IF920
  • IF920
  • Enthusiast Topic Starter
Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:15:54 PM
I just returned from a few days golfing in southern IL. / southern Iowa. After 54 holes of golf one day, a few beers and cocktails I decided to light up one of these Pinar Del Rio Oscuros. I picked up a box of 25 for about 35 bucks a while back on free fall. I guess these are the ones with the old band that they are trying to close out. I thought this was going to be a golf course cigar. For my taste I was wrong. This baby is packed tight, has a tight draw, which I like, lots of smoke and damn tasty. The cigar burned down about 2.5 to 3.0 inches before it dropped off a nice dark gray ash. I like Man O War and Man O War Ruiniation, Diesel Unholy and Unlimited. This burns like them but is a little sweeter. It is a lot less expensive.

The questions are as follows. Did I have to much to drink, is that why it tasted so good? Was I just so happy to get out of cold and snowy NE. Wisconsin, is that why it tasted so good. The golf season is back and I love to golf, is that why it tasted so good. I say no to all of the above. this is a damn good cigar for the money.

The last thing I would like to mention is that there are some very nice people in southern IL. and Iowa. The golf down there is cheap $25.00 to $50.00 for 18 holes and a cart on championship courses, cart fee only for a replay. If you like to golf and this area is in your range give it a try.

IF920

jimbud
Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:19:46 PM
If, I think I picked up some from the same free fall. I'm hoping you are right. I've had 2 that were train wrecks, but those were ott. Maybe i'll revisit one this weekend....
dpnewell
Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:05:43 PM
IF920,

First thing, over the past 6 months or so, I've turned into a PDR hoe. Smoked probably a hundred or more of the Classic, Sungrown, Oscuro, Selection (PA Broadleaf) in both the old blend and the new blend, which is distinguishable by the foot ribbon. Old blend is good, but the new blend is slightly better across the board. These may not be LPs or Tats, but they are a solid, tasty stick none the less.

I grabbed a couple boxes of the old blend from FF. First thing, CI's where sopping wet. I've had burn problems with these, that I've never had with the PDRs I've gotten elsewhere. Taste and quality is on par with all the other old blend sticks I've had, so I'm sure I'll be happy with them once they dry out a bit. But, I also got a box of Sungrown Churchills from FF, and they are NOT up to par with the other Sungrown PDRs I've smoked. Loosely packed and not as flavorable. Maybe some rest time will improve the flavor, but I am currently not happy with them.

Personally, I love most of Abe Flore's offerings (even one of his private label brands), and think the entire PDR line was undervalued, which sadly, is already changing, as the bids elsewhere have been rising steadily, as more and more folk try this once "under the radar" brand. I used to be able to get as many as I wanted of the new blend for $7 a fiver, but that isn't happening anymore. At one place, $15 to $20 bids is not unheard of.

If you get a chance, try the 1878 Maddie and Oscuro line, while they can still be had for $2 - $3 a stick.

raspol
Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:51:29 AM
IMO Oscuro and Selection are the best, especially with 2 or 3 years of age.
t33bone
Sunday, April 24, 2011 6:02:39 PM
Smoke the PDR 1878 Reserva Dominicana Oscuro in any size.

Me likey

dpnewell
Sunday, April 24, 2011 6:20:23 PM
So Tuck,

Are you the one who keeps beating my bids on that one, lol?

t33bone
Sunday, April 24, 2011 6:26:09 PM

So Tuck,

Are you the one who keeps beating my bids on that one, lol?

dpnewell wrote:

LOL, not me. No 1878 Oscuro's here. Get them at local. Sungrown ones good to. I am not a fan of the old ones but they are pretty decent as I have had them in the past. Now with he 1878 line out, I go to local and love em.

jazzman17
Sunday, April 24, 2011 6:45:14 PM

Smoke the PDR 1878 Reserva Dominicana Oscuro in any size.

Me likey

t33bone wrote:

I agree with u Tuck. They're tasty.

