Call me a sucker for celebrity product endorsements, but when Rush Limbaugh said that there was no other cigar like the Arturo Fuente Opus X I had to try it for myself. I was almost going to cry when I was told at a cigar store in the Lubbock mall that they only sell the Arturo Fuente Opus X on the East Cost. Gladly, I later discovered that these were available at my local shop in Longview (for locals, you can find these at Harley’s), and though the cost was high for my budget, there was no stopping my experiment.

Before smoking the Opus X, it seemed right away that this would be a very good tasting cigar. The non-burned aroma was of a rich oak, and pecan, with a hint of nutmeg, that was nothing but pleasant. The Dominican wrapper was a very light, almost reddish, double claro, that was constructed very tightly. Upon looking at the burning end of the cigar, I noticed that instead of a rough packed filler, which you find in so many non-Cuban cigars, the leaves actually were packed as tight and smooth as the pages of a book. Using a punch cutter, as I do, can cause problems for poorly made or overly dry cigars, as when you press into the end, causes the wrapper and first few layers to crack. Due to both being well made, as well as properly stored, punching the end of the Opus X revealed a very thick leaf used in the wrapper, and a strong stable construction.

The initial lighting of the Arturo Fuente Opus X revealed a cigar that burned evenly on all sides, and from the outside in. On my previous review of the Punch cigar, I notated that it seemed the filler leaves were far too young, and burned too slowly on the inside. This left a conical shape at the end of the cigar, causing the tip to cool too quickly and burn even slower. The Opus X, however, burned flat, allowing you to experience the whole of the flavor evenly.

The initial flavor of the Arturo Fuente Opus X closely resembled the non-burnt flavor of pecan and nutmeg. This flavor was smooth and mild, yet had a reminder of a oak aged wine in its complexity. The longer the cigar burned, the deeper the flavor became, turning slowly into what I can only describe as a smoked chocolate. The second-hand smoke had almost the sweetness that you find in pipe tobacco, and I am sure I could almost convince my wife to allow me to smoke this cigar inside.

The Arturo Fuente Opus X will match well with most rich and spicy foods that have a complex flavor like smoked salmon or lighter Creole dishes. Surpassingly, I think that the Opus X would match well with a brut Champagne, or a sweet white wine like a Riesling. This would be a great cigar to match with a flavored brandy, or, as I tried, coffee with Bailey'’ Irish Cream. The flavor of the cigar would only have a problem if it were overpowered with a drink that would numb your taste buds, like a Bourbon.

I would be happy to recommend the Arturo Fuente Opus X to anyone who can afford and actually find this cigar. I would prize this cigar for a special occasion, as to not spoil my palliate for lesser cigars which I can afford more regularly. I would like to note that Epinions “estimated” price for every cigar I have seen has been quite off. The Opus X was actually about $17.00, not the $8.75 that Epinions lists. Even with a price that rivals Cuban cigars, the Arturo Fuente Opus X is well worth the cost.






Recommended: Yes