Cigar review:
Cigar review: There are a hallowed group of cigars where all you need to do is mention their name, and there are nods of agreement. No words are necessary as all heady cigar smokers have either smoked them or have pretended to smoke them.
Arturo Fuente’s Opus X is such a cigar. Always in limited supply , expensive and the high ratings are a given on any best of cigar list. I needed a celebration smoke for my fifteenth wedding anniversary and had my X sitting in a humidor since 2016. Time to break it out.
As always , how and where I received the cigar does not impact my subjective judgment. Please try the cigar and decide for yourself.
Brand/Name of Cigar: Arturo Fuente/Opus X
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 6.25 x 48
Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: App. 25.00 in 2016, bought at Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge, Los Angeles
Where and When Smoked: Los Angeles, Ca. 2020
Appearance/Construction: Attractive caramel color with slight veins showing. This was minor and not a distraction. Oily and firm to the touch. The band was classic looking , with an immediate recognition to the public what you were smoking. The overall presentation was outstanding.
Flavor/Taste and Aroma: First third: An instant burst of flavor with an array of a dried fruit blend of apricots, apple and raisin with black spice also part of the picture.
Second Third: A new layer of flavor was added with cocoa, peanuts and nutmeg balanced into the previous flavors very adroitly.
Final Third: The cigar faltered a bit here as a flat medal taste came into play. Not sure what that was about but it was there and not my imagination.
Smoking Characteristics: Well constructed with a small uneven burn in the second third. Not a problem. Stayed lit with a medium grey ash.
Conclusion/Overall Impression/ Final Thoughts and the Numbers:
This might upset some Opus purists but while the cigar was certainly enjoyable , it left me a bit underwhelmed. For all the rewards, and articles describing the pure joy of smoking an Opus, I did not get that vision.
There are cigars that I have enjoyed more but the Opus X is no slouch. It’s not as good as I was hoping for. It is my second time I have smoked an Opus X and down the road will probably smoke another.
Worth buying for sure and the expense should not be a consideration.
Appearance/Construction: 4.5 out of 5
Flavor/Taste and Aroma: 4 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 4 out of 5
Overall Conclusion: 4.1 out of 5
Keep smoking