Cigars

Protocol’s Sir Robert Peel Maduro

Sir Robert Peel MaduroIt’s been nearly a year since the initial article announcing the release of Protocol’s Sir Robert Peel went up so it felt like it was time for a review. The Sir Robert Peel marks another police themed cigar from Bill Ives and Juan Cancel, owners of Cubariqueño Cigar Co. These themes are fitting for them being that both are now retired LEOs. Created at the La Zona factory in Esteli, the Protocol Sir Robert Peel comes in a 6”x52 box-pressed toro size and is offered in both a natural wrapper as well as the maduro.

The wrapper has a lovely dark brown color with just a hint of red to it. The seams are tight and most of them are difficult to find, there is some veining but not remarkable making this a smooth feeling cigar in general with a soft velvet like finish to it. The firmness is what you would anticipate from a boxed pressed style and adds the the overall handsome look to it.

From the body I get notes of wood, chocolate, spice and dried fruit from the foot. The cap cuts causing no damage to the construction. The cold draw is easy and gives flavors of cedar, earth and some chocolate.

The first half is loaded with a creamy, spiced flavors leaving me wondering how to accurately describe it. The best I can come up with is spiced butter you would spread on toast. (I know, I know, I try to stick to realistic flavors of tobacco when describing cigars, none of that fresh baked blueberry muffins with a dash of all spice shit, but in this case the butter reference is really the only way I can describe how smooth this smokes.) The smoke production is plentiful and the weight of it on the tongue adds the the over all creaminess feel of the smoke. The burn has a bit of wave to it but no need for a touch up.

In the second half the spices start to retreat a to the back and a decided cedar and earth note comes to the front. Thanks to the ample soft weighted smoke production the smoothness of this cigar remains for the duration. Since the draw is on the light side it makes it easy to get full pulls off of it filling the senses with flavor however, restraint has to be used not to plow right through it. The last have burns evenly and the ash holds tight.

You don’t have to be a detective to figure out that the Sir Robert Peel from Protocol is truly a great stick. This cigar comes in at what I feel is medium full in strength and lands between medium full to full in flavor which is right up my alley. While it might be a bit more than your novice smoker might go for I would say to stay away from it, after all how can you expand you’re palette if you don’t try something new. If you see this in your shop grab some and if you don’t see them in your shop ask them to bring them in.

Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: Around $10.00 a stick.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 pints

 

Drew Estate Cancels 2020 Barn Smoker Season and Deploys “The Barn Smoker Goodwill Act”

Drew estate Barn Smoker

Today Drew Estate announces the cancellation of the 2020 Barn Smoker season due to ongoing health concerns surrounding COVID-19.  Additionally, Drew Estate creates the “Barn Smoker Goodwill Act of 2020.”

Barn Smokers are among the highlights on Drew Estate’s calendar every year, and an opportunity we cherish to share in a one-of-a-kind experience with the cigar loving community.  After significant consideration, however, Drew Estate has determined that it is necessary to make this difficult decision in order to ensure the safety of our staff, the staff of the incredible farms with whom we partner, and, of course, the thousands of Barn Smoker attendees who travel across the country to take part in our extraordinary American Tobacco Experience.

While we are disappointed that we will not be able to hold the festivals at the farms this year, Drew Estate is proud to announce the introduction of the “Barn Smoker Goodwill Act of 2020,” which is designed and funded to show appreciation, love, and fellowship to our inner circle during the difficult times we are all facing.

The Barn Smoker Goodwill Act works in the following manner … All Attendees who purchased a ticket at any/all tier levels will immediately be refunded 100%.  In addition, each ticket holder will be asked to submit their address via this link and Drew Estate will be shipping free of charge the complete 2020 Barn Smoker Swag Set that they would have received by attending their ticketed event. This package does not include cigars and will be shipped out by August 1st.  Beyond this, Drew Estate will donate $10,000 per Barn Smoker, for a total of $50,000, to Cigars for Warriors, doubling down on our commitment to our deployed troops.

Finally, on the date of each scheduled Barn Smoker, Drew Estate will launch a two-hour “Virtual Barn Smoker Herf,” hosted on Facebook Live, open to everyone.   While these Herfs are not designed to be exact Barn Smoker replicas, we plan on celebrating each date together.  These unique experiences will include the Drew Estate Ambassadors and our Farmer Partners – and tell a new part of the story not previously showcased during our usual Barn Smoker Festivals.

The dates for the Virtual Barn Smoker Herfs (hosted on www.facebook.com/drewestatecigar ) are below with times to be announced closer to the event:

  • Pennsylvania Barn Smoker Virtual Event: July 25th, 2020
  • Connecticut Barn Smoker Virtual Event: August 8th, 2020
  • Kentucky Barn Smoker Virtual Event: September 26th, 2020
  • Louisiana Barn Smoker Virtual Event: October 4th, 2020
  • Florida Barn Smoker Virtual Event: November 14th, 2020

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate adds, “It is with great sadness that we’ve come to this decision.  Barn Smoker, alongside Cigar Safari, are the experiential programs that we are most deeply connected to here at Drew Estate. I’m also incredibly appreciative to our Consumer Engagement Team, who architected the concept of the “Barn Smoker Goodwill Act of 2020” … in my opinion, going above and beyond for our supporters, our extended family, who had made plans to join us on the sacred farms.  We thank you for your love and support … always #De4L!”

Flor De Selva Maduro

Flor De Selva 25 years ago Maya Selva started Maya Selva Cigars with the Flor de Selva in France. Since then the brand has grown and several lines have been added to her portfolio along with distribution to over 30 countries including the US. About a year ago I was gifted a some of her cigars and having smoked a few, and liked them, I thought it was about time to write about the smoking experience I had with them.

The wrapper is the color of roasted coffee beans. It has a nice oily sheen to it and is a but toothy. There is noticeable veining and the seems are tight, the body of the cigar feels full and well rolled. It has the smell of raisins, coffee and cedar. The cap cuts leaving no damage to the cigar and the cold draw has a prominent cinnamon flavor.

In the first half I enjoyed flavors of spice, coffee, and damp earth. The draw was easy but not loose, it produced a fair amount of medium weight smoke and burned evenly.

In the second half the the peppery spice remained but now had the addition of a wood flavor along with bitter dark chocolate that lasted for the remainder of the cigar. Smoke production remained consistent with the first half and the burn stayed sharp.

Knowing how long this company has been around and now knowing how good the cigar is I wish I had heard of them sooner. For those of you who normally shy away from maduros don’t be on this one, it does not have the heavy strength people generally associate with a maduro. To me it lands right around medium so this cigar is accessible to everyones profile. If you see them in your local shop make sure you pick up a few.