Cigar: Opus Petite Lancero
Size: 6.25" X 39
Year: Second quarter of 2005 (I believe from my notes)
First of all, this cigar smokes bigger than it's size indicates, just like all the other smaller format Opus. The cigar is a nice molted, hefty example that has some strong spice smelling at the foot of the cigar. Using a xikar to cut the figurado head clean, leaving a slight decrease in ring gauge to concentrate the nuances of this cigar, revealed a pre-draw that was free flowing with ample spice on the lips as usual.
Light was slightly eratic, which could be due to conditions (windy day outside on the smoking stoop at work). Burst of unadulterated spice hit the palate like a kick in the teeth. After a couple puffs, this slightly subdued and some muddled fruit notes started to come through and the spice became more defined - straight up paprika.
The burn started slightly ragged, but eventually corrected itself without using the st dupont at all. What aroma I could get when the wind died down slightly was just like the taste - spice again. After the first quarter, the spice remained, but heavy notes of tobacco and leather started to come along. This cigar kept things interesting by changing it's profile inch by inch and sometimes puff by puff.
Smoke was ample and the ash held for 1" + if you wanted to push it. The overall profile of the cigar changed from heavy tobacco and some sweet spice, back to stronger spice and some fruity notes - which kept this extremely entertaining to see what would come next. The cigar also smoked cool as I didn't try to puff on it too much due to the ring gauge & regular clearing after each ash kept things burning nice and clean.
Towards the end, this small opus became bitter - showing that it was probably still a little too young. I have some other sizes and some more petite lanceros from this same purchase and will let them sit another year or so and see how they develop.
Overall, this was a vitamin N bomb that made me regret not eating lunch first - but otherwise was a good example of an opus that might have been slightly too young at the moment, but nonetheless very enjoyable.
Seth :thumbs:
Size: 6.25" X 39
Year: Second quarter of 2005 (I believe from my notes)
First of all, this cigar smokes bigger than it's size indicates, just like all the other smaller format Opus. The cigar is a nice molted, hefty example that has some strong spice smelling at the foot of the cigar. Using a xikar to cut the figurado head clean, leaving a slight decrease in ring gauge to concentrate the nuances of this cigar, revealed a pre-draw that was free flowing with ample spice on the lips as usual.
Light was slightly eratic, which could be due to conditions (windy day outside on the smoking stoop at work). Burst of unadulterated spice hit the palate like a kick in the teeth. After a couple puffs, this slightly subdued and some muddled fruit notes started to come through and the spice became more defined - straight up paprika.
The burn started slightly ragged, but eventually corrected itself without using the st dupont at all. What aroma I could get when the wind died down slightly was just like the taste - spice again. After the first quarter, the spice remained, but heavy notes of tobacco and leather started to come along. This cigar kept things interesting by changing it's profile inch by inch and sometimes puff by puff.
Smoke was ample and the ash held for 1" + if you wanted to push it. The overall profile of the cigar changed from heavy tobacco and some sweet spice, back to stronger spice and some fruity notes - which kept this extremely entertaining to see what would come next. The cigar also smoked cool as I didn't try to puff on it too much due to the ring gauge & regular clearing after each ash kept things burning nice and clean.
Towards the end, this small opus became bitter - showing that it was probably still a little too young. I have some other sizes and some more petite lanceros from this same purchase and will let them sit another year or so and see how they develop.
Overall, this was a vitamin N bomb that made me regret not eating lunch first - but otherwise was a good example of an opus that might have been slightly too young at the moment, but nonetheless very enjoyable.
Seth :thumbs:
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