Origin : Dominican Republic
Wrapper : Connecticut
Binder : Dominican Republic
Filler : Dominican mixed filler
Source : Thompson Cigar with my own money
I have a cigar for you today that seems to be a Thompson Cigar exclusive, the Pinar Del Rio Value Line Reserve. These cigars are available in three sizes on Thompson’s website, Churchill (7×50), Toro (6×52), Torpedo (6 1/2x 52). Pricing for these goes from $32.95 to $34.95.
Pre-Light
Starting off this Pinar Del Rio Value Line Reserve torpedo by taking a whiff of the wrapper and I get mostly a grassy and hay scent. At the foot it is mostly hay.
Wrapper is very “rustic” looking.
After cutting I am getting a free draw that should provide a very nice smoke as we burn through it.
First Half
As I put the torch to the end of this Pinar Del Rio Value Line Reserve I notice it lights up very easily and the draw is like I expected, pretty free. Nothing very exciting about the first few puffs, just a bit of a woody tobacco taste.
Rounding out the first half it was mainly the woody taste with a bit of spice and veggie aftertaste.
Not really a whole lot to say other than that. Burn was fine with no touch ups needed although the cigar does seem to be getting a bit warm already.
Second Half
Hopping into the last half of my Pinar Del Rio Value Line Reserve and so far the predominate taste is the woodiness with a bit of spice. You also get the natural tobacco taste in there but I focus more on the other flavors.
Last two inches of the cigar have been getting bitter and I am going to lay it down at about the inch to inch and a half mark.
Predominate flavors again were the wood and a bit of spice with the veggie taste present every so often.
Wrap-Up
My conclusion on the Pinar Del Rio Value Line Reserve is that is is an okay cigar. There is nothing that will wow you or make you switch from your higher end sticks but it is a nice little time filler or a smoke you can have for under $1.50. If money is no object you would probably steer clear of this stick anyway but for those of us with limited incomes and like to smoke a few cigars a day this is not a bad choice.
I will be keeping some in my humidor, I just wish more places would have them available.
AUDIO –> Right-Click: Save As
Purchase this album – Black Sabbath: Paranoid
Mike,
Sounds like an decent budget stick. I have had one of these in the past but it was labeled different. Had a black band and simple PDR VLR lettering. At the time it was given to me I don’t think there were any other wrappers being offered, so there was no need to label it as a Connecticut.
Mike.I have enjoyed every one of your reviews since you started.
I understand times are tough and people are on a budget. But a $1 stick is a $1 stick.
There is not much to review because we know it will suck.
Keep up the good work Mike.
Think I’ll pass on these.
I noticed them in the Thompson catalog, and considered trying them after hearing all the PDR buzz going around. But the bitterness and the heat at the end make it an easy decision.
Keep the value cigar reviews coming, Mike!
Mike another good review I think I will not try this stick I’ll stick with the PDR 1878 much better even though a higher price point. Keep up the great job love the reviews.
I was trying to remember how these sticks when I was going sampler crazy with TCC last year when I first started my cigar journey. You pretty much pegged what I thought of them: Nothing spectacular, just basically a cigar and not much else.
Thanks for the good review!