JC Newman

August 05, 2018

Protocol Official Misconduct (6 x 50)







Video review HERE.


Cubariqueño Cigar Co. announces the release of the Protocol Official Misconduct. The cigars are being produced at Erik Espinosa’s LaZona Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Protocol Official Misconduct will be available in a 6x50 format in boxes of 10. The name continues with the Protocol theme of Law & Law Enforcement as owners Bill Ives and Juan Cancel are police officers & Bill Agathis an attorney. The blend consists of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers from Esteli / Jalapa. Kevin Keithan, National Sales Manager stated, cigars are being classified as medium plus in strength.

Currently available in one size only; a 6 x 50 toro.


Blend:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan 
Filler: Nicaraguan; Esteli and Jalapa

Official Misconduct Pricing -
MSRP- $98.90 per 10 count box




The cigar has a nice feel in the hand. The band is a bright metallic silver with a silver cloth band at the foot.





The test draw after cutting the cap was very effortless. A nice combination combined with the dense feel. The initial flavors at light up were light sweet cedar, whipping cream, fresh new leather, nutmeg, and black coffee. There was a nice black pepper which I rated at a 7 1/2. A nice start. I like leathery cigars with significant sweetness and this cigar has that at this point.




At the first third (27 minutes) you really don't get a lot of the cedar notes. They're there but very faint. For the most part you will get a lot of the whipping cream and brown sugar for the sweeter flavors, plenty of leather notes and underlying nutmeg notes with a black coffee base. The cigar has plenty of sweetness to go along with the leather and nutmeg notes. The finish is one of sweet whipping cream and a nice amount of lingering black pepper. At this point the whipping cream and leather are the stars of this cigar. The cigar is at least medium to full bodied at this point. For the first third I rated the cigar at a 93.




At the second third (58 minutes) the cigar is burning fairly evenly. Around the midpoint the cigar reached full bodied. In fact, you can feel the ligero now. I lost some of the extreme sweetness of the whipping cream, or marshmallow as I said in the video. There is somewhat of a toasted flavor to the whipping cream/marshmallow notes now. There is still quite a bit of leather and underlying nutmeg. The black coffee notes are elevated. There is still brown sugar floating around giving some sweetness. The pepper remains very good in the cigar. The cigar remains very good but with the slight downturn in overall sweetness I am lowering the second third score to a 92.




The cigar lasted 1 hour 20 minutes. The flavor notes continued on the same path to the end. I did get a little more cedar and it was somewhat tangy but it was still faint. The slightly toasted whipping cream/marshmallow was your primary sweet flavor along with some brown sugar. The leather and nutmeg notes continued to be elevated. The coffee base was consistent. I believe the nutmeg notes may have affected the sweeter notes giving a toasted flavor. This was a very good cigar from Protocol. Very full bodied with nice sweet notes and plenty of leather. For the final third I am holding the score of 92. Look for these on shelves. Another very good offering from Protocol.


Overall Score: 92 (92.33)

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