PROTOCOL ELIOT NESS CIGARS NOW ARRIVING AT RETAIL

MARCH 18, 2021 - Announced last year, Protocol Eliot Ness cigars, the second installment of Protocol's “Lawmen Series,” is finally set to arrive on retail cigar stores shelves. The Protocol Eliot Ness continues the more refined look and blend of 2019's Sir Robert Peel. The Sir Robert Peel was a bold change from the more modern look that Protocol Cigars had established up until that time. 

“The Sir Robert Peel was a total change of direction for the company,” said Juan Cancel, founder and owner of Protocol Cigars. “We wanted to offer our supporters a more regal product from marketing, packaging, and to the actual tobacco used in the blend. We wanted to stay true to our working class supporters, but wanted to also offer them a higher end product. Sometimes the average working Joe likes to put on a suit and get a little fancy while smoking his cigar. It was a bold move and it paid off. The Protocol Sir Robert Peel was and continues to be a tremendous success for us. We figured why not continue on the coattails of that success.” 

Continuing that look and feel is the Protocol Eliot Ness. Criminals are so often glorified in Hollywood and in the media. Rarely are the men and woman who work tirelessly to bring these criminal to justice are ever recognized. This is where the “Lawmen Series” comes in. It pays homage to the law enforcement personnel that bring these glorified criminals to justice. 

Eliot Ness was a Federal Agent in the Bureau of Prohibition. This agency was created in 1920 to enforce the National Prohibition Act of 1919. Eliot Ness was assigned to Chicago, Illinois. In 1931 Eliot Ness arrested American Gangster Al Capone. That year adorns the Protocol Eliot Ness Band. The Protocol Eliot Ness was created to honor this dedicated and hard working law enforcement officer. 

Another first for Protocol was to offer the Sir Robert Peel in Natural and Maduro blends. Keeping that concept, the Protocol Eliot Ness also comes in Natural and Maduro wrappers. Both are Nicaraguan puros. The Natural has a Double Habano wrapper/binder with Viso/Seco/Criollo fillers. The Maduro has a dark and oily Nicaraguan Broadleaf. Both the Natural and Maduro share the same Habano binder. The fillers are Viso/Seco/Corojo from Esteli and Jalapa. 

“We wanted to do something new and exciting for us,” said Protocol co-owner, Kevin Keithan. “Eliot Ness is the first blend we've released with no ligero tobacco. A far cry from our first offering in 2015 that had quadruple ligero in the filler. So, all the strength and power of the blends come from the other tobaccos. It is a very unique smoking experience, especially for those who are used to smoking Protocol Cigars.” 

Another first for the company is that the Protocol Eliot Ness will be manufactured at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaraguan, under the direction of Erik Espinosa. The cigar was blended by Protocol Cigars, under the guidance of La Zona’s blender Hector Alfonso Sr. 

The Protocol Eliot Ness will come in 10 count boxes in a 6X52 Boxed Press Vitola. The MSRP will be $119.50 and available by mid to late fall and will be a full production line. 

Protocol Eliot Ness Natural 
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Habano, Esteli
Filler: Nicaraguan Viso/Seco/Criollo 

Protocol Eliot Ness Maduro 
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
Binder: Habano, Esteli
Filler: Viso/Seco/Corojo: Esteli/Jalapa 

“We really wanted this cigar to be done with a Connecticut Broadleaf, but unfortunately it’s very scarce right now,” added Cancel. “We are fortunate enough to have a great relationship with AJ Fernandez who offered us the use of his proprietary Nicaraguan Broadleaf. That led to him also offering to manufacture the cigars. The Protocol Elliot Ness will be manufactured using his tobaccos, while following the blend we created. We are eternally grateful to AJ Fernandez, Erik Espinosa and Hector Alfonso Sr. for their help in making this project a reality!”

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