Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is an even dark brown and fairly rustic looking with a few medium sized raised veins present. The seams are slightly raised due to the thickness of the wrapper while the head has a nice triple cap. There are three bands with the primary being the standard band for the brand in a red, black and silver color combination. The secondary strip band has the same colors and signifies the line while the foot band is a red ribbon. The aroma from the wrapper is a full damp earthiness and cocoa while the foot brings wood and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw brings damp wood and a slight stone fruit note.

Pre-light Experience

The Cubariqueño Protocol Probable Cause Corona Gorda has a toothy, dark, milk chocolate wrapper with firmly pressed veins. The foot features a red ribbon band, with a red and silver band with the P logo. The wrapper has aromas of intense cedar with underlying hints of spice. In the foot, there is stewed fruit, approaching raisins or plums, along with sweet dry tobacco.

Pre-light Experience

The Cubariqueño Protocol Probable Cause Corona Gorda sports a rustic espresso brown maduro wrapper shade. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and the head finished off with a well applied triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper give cedar and faint white pepper. Aromas from the foot tell rich roasted nuts and white pepper. Cold draw gives dry wood, dry vegetables and subtle black pepper.

First Third

The cigar begins with quite a bit of charred wood. At a quarter inch in, some cream joins the profile which smooths out the charred wood note a bit. At a half inch in, the cream continues to increase and makes for a nice balance in the profile. The retrohale carries a lighter version of the wood and cream. As the third comes to a close, the char has gone away while dark wood is paired with the creaminess and a slight mintiness is present. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

My first few puffs bring dry cedar and faint powdered cocoa. There’s some medium strength spices on the retrohale giving way to black pepper on the post draw. After several more draws the powdered cocoa starts to bleed into the post draw, coating the inside of my mouth and tongue. Once the first third settles in, the pepper on the post draw and retrohale starts to intensify rapidly. After 5-10 minutes the pepper intensity begins to pull back to medium-full, as the powdered cocoa moves towards full. At the halfway point, the flavor continues to evolve in complexity, as some savory barbecue flavors joins in. At the bottom half of the first third, there is nuttiness, along with sweet citrus. By the 1 hour smoking time I’m feeling a fair amount of strength hit home.

First Third

The first third provides flavors of chocolate, grit filled earth/dirt and baking spices. Interestingly enough, I find myself having to slow my normal intensity of draws down quite a bit as if I don’t, the profile quickly becomes very charred. Retrohaling gives great notes of honey, black pepper and stone fruits. An inch in, the profile introduces spice through the mouth draws. The finish is a long and lingering dry wood and toast. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

The second third continues on with the dark wood and cream profile while the mintiness is very faint in the background. At a half inch in, the wood gains a toasted note on the retrohale to go along with the cream and it is all becoming a bit fuller. At an inch in, the cream begins to decrease a bit letting the dark wood take the lead. As the third comes to a close, the cream is now fairly faint in the background while the dark wood is up front and a bit of earthiness has joined in. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Second Third

By the time the Probable Cause has reached the second third, the pepper on the retrohale and post draw is completely faded. The citrus and powdered cocoa carries into the middle third. As the second third settles in there is mild spices on the post draw. By the middle of the cigar, there is sweet cedar joining the flavor medley.

Second Third

Moving into the second third, the overall profile is still grit filled earth/dirt driven as well as chocolate and baking spices. Black coffee and toast joins the profile, softening the earthiness/dirt. On the retrohale, instead of the stone fruit, it’s baking spices paired with the same intensified black pepper spice. Strength and body maintains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, a slight bit of cocoa joins in with the dark wood, earthiness and slight cream. At a quarter inch in, the char enters into the profile again. At a half inch in, the char is really ramping up and masking the cocoa and cream although the wood and earthiness are still present. As the cigar comes to a close, the charred wood remains up front with the earthiness close behind. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

By the time the last third begins, the cocoa is fading quickly. Some mild char to open up the final third, but disappears after a few purges. Once the final third has settled in, the cocoa starts to return. Some mild earthiness joins the cocoa for the remainder of the cigar experience.

Final Third

The last third shows an interplay of the same grill filled earth/dirt, chocolate, baking spices, black coffee and toast. There’s a floral perfume like note that comes in and out. Although unique, it doesn’t really belong to the profile. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was quite wavy through the first half of the cigar, but I never touched it up and it kept going on its own. The cigar did go out on me twice in the final third requiring re-lights. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

The burn is straight with ash holding on well. The burn becomes slightly wavy partway through the first third, with the ash holding on in one inch increments. The cigar goes out once in the bottom half of the first third.

Burn

Burn performance, although good, had its issues. The main issues were the wrapper burn issues causing two fairly major re-lights. Aside from that, cool burning, solid ash retention averaging 1.5 inches and a relatively even burn.

Draw

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

Overall

Having smoked all of the vitolas now in the line, I felt as though this one wasn’t as refined as the others. It started and finished with quite a bit of charred wood and had a more balanced profile in between with wood, earthiness and cream. The burn was a bit of a struggle with it being wavy and a couple of re-lights necessary. Maybe time will be a bit friendly to the profile and burn, but in my opinion, I’d favor the Churchill, Robusto or Lancero over this vitola. Still worth a try to see how it fits for your palate.

Draw

The draw is serviceable but well into the snug end of tight.

Overall

The Cubariqueño Protocol Probable Cause Corona Gorda delivers a rich and balanced smoking experience. With over a two hour smoking time, you’re definitely getting your monies worth. The profile is medium-full strength, and medium-full bodied.

Draw

Draw was perfect. The ideal resistance and air flow.

Overall

Smoking through now the fourth iteration of the Probable Cause, I came into this review having somewhat of an expectation. What I tasted overall in the Cubariqueño Protocol Probable Cause Corona Gorda was a good representation of Mexican San Andres providing a profile driven by earthy grit/dirt, chocolate, baking spices, stone fruits and black coffee. What I did not expect was notes such as floral perfume. I’m counting about 9 different flavors tasted which I think makes this cigar unique and complex. Although unique and complex, I’m not too sure they all belonged there (especially the floral perfume). At days end, did I enjoy the cigar? Absolutely. And would highly recommend to smokers that enjoy a heavier profile. But the Probable Cause Churchill still reigns supreme.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.80

Cost/Point

$1.69

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

7.02

Cost/Point

$1.40

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.32

Cost/Point

$1.34

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cubariqueño Protocol Probable Cause Corona Gorda