Pre-light Experience

The Protocol Confidential Informant has a soft rectangle press with a wrapper that is medium brown and has a fine toothiness to it. There are a few slightly raised veins while the seams are very smooth and fairly hard to detect. The head is finished with a well applied triple cap. The band has a dark gray honeycomb design with the brand logo and a small gray strip at the bottom denoting CI Exclusive. The aroma from the wrapper is a wood forward barnyard funk. The foot brings a mix of wood and sweet hay. The pre-light draw brings a mix of cedar and hay along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with black pepper up front and wood slightly behind. At a half inch in, the wood and pepper are even. At three quarters of an inch in, a light mustiness joins the profile. The retrohale has a black pepper zing up front with musty wood right behind and a bit of a chocolate note in the background. At an inch and a half, the wood, black pepper and mustiness are all even. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the musty wood is up front with the black pepper in the background. At a half inch in, the wood gains a light toasted note. The retrohale is now toasted wood and mustiness. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper has left the profile. As the third comes to a close, the profile is toasted wood and mustiness. The strength in this third dropped down to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, it continues with the toasted wood and mustiness as some light mintiness joins the profile. At a half inch in, the mintiness has faded away. The retrohale remains toasted wood and mustiness. The cigar wraps up with the profile of toasted wood and mustiness. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was fairly wavy throughout and went out once in the first and second third and required re-lights. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The Protocol Confidential Informant started with a nice profile, but by the second third, things dropped down to average and maintained that level the rest of the way. This seemed to be pretty typical of the brands limited exclusives as they don’t match up to how good the core line offerings are. The price point is low, so if you can track these down, they’re worth a try, but I don’t really see myself coming back to this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.80

Cost/Point

$1.47

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Protocol Confidential Informant