Cigar Weekly

gumby · 05-27-2013, 06:29 PM

As mentioned on another thread, I decided to break out a very old Opus X. This cigar was from around 1998-2000. The cello was more brown than golden and the band had a niced aged patina to it.
Now as most here know, I think Opus are an over-hyped, over priced cigar. But I thought that with this much age on it I should give it a whirl.
The cigar looked great but had a very tight draw. I had to really work at it to keep it lit and had to relight it four or five times. It burned somewhat unevenly.
Now for the taste review. This was one of the strangest cigar experiences that I can recall. It started off with a harsh maduro taste. Add that to the draw problems and if it hadn't been so old I would have tossed it. But about 1/4 in it got interesting. Loads of different flavors going on and somewhat interesting. But just about when it had my interest it turned into a one-dimensional dud. If it weren't for the fact that I was grilling had nothing better to do then I would have tossed it. It went out again so I ran inside to grab the veggies that I was going to grill. Once back outside I lit it up again and much to my surprise, the cigar became absolutely amazing for the last 1/3. It was till burning unevenly but the multitude of rich flavors was astounding. I actually hated to put in down. What a strange smoking experience.
Would I buy any more Opus or do Fuente's job of aging them? Absolutely not. But I am sure am glad that I gave this cigar a chance.

ronin · 05-27-2013, 06:37 PM

Just when you think you got somebody figured out.

Oddly though, you won't do the aging for the Fuentes but you would do it for the Cubans? Glad you "enjoyed" it.

gumby · 05-28-2013, 04:16 PM

I tend to smoke them young. The difference is that they start out good and only improve with age. Opus is a nicotine monster new and needs agony just to become bearable ino

jazznut · 05-29-2013, 09:25 AM

Talk about a rollercoaster taste experience!

Thanks for the revealing analysis.

flyfishtn · 05-30-2013, 12:43 PM

Very nice review and ride.

Ike · 05-31-2013, 08:43 PM

I don't know if anything in them is different from one size to the next but the XXX, small belicoso, is the only one that I find consistent and flavorful. I find them pretty spicy but I don't get this with the others.

05-27-2013, 06:29 PM	#1
gumby Contributing Editor MOM November 2012 Emeritus Honorary MOM November 2021 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 47,284	Opus X Review. May 2013: this may surprise you As mentioned on another thread, I decided to break out a very old Opus X. This cigar was from around 1998-2000. The cello was more brown than golden and the band had a niced aged patina to it. Now as most here know, I think Opus are an over-hyped, over priced cigar. But I thought that with this much age on it I should give it a whirl. The cigar looked great but had a very tight draw. I had to really work at it to keep it lit and had to relight it four or five times. It burned somewhat unevenly. Now for the taste review. This was one of the strangest cigar experiences that I can recall. It started off with a harsh maduro taste. Add that to the draw problems and if it hadn't been so old I would have tossed it. But about 1/4 in it got interesting. Loads of different flavors going on and somewhat interesting. But just about when it had my interest it turned into a one-dimensional dud. If it weren't for the fact that I was grilling had nothing better to do then I would have tossed it. It went out again so I ran inside to grab the veggies that I was going to grill. Once back outside I lit it up again and much to my surprise, the cigar became absolutely amazing for the last 1/3. It was till burning unevenly but the multitude of rich flavors was astounding. I actually hated to put in down. What a strange smoking experience. Would I buy any more Opus or do Fuente's job of aging them? Absolutely not. But I am sure am glad that I gave this cigar a chance. __________________ I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

05-27-2013, 06:37 PM	#2
ronin The Duke Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 20,302	Just when you think you got somebody figured out. Oddly though, you won't do the aging for the Fuentes but you would do it for the Cubans? Glad you "enjoyed" it. __________________ Words are what men live by. A man's word even if it means his destruction must be honored

05-28-2013, 04:16 PM	#3
gumby Contributing Editor MOM November 2012 Emeritus Honorary MOM November 2021 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 47,284	I tend to smoke them young. The difference is that they start out good and only improve with age. Opus is a nicotine monster new and needs agony just to become bearable ino __________________ I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

05-29-2013, 09:25 AM	#4
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	Talk about a rollercoaster taste experience! Thanks for the revealing analysis. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!

05-30-2013, 12:43 PM	#5
flyfishtn Club Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashvegas Posts: 4,906	Very nice review and ride. __________________ Sometimes it is entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a sledgehammer. - Maj. I.L. Holdridge, USMC

05-31-2013, 08:43 PM	#6
Ike Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 509	I don't know if anything in them is different from one size to the next but the XXX, small belicoso, is the only one that I find consistent and flavorful. I find them pretty spicy but I don't get this with the others.

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