Protocol Cigars created the “Lawmen Series,” which Sir Robert Peel was the first installment. Continuing with the company’s law enforcement theme, they 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.
The Protocol Eliot Ness is offered in two blends; Natural and Maduro. We recently reviewed the Natural and today I offer my take on the darker maduro blend that is described as a Nicaraguan puro:
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
- Binder: Habano (Esteli)
- Filler: Viso/Seco Corojo (Esteli/Jalapa)
Produced at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Nicaragua, the Protocol Eliot Ness comes packaged in 10-count boxes and is expressed in a 6 x 52 Boxed Press toro vitola. The MSRP is set at $119.50 ($11.95/cigar).
For this review, I sampled 3 Protocol Eliot Ness Maduros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre- Light Examination
Dark brown boxed press cigar that is light on veins and has a mild gritty (toothy) feel. The packing feels fairly solid with no discernable soft spots along the barrel. There a mild oily sheen to the wrapper and I would describe the box press as soft in the sense that is has rounded vs crisp edges. A simple cap finishes the presentation.
A dual primary band is the main adornment on the cigar it proudly displays an image of Eliot Ness on a bright gold background. Removing the this band there is a a second band underneath that uses a a blue and gold motif and displays the year “1931” which represents the year Eliot Ness arrested American Gangster Al Capone. There is also a blue satin band.
Running the barrel along the nose, I am greeted with a lightly pungent and fruit set of notes while the foot was inviting to get this journey going as it exuded enticing notes of chocolate and nut.
Once I sliced the cap, I proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be quite tasty with notes of pepper cocoa and nut.
Right off the first ignited puffs, the palate is greeted with a strong pepper shot to the nose.
Cigar Review Notes
- Strong pepper shot to start – especially on the nose
- Nutty aroma quickly wafts off the foot
- Light grey ash forms on top of a slightly jagged medium thick char line
- Hints of dark chocolate enter
- Full volume of smoke
- Ash fell reviealing a flat but centered burn bone
- Dry fruit notes join the profile deep in first third
- Aroma is solidly nutty
- The early dark chocolate notes evolve and become more dominant on the palate
- Mouth watering citrus notes grow in second third
- White pepper notes add to the profile midway especially on the retro-hale
- Earthy notes add to mix
- Strength ratchets up
- Spice and earth take it to the final
- Medium to full in strength
- Total Smocking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Final Analysis
The Protocol Eliot Ness Maduro, though not overly complex, was an inviting cigar from its pre-light aromas through its evolving flavor profile that offered enticing notes of nut, dark chocolate, white pepper and mouth watering citrus. The strength on this surprised me as it began to ratchet up to medium to full as it got to the midway point. From a burn perspective, it exhibited a slighted jagged burn and a flat cone when the ash fell. This is worth picking up a fiver of and I rate it a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged burn line (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Not Overly Complex
