When the world throws you a curve, lean into mentors, then pivot. For this elite boutique cigar maker, that meant revitalizing the c brand. Abe Flores has embraced the roots of the D.R.’s cigar lineage; simplified his tobacco blends; halved the number of cigars his Tamboril factory produces; and picked up business advice from cigar legends. 

Talking to Boveda’s Rob Gagner at 2021 PCA in Las Vegas, the cigar entrepreneur shares what’s next as PDR nears its 20th anniversary.

This cigar podcast’s highlights include:  

• (6:31) Best place to buy Cuban cigars in Europe
• (8:13) What cigars you should try if you go to Cuba
• (10:50) How COVID affected the cigar industry
• (12:33) How smoking cigars influences what you do now for fun 
• (15:05) What to watch out for before investing in a vacation property if you’re a cigar smoker
• (17:20) You can rent Abe Flores’s apartment in the D.R. on Airbnb!
• (17:29) Dating advice for cigar aficionados—find a mate who likes cigars (or at least, doesn’t mind them)
• (20:31) What Abe Flores learned from master blender Henke Kelner
• (23:02) What changes to make to stay in business post-pandemic
• (25:26) Remember the Tinder Box? (Did you know Abe Flores coded for the cigar retailer?!)
• (30:44) Why Abe Flores almost shut down PDR
• (31:37) What Abe Flores learned from Tabacalera Palma CEO Jochy Blanco
• (32:25) Selling cigars beyond the United States—you can buy PDR cigars in China
• (34:09) Finding mentors and listening to their business advice

PDR protects its premium cigars by packaging with Boveda. You too can preserve the flavor and consistency of cigars like PDR’s 10th Anniversary with Boveda. Boveda, makes 2-way humidity control for cigars, easy wood humidor seasoning, humidor bags and Humidor Starter Kits to condition new wood humidors before adding cigars. Shop Boveda for cigars here: https://store.bovedainc.com/collections/boveda-for-tobacco

For More Information About PDR Cigars, Visit:

https://www.pdrcigars.com/

Check Out More of Boveda Cigar Exclusives:

For My Humidor | Jochy Blanco

https://youtu.be/Kw7VZ-0JA2k

How to Better Understand Your Cigar Tasting Palate 

https://youtu.be/W-L976OtGlE

How to Spot A FAKE Cuban Cigar

https://youtu.be/qiD5qFgSpqc?t=87