Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown and has a few medium sized veins present. The seams are smooth and barely visible while the head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. There are three bands, the primary being the traditional Protocol band but in black and silver for this line. The second band is a strip band in the same color combination and denotes the line while the foot has a silver ribbon. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of barnyard, wood and fairly sweet hay. The foot brings wood, stone fruit sweetness and a light anise note. The pre-light draw brings some sweet wood, crushed red pepper and a hint of anise.

Pre-light Experience

The Cubariqueño Protocol Official Misconduct has a Colorado Claro to Colorado Red wrapper shade showing good oil content on the Ecuador Habano wrapper. Bunch and roll is uniform with no soft nor hard spots, seams tight, veins well pressed and head finished off with a deep triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper give cedar, hay and fairly assertive black pepper. Foot aromas tell rich nuttiness and the same assertive black pepper spice. Cold draw gives nuts, cedar and black pepper.

First Third

The cigar begins with a bang as it’s bringing intense charred wood and black pepper. At a half inch in, a slight cream joins the mix which really smooths out the charred wood and black pepper. At an inch in, the char is very light on the wood and the black pepper is smooth along with the cream in the background. There is also a slight sweetness to the profile. The retrohale is a similar profile but has a slightly fuller black pepper. At an inch and a half, a graham cracker note becomes present as the char has completely left the profile and the cream and pepper are fairly mellow in the background. The strength in this third started medium-full but settled in at medium.

First Third

The first inch of the cigar reminds me of La Zona’s style of initial pepper blast but elevated to a more intense level. Powerful drying toasted black pepper, hay and cedar. Retrohaling stings the nostrils with black pepper with a nice layered roasted nuttiness. Past that mark, the profile shows the black pepper backing off and a naturally sweet and creamy roasted nuttiness coming through. The finish is fairly long with a lingering toasted black pepper and cedar layering the entire palate. Strength is inching towards medium-full and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the graham cracker note goes away and is replaced by a floral note to go along with the wood while the cream and black pepper remain faint in the background. At a half inch in, the wood becomes a bit fuller as the floral note, cream and black pepper are in the background. At an inch in, the char returns to the wood. The retrohale now has the floral note up front with creamy wood in the background. As the third comes to a close, the cream increases to become even with the charred wood while the floral note and pepper are still faint in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third continues to show the latter half of the first third. A profile centered around naturally sweet and cream from roasted nuts, toasted black pepper, hay and cedar. The finish also now picks up the roasted nuts in addition to the pre-existing dryer profile of lingering toasted black pepper and cedar. Strength has moved up to a consistent medium-full and body stays medium.

Final Third

The final third gains a meatiness to the profile to go along with the charred wood, creating a BBQ type flavor note. At a quarter inch in, the cream picks up slightly which creates a chewy smoke which pairs nicely with the meaty flavor profile. At a half inch in, the char increases which masks the meaty note. At an inch in, the char decreases back to its previous level allowing the meatiness to return. The retrohale is primarily just wood with a slight creaminess. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third continues to show black pepper backing off. The profile is all about that sweet and creamy roasted nuts with a well mannered black pepper, hay and cedar. Strength and body finishes medium-full and medium, respectively.

Burn

The burn was perfect as it was sharp the entire way. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

Within the three samples smoked, the burn was overall good but it does have its issues. The main gripe is the incredibly flowery and flaky ash. Other than that, one major touch-up, relatively uneven burn, a cool burning temperature and 1 inch average ash retention.

Draw

The draw was slightly looser than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

This Cubariqueño Protocol Official Misconduct Toro was pretty complex as there were various layers of flavors and quite a few flavor transitions. It started off strong with charred wood and black pepper and then smoothed out with a bit of cream. The second third brought in some floral notes and the final third became meaty with some more char. Construction was fantastic, allowing me to just focus on the flavors. Strength was right around medium except for the initial half inch or so. This is another good cigar from Cubariqueno and fits nicely in their portfolio. With what they offer, you could go to any of them and have an enjoyable experience. If you’re looking for a cigar that will keep your attention the entire time, this is it. I would have no problem revisiting this cigar and recommending it to others.

Draw

The draw was very good. A bit loose for all three samples smoked but nonetheless, very good.

Overall

This is yet another good cigar coming out of Cubariqueño. It’s by no means the same style of cigar as the other Cubariqueño lines. The initial inch or so of the pepper power is definitely intense, but keep with it and you’ll settle into a profile that is full of spot on sweet and creamy roasted nuts, hay and cedar. I also find this to be the strongest of the releases to date, but given especially the pepper blast up front, the strength is fitting and never overbearing. A late night post dinner is just right time to fire up an Official Misconduct.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.02

Cost/Point

$1.41

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$1.45

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cubariqueño Protocol Official Misconduct Toro