Opus X Forbidden X "Lost City" Lancero

[Mr Peat]

17th Dec 2009 Opus x Forbidden X "Lost City" Lancero

I inspected the cigar and the construction was great. I didn't see anything wrong with the Lancero at this point. Before I even lit the cigar, I smelled the cigar and my first impression was of Raspberries off the wrapper.

At 2:54pm I put flame to the cigar. The smoke is very strong which I have found that this isn't a typical trait of a Opus X Lancero. I have over the years of my Opus X cigar smoking, I've learned one thing. They usually tend to open up around the first 1/2" to 1" mark. Especially on the Lancero. The draw is fantastic which I have become accustomed too.

Now the first white peppery notes come out at 2:57pm. The smoke starts mellowing out at 3:01pm with subtle notes of raspberry and possibly a brandy taste at this point. This occurred at the first 1/2" mark. The ash is pretty compact while the wrapper has a sweet sugary note to it.

I first ashed at 3:04pm. The burn has stayed pretty even and a little hint of a woody note comes out at 3:07pm. My first impression of the woody note is that its a cedar taste. I've come to the realization that this cigar still has a "young" taste to it at 3:10pm.

Now at 3:15pm, I had a revelation of just eating Chocolate covered raspberries. I'm noticing that the cigar has a undertone of strength to it and once again, a cedary notes that is very subtle.

Here comes the fun part. At 3:21pm, I had for the first time a black licorice taste. Not the same experience as drinking Absinthe either. Pretty mild actually. I've decided at this time that the "Lost City" Lancero isn't like any other Opus X Lancero I've smoked.

Till 3:45pm, the cigar pretty much stay the same with no real changes to it from what I've already made notes about. The cigar is still strong, but enjoyable. Again, I stress this Lancero is different from the others I've smoked.

Again, till 4:17pm the cigar is the same as previous notes. I decided to inhale some of the smoke and yes, a young cigar and burns the hell out of my nasal passage. I still can not compare it to any other Opus X Lancero made by the Fuente Family. For some reason, I get an impression that it reminds me of a couple of cigars from the CFCF 2008 cigars. I just can't place my finger onto which ones it reminds me of since its been over 6 months since my last reviews of the CFCF 2008 box I started doing. I did get a raspberry/peppery not at this time.

At 4:38pm, I took off the small band perfectly. Again, the cigar stays pretty uneventful. Burn is great with plenty of smoke and still trying to figure out which cigar this reminds me of from the CFCF 2008 box. It nags at me like an old lady. Yet, still can not put my finger on this mystery. Maybe when I smoke the CFCF 2008 box again, I will pay attention to it. Then revisit the "Lost City" Lancero after.

Finally at 4:59pm, I take the big band off perfectly. The cigar stays pretty much the same till the very end which I think was between 5:25pm to 5:36pm.

I will sit on a full box and see what time does for these. I think they have great potential, but something nags at me with the reference to the CFCF 2008 box. No idea why, just that is the case. For a Opus X Lancero, it is different. I had bought a couple for some friends birthday in Kansas City. Opus XKC can verify that this is one different Opus X Lancero as I have given him a few to smoke over the years. Its always great to have something different than previous experiences since it will be a trip into unknown territory for me.

PS "I think I took pictures of it but not for sure. I will check later on and see if I have any. Not feeling to hot right now with looks to be the start of a nasty cold."

 

[cody5thou]

Oh, he is back, I just love reading your Opus reviews. When I read your thoughts I feel like you are buried in the cigar, it's great. I am glad to see you back, but hate to hear that you might be getting a cold. Hope everything is going well for you and can' t wait to hear another one of your reviews. Get well!!!!

 

[Mr Peat]

Oh, he is back, I just love reading your Opus reviews. When I read your thoughts I feel like you are buried in the cigar, it's great. I am glad to see you back, but hate to hear that you might be getting a cold. Hope everything is going well for you and can' t wait to hear another one of your reviews. Get well!!!!

Glad you enjoy them as much as I do about smoking the Opus X and writing the reviews. I can compare the CFCF 2008 Opus X Forbidden X Lancero in one sentence. The CFCF 2008 Lancero was like eating a Chocolate Raspberry Truffle from start to finish. I almost went off the Interstate smoking the CFCF 2008 Lancero. I was in such heaven and found that smoking it and driving is very bad. Unfortunately, I am dead serious. I have no longer smoked the 2008 version in a car since. Especially if I am driving.

My next trip will be my most ambitious of reviews. The CFCF 2008 and 2009 box will be reviewed during the trip. It will be fun times had by all when I do it.

 

[OpusXKC]

As always, good review my friend. This is a unique blend from the house of Fuente. It seemed to me to be what a combination of Don Carlos and Opus would be.

 

[Mr Peat]

As always, good review my friend. This is a unique blend from the house of Fuente. It seemed to me to be what a combination of Don Carlos and Opus would be.

Glad you enjoyed the review. I never thought of the Don Carlos sweetness since its been so damn long since I've had one. I may have to come down to KC in May. Whether the VA schedules me for an appointment or not. I will probably be heading to Texas for a month when June comes around. I will need to get some cigars out of the lockers for the trip.

