PDR Cigars – Flores Y Rodriguez Habano Cabinet Seleccion

Located in the Tamboril, Dominican Republic, a municipality of Santiago, PDR Cigars produces brands such as A. Flores, Flores y Rodriguez, Pinar Del Rio, and PDR 1878 under the direction of Abe Flores at their La Fabrica factory. PDR Cigars has flown under the radar lately, but the company reached a major milestone this year, 10 years of operations. The anniversary was commemorated by the release of the Flores Y Rodriguez 10th Anniversary Reserva Limitada, which is the fourth offering under the Flores y Rodriguez brand following the Habano Cabinet Seleccion, Maduro Cabinet Seleccion, and Exclusivo. Well, I apologize if I got your hopes up, but I will not be reviewing the 10th Anniversary, but the reasonably priced Flores Y Rodriguez Habano Cabinet Seleccion.

Available vitolas of the Habano Cabinet Seleccion include:Magicos (5 by 52 Robustro), Genios (6 by 52 Toro), Unicos (6 ½ by 52 Belicoso), and Canonazo (6 ¾ ×58 Gordo)

According to PDR Cigars’website:

PDR’s first release from the 2012 IPCPR was our Flores y Rodriguez Habano Cabinet Seleccion. It’s our third Dominican puro that we have produced. A fun fact that we like to share regarding this blend, all components wrapper, binder & filler tobacco is from one Cuban seed Habano from Vuelta Abajo Cuba that was grown in the Dominican Republic. Available in two blends Natural and Maduro.

The Facts

Purchased at Cigars International
Price: $1.85 / $18.50 for a 10 pack
Vitola: Magicos (Robusto)
Size: 5 by 52
Wrapper: Dominican Habano Vuelta Abajo
Binder: Dominican Habano Vuelta Abajo
Filler: Dominican Habano Vuelta Abajo
Smoke Time: 1 Hour
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The Dominican Habano wrapper leaf is medium tan in color with an orange hue. Long, medium sized veins run the length of the cigar and have a stitch-like appearance. When the light hits it just right, there’s a small amount of oils that can be seen on the bumpy wrapper. Not one soft is found in this evenly and firmly packed cigar.

The wrapper aroma is very faint making it difficult discern any distinct aromas. There is a mild pungency with possibly some cedar woodsy notes. The aroma off the foot is much fuller. There is rich cedar, some spice, earth and cherry. A triple cap has been applied to the Habano Cabinet Seleccion that clips easily and reveals an easy draw. Like the foot aroma, the cold draw is very rich with cedar and a potpourri-like spice I commonly pick up in rich cigars.

First Third

Flores y Rogriguez Habano Cabinet Seleccions opens with sweet tobacco and pepper spice against a backdrop of cedar. The pepper spice is mild in the mouth, warm in the throat, and sharp on the retrohale. Along with pepper, leather stands out as the smoke moves through the sinuses. The smoke is thick and chewy in the mouth. After a half inch of burn, some citrus notes make an appearance in the profile, making a nice contrast with the sweetness.

Middle Third

The sweetness has developed into a vanilla flavor. The cedar core is still holding strong and, as the pepper tones down on the retrohale, dry, pencil shaving-like notes move to the forefront. Earth and leather are on the finish of the smoke. The sweetness and citrus are light and instanly hit the palate after drawing the smoke. The flavors remain rather bright as the smoke is in the mouth but once the smoke departs, the darker flavors arrive on the finish. The burn has been wavy throughout but as I reach the middle third its time to pull out the lighter.

Final Third

The flavors remain uniform with the two previous thirds with only an added toasted quality as I push into the final third. The flavors are in the medium arena and I am feeling no nicotine after an hour of smoking. A few more touch ups are required but not burdensome as everything else with the cigar is performing great.

Wrap-up

The more Flores Y Rodriguez Habano Cabinet Seleccions I smoke the more I am astonished that the cigar is a Dominican puro made out of one varietal of Cuban seed. The Habano Cabinet Seleccion delivers a complex experience that can be rare in puros. The play between the sweetness and citrus notes kept me engaged the entire smoke, while the core flavors of pepper, cedar, and leather were right in my comfort zone. I hope I can find another bargain on these sticks as this is a cigar I would love to maintain in my weekly rotation. For a cigar that can be found around $5, I can easily recommend a five pack purchase. If you ever stumble across the cigars under $2 like I did, buy as many as you can afford.