PCA 2022: Cubariqueño

After having been in the Espinosa Premium Cigars booth for several of the past trade shows, Cubariqueño Cigar Co. is in its own space this year, but don’t worry, things are still well between the two companies. The decision to leave the proverbial nest was simply based on a limit of how many folks could reasonably fit in the Espinosa booth this year, and as you might have seen, it was full of new products.

That meant a single booth space for Cubariqueño, with Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan showing off the company’s core lines and Lawmen Series and talking about some upcoming projects that will be coming to store shelves a bit later this year.

Unfortunately, delays in packaging meant that neither line was displayed on the table, but there were some samples with white label bands being given out to retailers for them to try before placing their orders.

Protocol Crime Scene Unit

Fans of the Protocol blends will remember that it started with the fairly full-bodied, blue-and-black banded Protocol line that has since become known as the Protocol Blue line. As the company added new blends, some of those stayed in the full category but most went towards a more medium flavor intensity. Now, the company is going back to the full end of the spectrum with what may very well be its fullest-bodied blend in the line. Pricing is expected to be in around $10.50 or $11 per cigar when it is released, which is currently slated for October. This cigar is being made at the La Zona Cigar Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

• Wrapper: Nicaragua (Maduro)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Protocol Crime Scene Unit (6 1/2 x 50) — $TBA (Box of 10, $TBA)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: October 2022

Protocol Phoebe Couzins

The company’s Lawmen Series is getting its first female member this year. Phoebe Couzins, who was born in 1842 and died in 1913, was one of the first female attorneys in the United States as well as the first U.S. Marshall, which certainly qualifies her to be part of this project that honors notable figures in law enforcement. As with the previous three releases in the Lawmen Series, this will be a 6 x 52 box-pressed toro, and will be available in both natural and maduro wrapper options. While the boxes weren’t finished yet, they will be a fairly bright pink that should have no trouble standing out on store shelves. Production on this one is handled by the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.

• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Protocol Phoebe Cousins Natural/Maduro (6 x 52) — $12.50 (Box of 10, $125)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: To Be Announced