Cigar: Protocol Blue
Size: 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua (Jalapa, Esteli)
MSRP: Around $9.00 per cigar
Cigars provided by the manufacturer
I’m continuing my look this week with another sample from Cubariqueño Cigar Company. Their Protocol Blue was Cubariqueño’s first cigar to market in May 2015. From what I can gather, Juan Cancel and Bill Ives, both cigar lovers like all of us reading, put their heads together and traveled to Nicaragua to make their dream come true. As someone who came by them in a roundabout way (Protocol K9 last year), it’ll be an interesting look to see how their cigar compares to their newest. A big thank you once again to Cubariqueño Cigar Company for the opportunity to review their cigars.
No construction issues on the cigar chosen for review (third cigar smoked out of the group once again). After the straight cut, the cold draw brought about barely-noticeable hints of wood onto the palette while the pre-light aromas were a single cedar flavor. The light gave a balanced draw with opening flavor notes of white pepper, spice floating around the sides of the palette, and woody/cedar notes accompanying the aftertaste / release of the smoke. This is a medium-to-full bodied cigar from the start with a balanced and smooth draw. 17 minutes into the cigar I found the woody notes began pressing stronger onto the palette while everything else mentioned hovered steady. It was 30 minutes later that the cigar was very close into the full bodied range of strength while the wood was full-on leading the charge of flavors. Herbal-like flavor notes also began entering into the palette. The last 13 minutes of the cigar was a full bodied, complex push to me finally putting the cigar down as my fingers were burning. Total smoking time on the Protocol Blue clocked in at a speedy 1:00.
The cigar smoked without a issue. The only negative I could come up with on the Project Blue is that it seemed to smoke pretty quick and like the last cigar, maybe it’s me on this. As for how it compares to the Sir Robert Peel, read on.
By-The-Numbers
Pre-light: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
To recap the Protocol Blue:
- The Protocol Blue is a complex medium-to-full bodied cigar reminiscent of its birthplace. If you are a fan of spicy, stronger Nicaraguan cigars, you should definitely consider this cigar.
- The strength will scare some of the milder cigar fans off out there but it’s nothing that you need to prepare your body for.
- The cost on the Protocol Blue is going to be more comfortable for the wallet as it comes in around $3.00 cheaper than the Sir Robert Peel.
- A definite purchase should I find these in one of my local B&Ms or online. As to which I like more, I think it is the Protocol Blue. The strength and cost on these cigars push it over the edge. The K9 is still my favorite so far, but this one reminds me in a few ways of that cigar.
Thank you once again to Cubariqueño Cigar Company for the opportunity to review the Protocol Sir Robert Peel. Thank you to all of you for reading.
