Protocol Cigars announced today, the release of The Protocol Eliot Ness. It is the second installment of the newly created “Lawmen Series.” Last year, the company essentially kicked off the series with the introduction of the Protocol Sir Robert Peel. With the release of the The Protocol Eliot Ness the company has officially forged the series.
The Sir Robert Peel was a bold change from the more modern look that Protocol Cigars had established up until that time. It used more of a traditional, elegant, sophisticated, and regal packaging design.
Juan Cancel, co-founder and owner of Protocol Cigars said:
“The Sir Robert Peel was a total change of direction for the company. We wanted to offer our supporters a more regal product from marketing, packaging, and to the actual tobacco used in the blend. We wanted to stay true to our working class supporters, but wanted to also offer them a higher end product. Sometimes the average working Joe likes to put on a suit and get a little fancy while smoking his cigar. It was a bold move and it paid off. The Protocol Sir Robert Peel was and continues to be a tremendous success for us. We figured why not continue on the coattails of that success.”
The company has created the “Lawmen Series,” which Sir Robert Peel was the first installment. Continuing with the company’s law enforcement theme, they have created the Protocol Eliot Ness. The concept is that criminals are so often glorified in Hollywood and in media. Very rarely do the men and woman who work tirelessly to bring these criminals to justice are ever recognized. This is where the “Lawmen Series” comes in. The “Lawmen Series” will pay homage to the law enforcement personnel that bring these glorified criminals to justice.
Eliot Ness was a Federal Agent in the Bureau of Prohibition. This agency was created in 1920 to enforce the National Prohibition Act of 1919. Eliot Ness was assigned to Chicago, Illinois. In 1931 Eliot Ness arrested American Gangster Al Capone. That year adorns the Protocol Eliot Ness Band. The Protocol Eliot Ness was created to honor this dedicated and hard working law enforcement officer.
Another first time and bold move by Protocol Cigars was to offer the Sir Robert Peel in a Natural and Maduro. To keep with that history, the Protocol Eliot Ness will also come in a Natural and Maduro offering. Both blends are Nicaraguan Puros, where all tobacco comes from Nicaragua.
The company describes the blends of the Protocol Eliot Ness as:
Natural
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
- Binder: Habano, Esteli
- Filler: Nicaraguan Viso/Seco/Criollo
Maduro
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
- Binder: Habano, Esteli
- Filler: Viso/Seco/Corojo: Esteli/Jalapa
There is something very special about these 2 blends. It is the first time Protocol Cigars have offered a cigar with no ligero tobacco in the blend.
Kevin Keithan, co-owner states:
“We wanted to do something new and exciting for us. This is the first blend we offer to the market that has no ligero tobacco. A far cry from our first offering in 2015 that had quadruple ligero in the filler. So all the strength and power of the blends come from the other tobaccos. It is a very unique smoking experience, especially for those who are used to smoking Protocol Cigars. We are super excited about this project!”
The Protocol Eliot Ness will come in 10-count boxes and each blend is expressed in a 6 x 52 Boxed Press vitola. The MSRP will be $119.50 ($11.95/cigar) and are planned to be available by mid to late fall and will be a full production line.
Another first for the company is that the Protocol Eliot Ness will be manufactured at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaraguan, under the direction of Erik Espinosa. The cigar was blended by Protocol Cigars, under the guidance of La Zona’s blender Hector Alfonso Sr.
Juan Cancel added:
“We really wanted this cigar to be done with a Connecticut Broadleaf, unfortunately it’s very scarce right now. We are fortunate enough to have a great relationship with AJ Fernandez. AJ offered us the use of his proprietary Nicaraguan Broadleaf, which lead to his offer to actually manufacture the cigars in his factory. The Protocol Elliot Ness will be manufactured using his tobaccos, while following the blend we created. We are eternally grateful to AJ Fernandez, Erik Espinosa and Hector Alfonso Sr. for their help in making this project a reality!”
