma is amazing, full of savory spices, wood, light floral and cocoa.

By the end of the first third, it’s the flavor bomb I expected it to be. Medium body, with flavor at 11/10.

As the cigar burns into the second third, the smoke takes on a slightly softer texture, and the profile is split between charred wood, hot spices, and cinnamon, with some pleasant sweet floral notes sometimes stealing some space. I’d peg both body and strength at medium plus, and I’m starting to feel the nicotine hit a bit more than most cigars. From a construction standpoint, the burn to this point has been mostly straight with the ash holding in increments of about an inch and a half.

The final third of the Protocol Official Misconduct doesn’t bring in much in terms of new flavors, but continues to shift the balance of flavors. The floral note on the nose takes a more prominent position, contrasting well with the spicier elements of the smoke on the tongue. The burn strays a bit near the end but a quick purge puts it back on track.

Thankfully, the cigar smokes cool all the way to the end, allowing me to enjoy the cigar all the way down to the nub.

Conclusion

It sounds cliche but the Protocol Official Misconduct really is all about flavor—and it’s got loads of it. While the profile doesn’t change radically throughout the cigar, the balance between wood, spice, cream and floral notes continually shifts, keeping the experience interesting all the way through. An excellent cigar most suited for late afternoon or evening.

Final Rating: 91