Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is dark brown and has some color variation throughout. The veins are very well pressed and hidden. The seams are smooth, but fairly obvious due to the wrapper color variations. The three caps are very well applied. There are two bands, the primary band is the standard Protocol band but in a red and black color combination, the second band carries the same color combination and displays the line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of cocoa and leather while the foot brings an interesting mix of mellow black licorice and hay. The pre-light draw brings sweet hay, leather and white pepper with a slight tingle on my lips and tongue.

Pre-light Experience

The Cubariqueño Protocol Probable Cause Robusto has a rich maduro wrapper. The cigar looks lively with good oil content and tooth. Giving a feel over with my fingers, the bunch and roll feels well done as there is a nice even give throughout. The head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives construction paper, dry wood and slight barnyard. Nosing the foot tells barnyard, white pepper and natural tobacco sweetness. Cold draw reveals cedar and dry nuts.

First Third

Initial draws bring a mix of wood, earth and baking spice. After a few draws, the wood mellows a bit while the baking spice transitions to a full black pepper which is evenly mixed with the earthiness. The retrohale is a full black pepper with a bit of wood in the background. At a half inch in, the pepper begins to mellow and the wood increases to come even with the earthiness. The retrohale has now become an even mix of earth and wood with some pepper in the background. As the third comes to a close, the earth and wood create a nice mix and the pepper is really just present on the finish. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

Initial few draws bring barnyard as well as dry and slightly gritty earth. A few more draws in, cocoa mixed with faintly sweet milk cream joins the profile. There is a well rounded black pepper spice that encompasses the profile. Through retrohaling, notes of elevated black pepper, cocoa and sharp cedar. The finish is medium in length with lingering notes of wood bitterness and dry oak. Body and strength is at the medium mark.

Second Third

As the third begins, the wood, which is now more defined as cedar takes a bit of a lead over the earthiness while there is still a slight pepper note present on the finish. At three quarters of an inch in, the earthiness recedes some more as some bitterness joins the profile. The pepper has completely left. At an inch and a quarter, the cedar transitions to oak and carries a toastiness with it. There is still a slight bitterness in the background. As the third comes to a close, the toastiness of the oak recedes a bit and the bitterness leaves the profile. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Second Third

The second third loses out on the milk cream, and is mainly centered around cocoa, barnyard, tapered black pepper, slightly gritty and dry earth. On and off notes of milk coffee is tasted, a note I wish was more consistent. The retrohale is still the same with deeper notes of black pepper, cocoa and sharp cedar. The finish is also the same, still providing medium length notes of wood bitterness and dry oak. Body and strength maintains it’s medium stride.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the oak continues and the toastiness has completely left. A slight bitterness does return. The retrohale is a creamy oak. At a quarter inch in, the cigar heats up a bit which brings the toastiness back to the oak. At an inch in, the heat lessens and the toast level drops accordingly. There is still some bitterness in the background. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

Not much has changed since the second third. The same flavors are still there with the exception of the black pepper spice peaking at random times. Still notes of cocoa, barnyard, faintly gritty and dry earth and intermittent milk coffee. The retrohale is still centered around deeper black pepper, cocoa and sharp cedar. The finish still medium in length, with notes of wood bitterness and dry oak. Body and strength for the most part finishes off at the medium mark.

Burn

The burn line was just slightly wavy the entire time. Ashes held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

The burn was average due to one main reason: two touch-ups required at the same spot within the first third and last third. Aside from that, the burn was cool and long with total smoking time clocking in at 2 hours and 45 minutes. The ashes held on tight averaging 1 inch self tapped marks.

Draw

The draw was pretty snug the entire time and may have caused the cigar to heat up a bit.

Overall

The cigar started with a full and complex profile, but as it reached the second third, the flavors became pretty linear. The strength was up there, so probably something for more seasoned smokers. This is a decent offering that showcases the Mexican San Andres wrapper, but I was hoping for a bit more complexity. I would be interested in revisiting this to see if a better draw provides that complexity. Definitely one worth checking out if you come across it to see if it fits your profile.

Draw

The draw was average, as it was fairly tight. Even cutting to the very last cap yielded no give.

Overall

Overall, I think the Robusto version of the Probable Cause was a consistently good tasting cigar. I enjoyed especially the cocoa and earthy tones. The milk cream and milk coffee notes were great, but wish it was a bit sweeter and fuller. The draw and burn was a let down as it was less than stellar. For my money, I’d reach for the Churchill over this vitola. But keep in mind this vitola is no slouch, and I will be happy to smoke more given the opportunity.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.80

Cost/Point

$1.67

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.33

Cost/Point

$1.53

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cubariqueño Protocol Probable Cause Robusto