I posted this review over on CF and thought you guys might like it too.
After inspecting one of the Fuente Fuente Opus X The Rising X’s I got at the CFC a little more closely, I noticed it had more wrapper damage than originally thought from the long trip home. I immediately called Gretchen and told her it was her cigar that got damaged, not mine, and I would dispose of it for her. The X looked more like a checkmark and the wrapper had chaffed and opened up a little around the foot, but nothing that should affect its smokability. I decided to light it up at the Baltimore mini-herf on Sunday. I took one long last look at thiswork of art before clipping the top and setting it aside to place back in the humidor (for sentimental reasons, of course).
I lit the cigar, puffing gently in anticipation of the spicy explosion I expect from fresh Opus. This flavor, surprisingly, would never come. I was in shock after the first few puffs since the smoke seemed to have almost no taste at all. Luckily, it strengthened slightly and I recognized the flavor after a few more puffs. It tasted like an aged Opus, only milder. I’ve only had two well-aged Opus (both from ’95), and they both had a great taste that was significantly different from a fresh one. The main difference between this Rising X and the aged Opus I’ve smoked is that the Rising X was much milder with no spice. This flavor remained fairly consistent for the remaining three quarters of the cigar. It was far from the best Opus I’ve ever had, but I still enjoyed it and smoked it down to the nub.
I had great expectations (perhaps too great of expectations) for this cigar and was a little disappointed that it didn’t come through like I’d hoped. I thought these were rolled recently for Hurricane Katrina (as a tribute, The Rising X:The House of the Rising Sun) and was surprised that it wasn’t the spicy and powerful cigar I was preparing for. Does anyone have more information on the age and blends of tobacco used for this cigar?
Brad
After inspecting one of the Fuente Fuente Opus X The Rising X’s I got at the CFC a little more closely, I noticed it had more wrapper damage than originally thought from the long trip home. I immediately called Gretchen and told her it was her cigar that got damaged, not mine, and I would dispose of it for her. The X looked more like a checkmark and the wrapper had chaffed and opened up a little around the foot, but nothing that should affect its smokability. I decided to light it up at the Baltimore mini-herf on Sunday. I took one long last look at thiswork of art before clipping the top and setting it aside to place back in the humidor (for sentimental reasons, of course).
I lit the cigar, puffing gently in anticipation of the spicy explosion I expect from fresh Opus. This flavor, surprisingly, would never come. I was in shock after the first few puffs since the smoke seemed to have almost no taste at all. Luckily, it strengthened slightly and I recognized the flavor after a few more puffs. It tasted like an aged Opus, only milder. I’ve only had two well-aged Opus (both from ’95), and they both had a great taste that was significantly different from a fresh one. The main difference between this Rising X and the aged Opus I’ve smoked is that the Rising X was much milder with no spice. This flavor remained fairly consistent for the remaining three quarters of the cigar. It was far from the best Opus I’ve ever had, but I still enjoyed it and smoked it down to the nub.
I had great expectations (perhaps too great of expectations) for this cigar and was a little disappointed that it didn’t come through like I’d hoped. I thought these were rolled recently for Hurricane Katrina (as a tribute, The Rising X:The House of the Rising Sun) and was surprised that it wasn’t the spicy and powerful cigar I was preparing for. Does anyone have more information on the age and blends of tobacco used for this cigar?
Brad