Protocol Cigars Lawmen Series sees its first tribute to a woman in the fourth iteration of this line. Preceded by Sir Robert Peel, Eliott Ness and Bass Reeves, the Phoebe Couzins stays with the traditional offering of a Natural and Maduro version. With a three-year gap since the Bass Reeves offering, this cigar has been long-awaited since the prior introductions in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Each cigar in this series is bound by their historical significance in law enforcement. Although at first glance, Phoebe Couzins is noted to have been one of the few women to be a licensed attorney in the United States, her place in law enforcement derives from being the first female appointed to the US Marshal Service.

Under the Lid

At first glance this cigar can be recognized as part of the Lawmen Series by its traditional series label and foot ribbon. As in the past, the Natural version boasts a gold ribbon and the Maduro a pink leaning  magenta ribbon. The size follows tradition as a 6 x 52 toro with a soft box press. With a nicely adorned double cap and a densely packed foot, the wrapper is smooth with only traces of veins showing. The cigar feels silky in the hand and the box press lends to a comfortable hold during the smoke.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Rosado
• Binder: Jalapa
• Filler: Ligero Estelí’, Viso Esteli’ Corojo, Viso Condega
• Vitola: Toro 6 x 52 Box Press
• Factory: San Lotano Factory, Ocotal Nicaragua (AJ Fernandez production for La Zona)
• Release Date: April 
• Number of boxes released: Regular Production
• MSRP:  $12.50 per cigar (available in Boxes of 10)

Given the Juan Cancel and Hector Alfonso team blending this cigar, I am expecting some pepper mixed with some sweetness and earthy notes. This is a formula that I enjoy out of La Zona and with AJ Fernandez as the manufacturer, I expect this will be a fairly consistent cigar with good construction and performance.  I am anxious to get into it.

I am met with some barnyard and chocolate when I examine the foot of the cigar. There is also a hint of cooked oatmeal in my nares. Using a straight cut, I then enjoy a few dry draws. A mixture of cooked oatmeal and ginger snap cookie is noticeable. A bit of sweetness is noticed in the background.

Performance Notes:

First third: My initial draws are very pleasing as I am getting notes of baking spices mixed with gingerbread and oatmeal. There is some white pepper tingling on my tongue. About an inch in the pepper recedes a bit although it is still mildly present on the retrohale. There is a slight sweetness that reminds me of cinnamon oatmeal raisin cookies as I get further into the first third. 

Second third: From cookies to a mix of baking spices and oatmeal, the cigar transitions a bit. The ginger has receded somewhat but there is still a little bit of sweetness involved that is reminiscent of sugar cookies. There is some red pepper mixed with the white that lingers with a hint of tingle on the tongue. There is an earthiness underneath the other flavor notes that provides a bit of depth to the cigar. It seems as if a bit of coffee and leather is creeping its way into the flavor profile.

Final third: A mix of baking spices, oats, sugar cookie and an emerging coffee and leather notes come out midway through the last third. The strength does not really pick up, so the cigar remains in the medium strength and medium complexity range. The cigar remains consistent in its flavors with various positions of prominence throughout the entire smoking experience. It ends with a transition from the heavy pepper in the beginning, to a deep coffee note. Each mixed nicely with the other flavor to provide a pretty tasty experience.

Core Flavors:  White Pepper, Baking Spices, Coffee

Strength: Medium

Body: Medium

Complexity: Medium

Smokin Experience: I was not disappointed by this cigar, although it was a bit milder than I expected. That wasn’t  a bad thing as the mixture of baking spices with a little zip from the pepper, the cigar was tasty without being overpowering at any point. The coffee notes that emerged in the last third added a nice little change. I was able to experience all the flavor areas of earthy, fruity, and spicy without being overwhelmed.  Construction held up well and the only issue I experienced was in the removal of the double label. I damaged the wrapper slightly during two of the three smokes even though there was no issue with the cigar from this little nuisance. The cigar had a great draw and provided plenty of smoke. The burn line was a little uneven at times and I did touch it up just because I’m a bit anal like that. The last third got a little soft but never too hot for handling. In my opinion, A cigar like this can be enjoyed by all levels of smokers and would be nice with morning coffee, afternoon breaks and an evening companion to an adult beverage. Protocol did justice to Phoebe Couzins and the Lawmen Series with this cigar.

Purchase Recommendation: Buy a Box 

Smokin Facts: 

• Protocol Cigars was founded by law enforcement officers to pay homage to the men and women in uniform and the many ways in which they are involved in their profession.
• Previous Protocol LE Lines include such cigars as K-9, Jane Doe, John Doe, Cyber Crime, The Law, and Coppers.

Smokin Wrap

Cigars smoked for the review:  Three

Average smoking time: 85 minutes

Score: 90

Diana (Dee) Pitman – Product Reviewer

Diana Pitman, known in the cigar world as “Dee” or “The Queen Of Cigars”, was born and raised in southern New Jersey. Her lifelong dream of joining the military became a reality at 43 years young. She served in the US Army Nurse Corps as an ER Nurse and deployed in support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It was during her military service in 2004 that she first smoked cigars. Upon her Honorable discharge at the rank of Captain in 2010, she continued smoking cigars and it slowly progressed from a coping tool to a hobby, and finally to a passion. She resides in South Jersey with her Service Dog Finn Ezekiel and looks forward to retirement from her position of Director of the Cumberland County Department of Veterans Affairs and traveling the country visiting cigar lounges and her many friends she has made through the cigar lifestyle.