AFR 75 by PDR Cigars

Wrapper: San Andres Maduro
Binder/Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo 98, Connecticut Broadleaf, Dominican
Sublime: 5 x 56
Price: $14.75 SRP

This cigar was assessed in detail on Cigar Coop. In terms of this cigar, here is how I described how it is positioned:

The AFR-75 derives its name from the initials its Master Blender, Abraham Flores Rosario as well as his year of birth (1975). Ever since he expanded his PDR Cigars factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic, Flores has been a person sought after by many cigar manufacturers to make cigars for them. At the same time, Flores has continued to make products to be sold by his company – PDR Cigars. For his own offerings, Flores has lately been focusing on small batch releases – and the AFR-75 is no exception as it will be limited to 500 boxes per size. At the same time, the AFR-75 is intended to PDR Cigars’ most premium offering – starting around $14.75 for this cigar.

Flavor wise this stands at the top of releases by PDR Cigars. It has a classic maduro profile of chocolate, cocoa, cherry, earth, pepper, and a touch of floral (at the beginning). The flavors are medium-bodied to start and progress to medium to full in the second half. The strength follows a similar pattern – medium to start and progresses to medium to full. As for the burn and draw – this is one of the best I’ve had from PDR Cigars.

An interesting thing. Last year, Flores gave me a prototype of this cigar in a thinner ring gauge. The blend was simply awesome in that size. I mentioned this to Flores at IPCPR and he proceeded to show me a lonsdale version. I wish he would have had that version released, but Flores said this is his personal cigar.

AFR 75 Lonsdale