Debuted at the 2021 PCA Trade Show, the Protocol Bass Reeves line is the next in the company’s “Law Men Series” of cigars. The Lawmen Series is a more classic, traditional, refined, and regal look Protocol Cigars has been offering since it’s launch of the Protocol Sir Robert Peel. The Lawmen Series is the company’s concept where they pay homage to the men and women of law enforcement who spend hours working tirelessly to catch the bad guys.
Bass Reeves was one of the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshals in history. During his long career in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory, Bass Reeves arrested more than 3,000 dangerous criminals. In 1875 he was sworn in as a U.S. Deputy Marshal.
The Protocol Bass Reeves comes in two blends (Natural and Maduro) and today we are going to focus on the maduro blend which is described as:
- Wrapper: Nicaragua Dark Habano
- Blinder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
The Protocol Bass Reeves is expressed in a (6 x 52) box pressed toro packaged in a 10-count box. It is being produced at the San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua under the watchful eye and tutelage of Erik Espinosa. The MSRP is $119.50 per box. ($11.95/cigar).
Pre-Light Examination
The Protocol Cigars Bass Reeves Maduro is silky smooth, fairly crisp, boxed pressed vitola that sports a milk chocolate brown wrapper with a light oily sheen. It exhibits minimal veins around the barrel. I did notice a slight more give in the bunching near the foot, which was evident in all the samples I smoked. A simple cap finishes the presentation.
Like the Eliot Ness, the Bass Reeves is adorned with a dual primary band. In this case it proudly displays an image of Bass Reeves on a bright gold background with a a purple ribbon below that declares it as the its namsake – Protocol Bass Reeves. Removing the outer band there is a second band underneath that uses a a purple and gold motif and displays the year “1875” which represents the year Reeves was sworn in as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. Finally a purple satin band is applied to the foot.
Running the Protocol Bass Reeves along the nose, I picked up a fresh sweet floral tobacco and mild cocoa note off the foot. The barrel offered notes of natural sweetness and spice.
Using my double blade Xikar cutter, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be a tad open and delivering notes of cedar, peppery spice, and pungent earth.
With the Pre-light exam behind me, I reached for my double flame torch lighter to gently warm the foot to an even orange glow as I drew in the first heft puffs of peppery smoke that tantalized the palate and nose. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
For this review I sampled 4 Bass Reeves Maduros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial draw offers a heavy pepper shot to the palate and nose
- Tangy floral notes fill in the background
- Medium grey ash forms on top of a medium thick char line
- Natural sweetness enters after inch plus balancing out the profile
- Full volume of smoke fills the palate with thick smoke
- Nut aroma wafts off the foot
- Ash fell revealing a decent burn cone
- Mild spice moving into second third
- Slight wave develops in the burn but no touch up required
- Tang enters again with some earthy notes
- Strength ratchets up
- Barrel gets a tad squishy
- Mild cream notes deep in second third with an added spice
- Coffee nuances treat the palate with a still earthy undertone
- Medium to full
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Final Analysis
Overall, I found the Protocol Cigars Bass Reeves Maduro to be a rather full body and medium to full strength cigar that offered a fairly well balanced array of flavors and aromas. It started with a pepper hit to the nose and plate then receded to open up some tangy floral and natural tobacco sweetness. That tang remained through most of the burn with growing core of earthiness and spice. There some some slight nuances like coffee and cream but they lasted a short while un able to break through the tang. It had a good burn with just a mild wave here and there. This is one you may want to check out a fiver of and I rate it a 89.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave here and there; (-1) Little Too Much Tang; (-1) Squishy Barrel in second half; (-1) Medium Grey Ash; (-1) Open Cold Draw
