Opus X

OK, I finally had my first Opus. I have a few resting in the humi that I don't want to touch until they've gotten a little age and possibly only for special occasions. However, my local B&M got some in and I decided I'd try a perfection #5 since I didn't have all that much time. Well, that little cigar ended up taking quite a bit longer than expected. Here's the low down...

Size: 4 7/8 x 40
Cigar Shape: Petit Corona
Cigar Filler: Dominican Republic
Cigar Binder: Dominican Republic
Cigar Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Price: $10.95 with tax

Pre-light, this cigar looked and smelled gorgeous and my anticipation was getting the best of me. I clipped the cap and took a few pre-light draws. There was ample spice and a sweet fig or raisin-like note that dominated. This was definitely a first for me. It lit nice and off we went.

Once again, I made the stupid mistake of smoking a strong cigar on an empty stomach and this little firecracker was not one to be messed with and it was going to show me. It didn't take much before my head was absolutely swimming and I got that empty tingling feeling in the pit of my stomach. The flavor, however was very nice. Spice danced around on different spots of the tongue, joined by that fig/raisin flavor found in the pre-light, only more subtle. Clean tobacco and some leather joined in the fun. On a side note, my mouth would water every time I took a puff on this cigar - that's never happened to me while smoking a cigar.

One thing I noticed, aside from the immense strength of this tiny cigar was the fact that it burned extremely slow (which is good, considering the price of these cigars), making for quite a drawn out experience (no pun intended). Nearing the middle of the cigar, a strong cocoa flavor was picked up and dominated the majority of what was left of the smoke.

While I strongly believe you get what you pay for (I understand it's all preference and to each his own), I honestly felt this cigar was worth the cash paid for it. I've spent much more on cigars I've enjoyed much less and spent slightly less on cigars I've enjoyed just as much or even more. All in all, it was a very good experience and I picked up at least one new flavor that I've never experienced in a cigar before, so my pallet has learned from it. In the end, I'd highly recommend this cigar to anyone interested in finding out what all the hype is about, but eat something first!

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Comments

j0z3r

Well, there is some variance. Manufacturers will call a corona anything from 5-6.5 inches long and from 42-46 in ring gauge.

I think perhaps you're thinking of a petit corona, which typically weighs in around 4.5 x 42. But again, it is hard to definitively peg a dimension to a name because so many companies make them to different standards. Makes for some confusion, don't it?

Rob1110

rwheelwright:
I must have over 300 cigars in my humidors if not more. I think I can ignore them. I also only allow myself a god of fire OR Don Carlos 30th anniversary once every two to three months. I think I have maybe 26 of the Don Carlos and maybe 36 God of fire. I got the God of Fires back in May or June of 2007. A few are from 2004, most are from 2005 and I have a box of the Piramide from this year.

Wheel, what do you think of the GOF's? I have about 8 carlitos in my aging humi and have yet to spark one up. Just curious, as you don't see nearly as many reviews of those as the Opus. I'm wondering if it's just because the GOF is a newer cigar in comparison to the opus.

rwheelwright

Rob1110:
rwheelwright:
I must have over 300 cigars in my humidors if not more. I think I can ignore them. I also only allow myself a god of fire OR Don Carlos 30th anniversary once every two to three months. I think I have maybe 26 of the Don Carlos and maybe 36 God of fire. I got the God of Fires back in May or June of 2007. A few are from 2004, most are from 2005 and I have a box of the Piramide from this year.

Wheel, what do you think of the GOF's? I have about 8 carlitos in my aging humi and have yet to spark one up. Just curious, as you don't see nearly as many reviews of those as the Opus. I'm wondering if it's just because the GOF is a newer cigar in comparison to the opus.

I think they are pretty strong. I have both the Carlito and Don Carlos. The Don Carlos was rated 93 I think. Lot's of smoke. The next time I have one, I'll give you more details. It has been a while since I have had one.

phobicsquirrel

rwheelwright:
Rob1110:
rwheelwright:
I must have over 300 cigars in my humidors if not more. I think I can ignore them. I also only allow myself a god of fire OR Don Carlos 30th anniversary once every two to three months. I think I have maybe 26 of the Don Carlos and maybe 36 God of fire. I got the God of Fires back in May or June of 2007. A few are from 2004, most are from 2005 and I have a box of the Piramide from this year.

