BrandonP
Cigar King Scottsdale
The newest Cigar King review from the Cigar King Blog:
Pinar Del Rio is a new cigar manufacturer to the block, starting independent operations just 8 years ago. But today they are arguably the hottest manufacturer in the Dominican Republic, producing brands that seem to be a hit anywhere they hit the shelves. Run by Abe Flores and the Rodriguez brothers, PDR is a boutique cigar company making delicious cigars at a very nice price point. Abe is the face and blender of the brand and is a great guy with an infectious smile that shows his true love and passion for this business. The company itself is named after the famed growing region in Cuba, known for growing rich, succulent tobacco leaf and this Dominican namesake lives up to that heritage well. Our review today will take a look at one of the new lines from PDR, the Liga Especial Reserva Superior, specifically in the Gran Toro size, a 6 x 54 beauty. There are 4 sizes total, the other 3 being a 5 x 52 Robusto, a 6 ½ x 52 torpedo, and a monster Salomon 6 x 66.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Size: Gran Toro 6 x 54
Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Brazilian Bahia
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican, and American Ligero
Strength: Full
Flavor: Full
Cost: $8.50/stick or $152.95/box of 20
Appearance: The wrapper on the PDR Reserva Surperior is visually stunning, a deep, dark reddish-brown with an abundance of oily sheen. The seams are invisible and the cigar is soft to the touch. The foot on this cigar is closed by the wrapper, which I love for its classic feel. There are no veins to be seen and my mouth is watering at just the sight of this beauty.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Pre-light Aroma: Putting the cigar to my nose, the foot immediately smells of an English tea, sweet and floral. The wrapper has more of a spice to it and less of the sweet tea aroma, but spicy and sweet has always been a favorite of mine in a cigar. The dry-draw on the PDR Reserva Superior is easy and loaded with flavor, even with the closed foot, which usually tightens the draw before it is lit. Flavor wise, the dry-draw has hints of nuts, a definite tea like taste to match the scent, and a musky earth taste.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
The first puff on the PDR Reserva Superior is loaded with a spice that tingles on the tongue and lasts between puffs. The white pepper is also present through the nose and there is a sweetness trying to creep in, but it is so faint I cant pick it up right away. Once the pepper subsides the sweetness comes on strong, with the tea flavor being at the forefront. I am loving this flavor as I havent really tasted it a lot before. The burn line is a bit off but not so much so that a touch up is needed. The ash is a bit flaky so I dont try to keep a lot on, dropping it between ½ and ¾ of an inch.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Once we move past the 1st third, the transition is to a more hearty flavor, a deep woodsy note complimented by the pepper spice. It has a charred beef like flavor which is a stark difference from the sweetness early on. The burn is still a bit off but again not so much to need a touch-up. The draw has remained easy, producing plenty of smoke, and the strength is a definite full by this point.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Moving into the final third of the PDR Reserva Superior brings the spice back to the forefront. There is a nutty like flavor on the backend and the spice is very evident through the nose. The finish is strong, as you would expect from the all ligero filler, and the flavor lingers on the palate nicely. With just under an inch left I set the cigar down and let it go out peacefully without it ever getting bitter or hot. It was a bit soft towards the end but it didnt effect the flavor or smoke output. Smoking time was just shy of 2 hours, coming in at 1 hour and 51 minutes.
Cigar King Staff Quotes:
-Mitchel If youre looking for strength, this is the cigar for you. Full bodied with a lot of flavor.
-Josh PDR has come on strong in the last few years. This didnt disappoint.
-Joe Great full bodied cigar with very distinct flavors. Really enjoyed this smoke.
-Paul That PDR was a power house!
Pinar Del Rio is a new cigar manufacturer to the block, starting independent operations just 8 years ago. But today they are arguably the hottest manufacturer in the Dominican Republic, producing brands that seem to be a hit anywhere they hit the shelves. Run by Abe Flores and the Rodriguez brothers, PDR is a boutique cigar company making delicious cigars at a very nice price point. Abe is the face and blender of the brand and is a great guy with an infectious smile that shows his true love and passion for this business. The company itself is named after the famed growing region in Cuba, known for growing rich, succulent tobacco leaf and this Dominican namesake lives up to that heritage well. Our review today will take a look at one of the new lines from PDR, the Liga Especial Reserva Superior, specifically in the Gran Toro size, a 6 x 54 beauty. There are 4 sizes total, the other 3 being a 5 x 52 Robusto, a 6 ½ x 52 torpedo, and a monster Salomon 6 x 66.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Size: Gran Toro 6 x 54
Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Brazilian Bahia
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican, and American Ligero
Strength: Full
Flavor: Full
Cost: $8.50/stick or $152.95/box of 20
Appearance: The wrapper on the PDR Reserva Surperior is visually stunning, a deep, dark reddish-brown with an abundance of oily sheen. The seams are invisible and the cigar is soft to the touch. The foot on this cigar is closed by the wrapper, which I love for its classic feel. There are no veins to be seen and my mouth is watering at just the sight of this beauty.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Pre-light Aroma: Putting the cigar to my nose, the foot immediately smells of an English tea, sweet and floral. The wrapper has more of a spice to it and less of the sweet tea aroma, but spicy and sweet has always been a favorite of mine in a cigar. The dry-draw on the PDR Reserva Superior is easy and loaded with flavor, even with the closed foot, which usually tightens the draw before it is lit. Flavor wise, the dry-draw has hints of nuts, a definite tea like taste to match the scent, and a musky earth taste.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
The first puff on the PDR Reserva Superior is loaded with a spice that tingles on the tongue and lasts between puffs. The white pepper is also present through the nose and there is a sweetness trying to creep in, but it is so faint I cant pick it up right away. Once the pepper subsides the sweetness comes on strong, with the tea flavor being at the forefront. I am loving this flavor as I havent really tasted it a lot before. The burn line is a bit off but not so much so that a touch up is needed. The ash is a bit flaky so I dont try to keep a lot on, dropping it between ½ and ¾ of an inch.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Once we move past the 1st third, the transition is to a more hearty flavor, a deep woodsy note complimented by the pepper spice. It has a charred beef like flavor which is a stark difference from the sweetness early on. The burn is still a bit off but again not so much to need a touch-up. The draw has remained easy, producing plenty of smoke, and the strength is a definite full by this point.
Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior
Moving into the final third of the PDR Reserva Superior brings the spice back to the forefront. There is a nutty like flavor on the backend and the spice is very evident through the nose. The finish is strong, as you would expect from the all ligero filler, and the flavor lingers on the palate nicely. With just under an inch left I set the cigar down and let it go out peacefully without it ever getting bitter or hot. It was a bit soft towards the end but it didnt effect the flavor or smoke output. Smoking time was just shy of 2 hours, coming in at 1 hour and 51 minutes.
Cigar King Staff Quotes:
-Mitchel If youre looking for strength, this is the cigar for you. Full bodied with a lot of flavor.
-Josh PDR has come on strong in the last few years. This didnt disappoint.
-Joe Great full bodied cigar with very distinct flavors. Really enjoyed this smoke.
-Paul That PDR was a power house!
