IPCPR 2019: PDR Cigars

There was a word that stood out from PDR Cigars’ presence at the 2018 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show: equilibrium. The company was focusing on making sure that the cigar industry knew that it was not just a cigar brand or not just a factory that made cigars for other companies as well, but both of those things with equal commitment to both. That directive continued into the 2019 trade show, mainly by way of a continued rebranding of the company’s core lines, as well as a new brand that taps into the company’s history.

As for the booth, it’s a fairly open design with vertical display cases used to showcase the new and revamped products placed at the corners of the space and a number of seating areas for meetings.

Jose Rey

Back in early March, PDR Cigars began asking the question Who is Jose Rey? In June, they answered it when it was announced that Jose Rey wasn’t a who, but a what. In this case, a trio of sweet-tipped cigars with roots that go back to the early days of PDR Cigars and the retailer Don Leoncio in New Orleans, La. What is being disclosed is that it will come in three wrapper options, Connecticut, Sumatra and Maduro, with the same three sizes and price points per line. While it will debut in bundles, there will be a box format added in the near future to give the lines a more traditional packaging presentation.

• Wrapper: Connecticut/Sumatra/Maduro
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed

• Jose Rey Corona (6 x 44) — $5 (Bundles of 25, $125)
• Jose Rey Robusto (5 x 50) — $5.20 (Bundles of 25, $130)
• Jose Rey Churchill (7 x 50) — $5.60 (Bundles of 25, $140)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: June 2019

PDR 1878 Petit Setenta

The four blends of the PDR 1878 line—Natural, Maduro, Sungrown and Oscuro—are all getting a beefy new vitola, a 4 3/4 x 70 called the Petit Setenta.

• PDR Cigars 1878 Serie Petit Setenta (4 3/4 x 70) — $8.50 (Boxes of 20, $170)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: June 2019

PDR 1875 Roast Cafe Medium Roast Robusto Fresh Packs

A new packaging format for the Medium Roast Robusto that is geared towards keeping the cigar fresh in travel or when being picked up outside of a traditional cigar shop.

MSRP: $5.60

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2019

AFR-75 Rebranding

Over the past year or so, PDR Cigars has been rebranding its entire portfolio to convey an updated, more modern and more unified message that reflects the fact that the company has a standalone brand as well as its own factory which came to prominence making cigars for other companies.

Nothing changes about the AFR-75 other than its presentation. All of the new looks are beginning to ship to retailers, though you may see a mix of bands and boxes as inventory is depleted.

El Trovador Rebranding

Easily the most pronounced change in the rebranding project is El Trovador, which goes from a simple brown band to two versions that display classic artwork.

It’s a historic look for a company that seems to be pushing into the future, but it still works.

PDR Cigars 10th Anniversary Rebranding

The company’s 10th Anniversary line gets a new look as well.

PDR Cigars Robusto Fresh Pack

A reconfigured pack for 2019, this contains a 5 x 52 robusto of the Serie Privada 1875 Rosado and Maduro, along with the Gran Reserva 1975 Desflorado, Maduro and Sungrown lines.

Price: $28

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2019

(not pictured)

PDR Cigars Toro Fresh Pack

A new sampler pack that adds a 6 x 52 toro vitola of the El Criollito blend, selling it alongside one of each of the four PDR 1878 blends in a toro vitola.

MSRP: $32

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2019