Let's cut straight to this dark beauty: The PDR AFR-75 Edmundo Maduro hits shelves at $340.20 for a box of 24. This 6x58 parejo-size stick wrapped in oily Mexican San Andres Maduro leaf means business. Handrolled by four master torcedores, it combines Nicaraguan Criollo'98 binder with multi-origin filler - think of it as a full-bodied flavor bomb that'll make your humidor proud. PDR's been crushing it since 2004 with their Cuban-style "Entubado" rolling technique, and this limited edition proves why they're DAU (Daily Active Users) material for maduro lovers.
Cold draw serves earthy molasses. Initial light-up punches with black pepper that'll clear your sinuses - we're talking serious Nicaraguan firepower here. First inch brings charred oak and 85% dark chocolate bitterness, with the San Andres wrapper adding burnt caramel sweetness. Smoke output's decent but not fog-machine levels.
Here's where the magic happens: espresso grounds mixed with walnut skins dominate. Retrohale stings with cinnamon heat but in that "good pain" way. Watch for occasional licorice flashes around the halfway point - a nice counterpoint to the leathery base notes. Burn line stays razor-sharp if you're patient with the puffing rhythm.
Nicotine kicks in like a mule at 45-minute mark. Flavors shift to graphite minerality and black cherry reduction sauce sweetness. Some testers reported slight tar buildup past the nub - your call whether to ride it out or tap out early. Either way, expect 90+ minutes of full-bodied goodness that'll leave your palate buzzing.
The soul of this stick lives in Veracruz's volcanic soil - that San Andres Maduro wrapper didn't get its obsidian sheen from mere luck. PDR blends it with Nicaraguan fillers from Esteli's nutrient-rich fields, fermented just enough to tame the raw power. Master blender Abe Flores works Dominican magic here, balancing New World punch with Old World technique.