Wheel, what do you think of the GOF's? I have about 8 carlitos in my aging humi and have yet to spark one up. Just curious, as you don't see nearly as many reviews of those as the Opus. I'm wondering if it's just because the GOF is a newer cigar in comparison to the opus.
I think they are pretty strong. I have both the Carlito and Don Carlos. The Don Carlos was rated 93 I think. Lot's of smoke. The next time I have one, I'll give you more details. It has been a while since I have had one.

Out of the 2, which would you recommend? I'm thinking about getting a box @ cigar.com...?

rwheelwright

I seem to like the God of Fire by Don Carlos better. That is my preference though. I may have to brak one out this weekend. Maybe I'll smoke one of each. I do have a lot more of the Carlito since he made more sizes. I bought a box of each size last year and one of the Piramides this year.

have you thought about getting one of the samples of each before buying a box? I know they come in packs of three.

phobicsquirrel

That may be a good idea. From the reviews I've read I think I would lean towards the don carlos though.

kaspera79

Every time I see the letter X it makes me think of the Opus X.... So I had to get a few. I picked up two each of the #2, #4, #5 and Fuentes Fuentes. Now instead of looking in my humidor three times a day, I look in there five times a day. They sure are pretty !! I hope they are as good as I expect them to be.

kuzi16

kaspera79:
I hope they are as good as I expect them to be.

they will be even better if you dont expect them to be anything.

kaspera79

kuzi16:
kaspera79:
I hope they are as good as I expect them to be.
they will be even better if you dont expect them to be anything.

Words of wisdom that will be hard to live by...I shall try.

phobicsquirrel

kaspera79:
Every time I see the letter X it makes me think of the Opus X.... So I had to get a few. I picked up two each of the #2, #4, #5 and Fuentes Fuentes. Now instead of looking in my humidor three times a day, I look in there five times a day. They sure are pretty !! I hope they are as good as I expect them to be.

You'll have to share your thoughts on them when you light them...

urbino

kaspera79:
Every time I see the letter X it makes me think of the Opus X.... So I had to get a few. I picked up two each of the #2, #4, #5 and Fuentes Fuentes. Now instead of looking in my humidor three times a day, I look in there five times a day. They sure are pretty !! I hope they are as good as I expect them to be.

I went back and bought a couple of the XXX's, this past weekend, so I've got those, the #3's and the Fuente Fuente's. Between the two of us, I think we have every size covered.

phobicsquirrel

Has anyone tried the Fuente Anejo? I was wondering which one would be more recommended? I cannot find any opus X's anywhere and cigar.com seems sold out. If the Anejo is close I'd like to give it a try..

Scrambler

I, and several others here, love the Anejo. I can't say how it compares to the Opus, but the Anejo is definitely worth retail (~$12-15) when you can get them.

urbino

Scrambler:
I can't say how it compares to the Opus

You, my friend, are cruisin' for a bombin'.

rwheelwright

phobicsquirrel:
Has anyone tried the Fuente Anejo? I was wondering which one would be more recommended? I cannot find any opus X's anywhere and cigar.com seems sold out. If the Anejo is close I'd like to give it a try..

They are different than the Opus X. It has a very distinct taste. Hard to describe. But they are good!

madurofan

The anejo is a different cigar, to begin with, it as a maduro wrapper that has been aged in a cognac barrel. THey actually also come with a cameroon wrapper but it is very rare.

Rob1110

urbino:
I went back and bought a couple of the XXX's, this past weekend, so I've got those, the #3's and the Fuente Fuente's. Between the two of us, I think we have every size covered.

I tried one of the Belicoso xXx aka Power Rangers this past weekend. I didn't notice the raisin/fig note that I detected in the #5, but it may have just been that day, what I ate and so forth. However, I do think that the wrapper might have lent that note and would just be harder to detect with a larger ring gauge.

However, I did get lots of woodsy notes and a head rush. Man, even on a full stomach, these things are friggin' strong!

kaspera79

phobicsquirrel:
Has anyone tried the Fuente Anejo? I was wondering which one would be more recommended? I cannot find any opus X's anywhere and cigar.com seems sold out. If the Anejo is close I'd like to give it a try..

