Protocol Phoebe Couzins Natural

Five years into Protocol Cigars’ most premium collection—dubbed the Lawmen Series—the brand unveiled the seventh and eighth blends to date, collectively falling under the Protocol Phoebe Couzins line. Since debuting in 2019 with Sir Robert Peel, each release has maintained a number of consistencies: two blend versions (natural and maduro), a single box-pressed toro size, Nicaraguan craftsmanship, and inspiration from some of the most notable individuals in the history of law enforcement.

Previous releases have honored Sir Robert Peel, Eliot Ness, and Bass Reeves. With the Protocol Phoebe Couzins, the company honors the first female appointed to the U.S. Marshal service. In addition, Couzins was was one of the first female lawyers in the US, and was later active in the Suffrage movement as a public speaker for the St. Louis Women Suffrage Association.

Protocol Phoebe Couzins Natural Breakdown

As the most regal series from Protocol Cigars, the Lawmen Series is described as “[paying] homage to prominent figures in the history of American Law Enforcement by using higher primings of tobacco and more elaborate packaging giving it a more sophisticated finish.” Over the years, the various blends have hovered around three wrapper varieties: Habano, Sumatra, and Broadleaf. For Phoebe Couzins, Protocol shows off the former two, using Ecuadorian Sumatra on the Natural and Nicaraguan Habano on the Maduro. And while all Lawmen cigars use Nicaraguan fillers, the primings and regions differ; with Phoebe Couzins, the main similarity between the two blends is a Nicaraguan binder from the Jalapa growing region.

Appearance

For those familiar with the Lawmen Series, there are no surprises from the cigar’s design, boasting the same core elements of the box and band and swapping the highlight color (pink, in this case) and central figure (a portrait of Phoebe Couzins). It’s a classy look—essentially offering a one-eighty from the edgy styling found on the brand’s core collection.

Sized at 6″ x 52, it’s the same box-pressed format from previous releases. The edges are somewhat soft-pressed, having a symmetrical, square look when viewed from the foot. The wrapper is a clean Colorado rosado shade (maybe a tad bit lighter), showing small and medium veins and nearly invisible seams from head to toe. With a squeeze, the toro is somewhat spongy; this alludes to the under-filled nature sometimes associated with the box-pressed shape.

The aroma on the wrapper is lightly musky upfront, leading to a backing note of nutmeg (neither are especially abundant). The foot note builds on the nutmeg, adding ginger spice and cayenne pepper into the mix. With a straight cut, the cigar shows a slightly loose draw, with pre-light notes of vegetation, red pepper flakes, and toasted rye bread.

Smoking Experience

One would be mistaken expecting a mellow experience from this pink-banded toro. Instead, the cigar kicks off with zesty spice through the retrohale. It’s a ginger and red pepper vibe, stinging the nostrils (though not in an overly aggressive manner) before settling on the palate with a refreshing sweetness. It’s an enjoyable back-and-forth between the retro and palate experience, carrying through the first half-inch or so of the toro. The cigar is medium in flavor, mild to medium in strength, and medium-light in overall body.

Passing the half-inch mark, the cigar shows its first transition, adding in a sweet, creamy butter component; it’s reminiscent of the sweet butter you’d expect to find tucked between each layer of pancakes at your local diner. In terms of construction, the cigar is wavy (yet not concerning) in burn line, stacking up a medium-gray ash in somewhat loose stacks. The draw is about medium, being better than the pre-light experience suggested. With the smoke hitting the front and front sides of the tongue (as well as somewhere between the front and center of the palate), it’s somewhere between dry and mouthwatering in texture—nicely balanced, I’d say.

Moving into the meat of the smoke, toasted nuts and balanced spice are the general vibe. Nuttiness can veer into browned butter territory, which can lead to sweeter notes of toffee taffy through the finish. These are the last noticeable flavors in the overall profile established in the first half, drawing a line that leads into darker, drier, and stronger characteristics. At this point (around halfway), the cigar is medium-plus in flavor, medium in strength, and medium in body.

A little stronger and darker, Phoebe Couzins maintains a nice sweetness on the tongue. However, I’ll note that the cigar can heat up in this territory fairly easily. When maintaining a slow pace, the cigar can show something along the lines of spicy-sweet candied glaze (like a brown sugar / sriracha concoction worthy of candied bacon). Toasted nutmeg and over-cooked caramel corn lead into darker territory for the cigar’s closeout. The end is dry and fiery, showing roots, earth, charred oak, and anise.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

After the longest drought in the Lawmen Series since the project began, it was a fun and refreshing experience being reacquainted with Protocol’s refined side. I’ve had the Natural and the Maduro on a few occasions. I find that I enjoy them both nearly equally, essentially giving the nod to one of the two blends depending on the given mood. Since it’s been awhile since I’ve smoked the former releases, it’s hard to compare, though I want to say the Phoebe Couzins is softer in intensity and more focused on balance. This is an approachable cigar for a wide range of palates, being an easy recommendation (yes, I’d smoke it again).

• Each Lawmen Series cigar features the year of notable contributions from the individual that the project is based on. The Phoebe Couzins lists “1887” on the band, marking the year that Couzins became the first female U.S. Marshal in the country.
• At the time of review, the Protocol Phoebe Couzins Natural has a “100% Smokable” rating on Dojoverse, ranking in the top 45 percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.

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