This is a review that I wrote in 2009. Just like a "bad penny", here it is again! lol
I will warn you now that this was my first review and I got totally carried away.
Opus X Fuente Fuente
I was going to smoke this guy a couple of days ago but when I unwrapped it it felt like it might be too moist and too firm. I was surprised by this cause I had been storing it at 65% R.H. But I figured I'd better dry box it for 2 days to make sure it was ready to go.
Now 2 days later it feels exactly the same. Very firm in the fingers with a very smooth feel to the wrapper. I must now conclude that the extraordinary firmness is all about the high quality construction. So, I'm moving ahead.
It has a unique aroma to the unlit stick. Perhaps it is a sweet earthiness...
It accepted the ministrations of my V cutter without a whimper and yielded a pre-light draw flavor that is honey influenced for sure, with a pepper finish! Wow! I have never experienced that much flavor before on a pre-light draw. By the way, the amount of draw is perfect.
Notice the mottling on the wrapper. A portentous symptom of mysterious delights!
Fire applied at 11:45am.
I didn’t want to possibly influence the cigar with a Spanish cedar match so I gently warmed the foot with a soft butane flame.
I was greeted with a big wall of P-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pepper! (gasp)…and honey too! Yoiks!
Clouds of smoke!
2 draws later it has mellowed and there is caramel there, yum!
What?! I just saw smoke drift out of the head of the cigar while letting it rest in my fingas! Have I ever seen that happen before? Maybe I am just jumpy cause this is such a momentous occasion…
The cigar is settling into a full bodied complex flavor. A bit of tangy earth with changing shades of spice in the finish. Intriguing no?
A perfectly even burn with a white ash that has a subtle hint of grey to it.
As I finish the first third it is now delivering a predominately complex spice flavor with a mature and subtle pepper underneath. No wonder people like these!
The 2nd third is delivering spice + mature tobacco flavors. I begin to take occasional sips of room temperature distilled water.
Twelve twenty eight pm; As I continue my foray the spice and tobacco flavors picked up a nuance of orange pico aftertaste.
12:42 and the ash is trembling and I had to let it go.
I now am experiencing a dominant tobacco flavor with really nice spice finish. The subtle pepper contribution that has been diminishing is gone altogether now.
As I float around my office on clouds of happiness a thought springs to mind...
“Some Bums are born amongst great cigars…. Others have great cigars thrust upon them.”
1:09 1/2" of ash again and oh so tasty. Flavors of tobacco with a honey finish now.
One twenty pm; and a wrapper-endectomy was necessary. Unending clouds of smoke!
1:48 and still enjoying the daylights out of this noble and worthy cigar Wow! You know I’m nubbin this guy.
2:09 had to put it down………………….
So I could pull out a toothpick!
The brave little nub is still producing clouds of smoke!??!!
2:17 There was a moment of silence observed as I had to put it down for good.
This trustworthy Cigar never turned on me. What a marvelous and truly memorable experience!
Two and a half hours of adventure and bliss!
Thanks for taking a gander!