Hey squirrel, check your PM. Message sent.

kaspera79

Rob1110:
urbino:
I went back and bought a couple of the XXX's, this past weekend, so I've got those, the #3's and the Fuente Fuente's. Between the two of us, I think we have every size covered.
I tried one of the Belicoso xXx aka Power Rangers this past weekend. I didn't notice the raisin/fig note that I detected in the #5, but it may have just been that day, what I ate and so forth. However, I do think that the wrapper might have lent that note and would just be harder to detect with a larger ring gauge.

However, I did get lots of woodsy notes and a head rush. Man, even on a full stomach, these things are friggin' strong!

Hey Rob, I noticed that the Opus X do have a raisin/ fig pre-light smell to them. I haven't smoked any of them yet, so I can't say if that quality carries over to the burn.

Scrambler

urbino:
Scrambler:
I can't say how it compares to the Opus
You, my friend, are cruisin' for a bombin'.

Well, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to that. I checked all the local B&M's when I read about several people here scoring them at MSRP, but apparently they already got their shipment for the year and sold out.

I have a 2005 tubo hiding in my humi that my best friend bought me. I planned to smoke it when he was in town for the 4th of July, but never had the time to settle down with it, and it's something that I want to wait to smoke when he is around since he paid $40 for the thing.

urbino

Consider it done.

Rob1110

kaspera79:
Hey Rob, I noticed that the Opus X do have a raisin/ fig pre-light smell to them. I haven't smoked any of them yet, so I can't say if that quality carries over to the burn.

With the #5, I did notice the flavor carrying over to the burn in the beginning, but just slightly. In the Belicoso, I didn't notice it much at all, but again, it could have been what I ate and my general mood that day.

Scrambler

urbino:
Consider it done.

You, sir, are too kind. Luckily I have some return fire ready, just waiting for the pass to get to me.

urbino

I suspected you might. This package won't go out until Monday. I brought it to work with me today, but didn't have a chance to get it down to the mailroom guy.

kaspera79

urbino:
I suspected you might. This package won't go out until Monday. I brought it to work with me today, but didn't have a chance to get it down to the mailroom guy.

What !!!! there are no mailroom girls.. I see now, Get your girls Ashleigh and Britney a job there and I'm pretty sure you could have made it down to the mailroom so they could ask about your package.

urbino

Heh. There's occasionally a mailroom girl, but this is the office, so I try to keep it professional. Ish.

kaspera79

urbino:
Heh. There's occasionally a mailroom girl, but this is the office, so I try to keep it professional. Ish.

..... and the mailroom girl is off on Friday. But she will be in on Monday.
Don't forget to shave and shower..

bbc020

Rob1110:
I tried one of the Belicoso xXx aka Power Rangers this past weekend. I didn't notice the raisin/fig note that I detected in the #5, but it may have just been that day, what I ate and so forth. However, I do think that the wrapper might have lent that note and would just be harder to detect with a larger ring gauge.

However, I did get lots of woodsy notes and a head rush. Man, even on a full stomach, these things are friggin' strong!

I hear ya on the head rush. I had my first Opus today, the Power Ranger. Man, I had a nice lunch beforehand and still...felt the kick. I did notice the pre-light raisin-ish note, but also had a prelight bite to it. The prelight was like nothing I had experienced. I noticed the lick on the cap was also more biting than other cigars. It was like it was telling me it was gonna kick my ass before I even lit it. It definitely exceeded every other cigar I have tried in the realm of depth and complexity. I noticed it got very sweet about an inch into it, before it's first ash, which didn't happen for about 50 minutes and 1 and 3/4 inches into it. Then the thing gathered that woodsy flavor and continued to intensify the whole way. what and awesome smoke. Never got hot, never got bitter, draw was a little tight(not a bad tight), had only slight variations in burn, but never touched up. Smoked it down to about 3/4 of an inch and by that time, it was almost too strong, yet I did not want to put it down.

ebitler

I can't take all this opus x talk anymore. I have the day off and I'm going opux shopping I feel as though I need to experience one now.

dutyje

ebitler:
I can't take all this opus x talk anymore. I have the day off and I'm going opux shopping I feel as though I need to experience one now.

ebit - Outland has them, but they're like $30 a piece. If you do find them, be prepared to spend a lot of money.