Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Protocol Official Misconduct Corona Gorda by Cubariqueño Cigar Company. This is a cigar line we previously assessed in the Toro size back in June 2018.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: La Zona S.A.
Corona Gorda: 5 5/8 x 46

The Protocol Official Misconduct Corona Gorda is the second vitola to be released in Cubariqueño Cigar Company’s Protocol Official Misconduct line. Official Misconduct is the fourth regular production to be released by Cubariqueño Cigar Company. The cigar was officially launched at the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show.

The name “Official Misconduct” keeps to the company’s law enforcement motif as partners Bill Ives and Juan Cancel both have served as law enforcement officers. With Official Misconduct the duo releases its second Ecuadorian Habano wrapped offering, joining the original Protocol (Blue) line. The remainder of the blend features Nicaraguan tobaccos. As with all Cubariqueño Cigar Company cigars, the Official Misconduct line is produced at the La Zona factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

The Corona Gorda measures 5 5/8 x 46. While Cubariqueño has gained notoriety for its lancero releases, the 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda size has become a staple in the company’s portfolio as it has a spot in four of the companies lines (Protocol Blue, Protocol Probable Cause, Protocol Themis, and Protocol Official Misconduct). Consistent with the Protocol Official Misconduct Toro, the Official Misconduct Corona Gorda is presented in ten-count boxes.

The Protocol Official Misconduct Corona Gorda kicks off with notes of natural tobacco, earth, black pepper, baker’s spice, and a slight cedar note. The natural tobacco notes become primary early on and exhibit a fruit-like sweetness. As the Official Misconduct Corona Gorda moves through the second third, the natural tobacco notes exhibit more in the way of richness as the fruit sweetness subsides. The earth notes also join the natural tobacco in the forefront. There is an increase in the pepper and cedar. The final third sees the pepper close in one the forefront in the last third, but doesn’t overtake the natural tobacco and earth notes.

The flavors produced are medium to full-bodied countered by medium strength. There wasn’t much in the way of variance in the intensity levels. The body had a slight edge over the strength throughout the smoking experience.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

When I look at Cubariqueño’s offerings, the Official Misconduct seems to be the most underrated, but in my opinion, the case could be made for this being one of Cubariqueño’s best blends. In addition, while Cubariqueño’s lanceros have gotten a lot of attention, their Corona Gorda offerings have also been underrated. The Official Misconduct Corona Gorda is a fine representation of the blend in the 5 5/8 x 46 size. This is a cigar that I could recommend to an experienced or novice cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is not only a cigar I would smoke again, but one that certainly garners box worthy consideration.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Earth, Black pepper, Baker’s Spice, Cedar
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Full
Finish: Very Good