In March, PDR Cigars began teasing a new line called Jose Rey, saying only that the cigar would be released at the 2019 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show. Today, the company shared some details about the new line.

First, while the line will be new to much of the cigar industry, it harkens back to the early days of the company as it was one of the first brands that PDR Cigars produced solely for the retailer Don Leoncio in New Orleans, La. As such, the company calls the cigar “a sweet celebration of our 15-year-old factory, its team and all its accomplishments.”

Which leads to the second point, that this is a sweet-tipped cigar line.

Jose Rey is made up of three blends, each with three sizes, for a total of nine cigars. The company is releasing the Jose Rey line in three wrapper options, Connecticut, Sumatra and Maduro, though nothing additional is being released about the particular blends, with each of the three blend options getting the same three sizes:

  • 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)

“This brand has a special place in our hearts,” Richie “Riot” Otero wrote to halfwheel as part of the line’s announcement. “Its capa dulce is a reminder to always add a little sweetness, and vibras positivas to life.”

It is made at the PDR Cigars factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic and has already begun shipping.

Overall Score

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2019 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
Avatar photo

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.