Protocol Themis Cigar Review – Let there be justice!

Bill Ives and Juan Cancel from the Cubariqueño Cigar Company have made quite a name for themselves recently with the introductions of the Protocol and the Probable Cause cigar lines. If you are following this young brand closely,  you may have noticed a trend in the names of the cigar blends. If you sit back and think about those names and add in their latest masterpiece, the Themis you will begin to see a story develop.

The Themis is a nod to the Greek titaness by the same name. Themis is better known as the Lady Justice as she holds a sword in one hand (to cut fact from fiction) and the scales of justice in the other signifying equal justice.

So why is this important to the story of the Cubariqueño Cigar Company?

It is a known fact that both Ives and Cancel are law enforcement officers in the NYPD, and ever since the release the of the Protocol, all  cigars have a Law Enforcement themed name. Now let’s put the story together – the first thing you need to do as an officer is:

• Follow proper Protocol
• Show Probable Cause (reasonable grounds) for making a search or pressing a charge
• If the arrest is made, society invokes Themis to serve fair and balanced justice in the case.

I will look forward to the next release from these two men, to see where the story goes,  but in the meantime let’s talk some more about the Themis cigar.

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The Themis

The Themis is the 3rd blend to be released by Bill Ives and Jaun Cancel. The company had a soft launch for it back on May 13th and the official launch is scheduled for the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas this coming July.

The Themis will be offered in 2 vitolas and packaged in 10-count boxes

• Robusto – 5 x 52 (MSRP $9.69)
• Toro – 6 x 52 (MSRP $9.89)

The press release described the blend as:

• Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Binder – Nicaraguan
• Filler – Nicaraguan

Like the rest of the cigars in the Cubariqueño Cigar Company line,  the Themis will be produced at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Pre-Light Examination

The solid and firm Themis is wrapped with a medium tan wrapper that has a few noticeable veins and a light marbling to it. The cigar is finished with a well applied triple capped eye and is adorned with an eye-popping gold and blue band with the Protocol logo centered on it. There is a secondary band that declares it as the Themis and a light orange silk footer band to complete the presentation. 

The foot of the Themis has a dark core that contrasts well with the medium tan wrapper. Running it past my nose I picked up a rich toffee aroma. There was not much aroma along the barrel.

The cigar is well constructed with tight seams and solid feel  in the hand. One of my new examination points is to put the foot of the cut cigar on my palm, and do a cold draw to see if there are any air leaks in the wrapper. In this case, it was sealed tight as you can feel the suction in your palm..

Moving onto the standard cold draw, I was greeted with an open draw of earth, spice, pepper, and dare I say – French tarragon. In case you are not familiar with that note, tarragon, especially the French variety, has a pleasant licorice aroma but not as strong.

For this review I sampled both the Themis Toro and the Robusto which I received from the company for review.

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Cigar Review Notes

• First light brings some early pepper
• Burnt caramel, tangy fruit, and that licorice note brings a fine start to the senses
• Light grey ash to start resting on an even and medium char line
• Fruit finds itself centered in the profile
• Licorice provides a gentle tingle on the tip of my tongue
• Perfect well-formed ash
• Full creamy smoke
• Coffee enters with a roasted nut aroma 
• Mild touch up after two inches
• Ash fell right around the two-inch mark
• The burn cone is slightly off-center
• Sweetness starts to build in the second third
• Mint enters near secondary band – I have to say I love this note in a cigar, makes it mouth watering!
• Burst of pepper hits in the final third
• There is now a spicy honey finish
• Keep smoking it – as cedar enters down to nub!
• Medium Strength
• Total  smoking time was just over 1 hour for the Robusto and 1 hour and 20 minutes for the Toro

Justice is Served

Overall, the Protocol Themis was delicious and complex, medium body and strength cigar, that was easy to smoke and enjoy. It certainly a cigar that could be enjoyed anytime of the day and would pair well with a morning cup of Joe or a spiced rum in the evening. I have said it before, there is quite a number of Connecticut release this year and each one has shown its own personality. The Protocol Themis joins that mix and we will  have fun picking the best of the year for sure.

On a side note, along with the release of the Protocol Themis, they also will be releasing a 7 ½ x 38 Lancero, line addition, to the Probable Cause at the show this year. We will get to that later this month.