Ethan Kurland
Sunday, April 24, 2011 7:03:50 PM
I purchased PDR Oscura torpedos on free fall. They are awful: hard to light, hard to keep lit, and bitter after 2 inches of smoking.

The boxes had a big white label glued on them, saying Vintage 2008/2009. "Vintage" implies uncommon quality, an exceptional year.

No way.

dpnewell
Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:32:30 PM
^No, Vintage is C-bid's way of saying "old inventory that they bought for a song". Let the sticks dry out in the low 60's for a month or two and try again. I had the same problem with the C-bid sticks, but I've bought the same blend elsewhere, and they've been very nice.

Edited to say that the C-bid sticks are so wet, you may need to dry them out for half a year or more.

dpnewell
Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:34:32 PM
Tuck,

Have you tried the PDR 1878 Reserva Maduro?

TIGERCDW
Monday, April 25, 2011 11:47:22 AM
Edited to say that the C-bid sticks are so wet, you may need to dry them out for half a year or more

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wet is an understatement.

When I put the 2 boxes I bought in my cooler,I was able to take my beads out.

TIGER

Nicar
Monday, April 25, 2011 11:55:32 AM
I dont think it's CI.. I got some other PDR from a local.. and wet is... well.. what the sticks are!
dpnewell
Monday, April 25, 2011 12:08:30 PM
^My experience has been different. I've received dozens upon dozens of these sticks from 2 other sites (silly me, there are no other sites), and for the most part, they are ready to smoke OTT. The one's I won on FF where the only ones sopping wet.
dstieger
Monday, April 25, 2011 12:10:47 PM

IF920,

First thing, over the past 6 months or so, I've turned into a PDR hoe. Smoked probably a hundred or more of the Classic, Sungrown, Oscuro, Selection (PA Broadleaf) in both the old blend and the new blend, which is distinguishable by the foot ribbon. Old blend is good, but the new blend is slightly better across the board. These may not be LPs or Tats, but they are a solid, tasty stick none the less.

I grabbed a couple boxes of the old blend from FF. First thing, CI's where sopping wet. I've had burn problems with these, that I've never had with the PDRs I've gotten elsewhere. Taste and quality is on par with all the other old blend sticks I've had, so I'm sure I'll be happy with them once they dry out a bit. But, I also got a box of Sungrown Churchills from FF, and they are NOT up to par with the other Sungrown PDRs I've smoked. Loosely packed and not as flavorable. Maybe some rest time will improve the flavor, but I am currently not happy with them.

Personally, I love most of Abe Flore's offerings (even one of his private label brands), and think the entire PDR line was undervalued, which sadly, is already changing, as the bids elsewhere have been rising steadily, as more and more folk try this once "under the radar" brand. I used to be able to get as many as I wanted of the new blend for $7 a fiver, but that isn't happening anymore. At one place, $15 to $20 bids is not unheard of.

If you get a chance, try the 1878 Maddie and Oscuro line, while they can still be had for $2 - $3 a stick.

dpnewell wrote:

I could have written much of above -- I haven't had a hundred -- but at least a couple dozen and some of each of those listed. The OR Oscuro are, indeed, VERY tasty. Even after sabilization, though, they need some dry-boxing. For me, best method has been 48 hours in unhumidified desktop -- after that, they stay lit, burn straight and taste delicious. The 2010 Seleccion Reserva Limitada are also much better after getting a day or two in the dry-box. The sungrown churchills I got on FreeFall were the opposite - a bit dry and flavor was 'muted'. But, the box was sealed in outer cello that didn't appear to have any break in it and might not have 'benefitted' much from CI's underwater storage. On the other hand, the fiver of SG lanceros I got here (for what? $13, I think!) were incredible just a week after receipt.

Ethan Kurland
Monday, April 25, 2011 12:30:05 PM
thanks for the advice; I will bring the RH down slowly & try them in a month