Cubariqueno Protocol booth 2016

After sharing space with Erik Espinosa last year, Cubariqueño moved into its own booth this year with Bill Ives and Juan Cancel on hand to greet new and existing retailers. The pair celebrated the company’s first anniversary in May with an event where all three of their new cigars got a limited soft launch, but this week they’re ready to share them with the rest of the cigar industry.

Cubariqueno Protocol Probable Cause IPCPR 2016

Cubariqueño Probable Cause

Cubariqueño announced its second line, Probable Cause, back in May and soft-launched it at an event that same month. The company calls it a medium-strength cigar with full flavor. It’s made by Erik Espinosa at his La Zona Cigar Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Cubariqueño Probable Cause Churchill (6 1/2 x 48) — $9.89 (Box of 10, $98.90)
  • Cubariqueño Probable Cause Robusto (5 x 52) — $9.69 (Box of 10, $96.90)

Launch Date: Within three weeks of the trade show.

Production: Regular production

Cubariqueno Protocol Lancero IPCPR 2016

Cubariqueño Protocol Lancero

Much like Probable Cause, the third size in Cubariqueno’s debut line, Protocol, got a soft launch in late May before getting a full launch at this year’s trade show. The blend components are the exact same as the original sizes, a 6 x 52 toro and 5 5/8 x 46 corona gorda, though the ratios are slightly modified to accommodate the much smaller ring gauge. It too is made at La Zona.

  • Wrapper:Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
  • Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
  • Filler: Nicaragua, including ligero from Estelí and Jalapa
  • Protocol Lancero (7 1/2 x 38) — $10.99 (Box of 10, $109.95)

Launch Date: Within three weeks of the trade show.

Production: Limited production

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
Avatar photo

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.