 

[Kingantz]

Excellent review Loren! I like the timeline you did, something I have been meaning to add in mine but for some reason can never remember. I was recently gifted a Lost City lancero (many thanks fellas!) and look forward to smoking it, however the way you describe that 2008? Just went on my "gotta have" list. :laugh:

 

[Mr Peat]

Excellent review Loren! I like the timeline you did, something I have been meaning to add in mine but for some reason can never remember. I was recently gifted a Lost City lancero (many thanks fellas!) and look forward to smoking it, however the way you describe that 2008? Just went on my "gotta have" list. :laugh:

Another satisfied reader. I like doing the time stamps generally. Sometimes I don't so that I can just enjoy the cigar. The CFCF 2008 Lancero is probably the best one I have ever smoked so far. When I mentioned 2008, I am referring to a couple of cigars in the CFCF 2008 box. When I smoked the 2 boxes, I didn't really do a review of them. I knew I was getting more so I just enjoyed them. My goal is to review the 2008 and 2009 CFCF box in Russia starting next year. If not there, well across Eastern Europe will work for a back ground setting for a unique reviews, for unique cigars in unique countries. If you are going to dream, dream big I say. I have the boxes, but trying to organize some logistical problems before hand.

For when I do it, CP'ers will know in advance. Problem with it is in Russia, winter won't be over till around April so from April to Sept I'd have to review 44 cigars. Unless I do one in the Fall and the other in the Spring/Summer. Then it rains alot of April so it can be a little rough. Since I want to do them in the Red Square area so I can have some nice back ground photo's, the weather will have to be perfect for it to work out according to my plans. And if you know me, anything that can go wrong, will. :laugh:

 

[tsmckenney]

Your timeline reminds me of this prick my aunt married. Every Thanksgiving he has a to-the-minute itinerary of how everything is to be prepared. I don't do Thanksgiving at his place anymore. But hey, to each their own... :laugh:

Good review. No photos though, wtf? At least throw in that Russian girl's ass again.

 

[thevalkrye]

:0 Russian girls ass?

 

[tsmckenney]

:0 Russian girls ass?

Clue: "again". Search is your friend, and the payoff is worthwhile. I think so anyway.

 

[Mr Peat]

Good review. No photos though, wtf? At least throw in that Russian girl's ass again.

That was a good picture. I followed her around for some time. I finally had to head back the Moscow State University
while she headed to a different part of Moscow. Oh I was tempted to talk with her but I had just finished smoking a
cigar. I remembered the walk I took from the University one weekend to the Red Square. Two pretty smoking hot ladies
was walking behind me. I had fired up a Opus X Power Ranger and they didn't appreciate the smoke off of it. They
started coughing and one almost threw up right on the spot. So they waited like 5 minutes before continuing the same
direction I was. :laugh:

But her rear isn't for this thread.

 

[MoeCizlak]

Good review. No photos though, wtf? At least throw in that Russian girl's ass again.

That was a good picture. I followed her around for some time. I finally had to head back the Moscow State University
while she headed to a different part of Moscow. Oh I was tempted to talk with her but I had just finished smoking a
cigar. I remembered the walk I took from the University one weekend to the Red Square. Two pretty smoking hot ladies
was walking behind me. I had fired up a Opus X Power Ranger and they didn't appreciate the smoke off of it. They
started coughing and one almost threw up right on the spot. So they waited like 5 minutes before continuing the same
direction I was. :laugh:

But her rear isn't for this thread.

I respectfully disagree. Her rear is for ANY thread. Thanks Mick, I had forgotten about that and went back and found it. :love:

 

[jorel]

Not to hijack a thread - but a newb looking for 411. I have my own Lost City Opus X lancero - but it is a Forbidden X Lost City lancero (with black band). I've seen a red band in other photos. Can you (or anyone) clarify - did they make two varieties of the Lost City line?

Thanks,

John

 

[BigMacFU]

I smoked one of these two Saturdays ago. It was definitely a unique "Opus" experience. It was flavorful, but I think I'd conclude with the OP, they could do well with some age. I'm surprised they're selling these for the same price as the regular lost city lanceros, I thought they'd charge more given that there are even fewer of these than the regular lost city lanceros.

 

[Breedy]

Not to hijack a thread - but a newb looking for 411. I have my own Lost City Opus X lancero - but it is a Forbidden X Lost City lancero (with black band). I've seen a red band in other photos. Can you (or anyone) clarify - did they make two varieties of the Lost City line?

Thanks,

John

No. They did NOT make two different Lanceros. There was a mix up at the factory and some of the Lanceros shipped with black bands and some shipped with Red Bands. They are the same blend as the normal Opus Lancero and not made with the Summer crop of tobacco like the other TLCs.

Below is a summary of a PM discussion I had with a very reputable dealer (name omitted pending permission)

"Thanks for the PM. I do have the scoop on the Lost City Lanceros. I talked to Keith Park, the owner of Prometheus, about it a while back. All OpusX Lanceros that are associated with the Lost City release are indeed regular blend OpusX. I was told that some Lanceros were mistakenly released with black Lost City bands on them (sounds like there really was a mistake made at the factory). It sounds like these black banded Lanceros have caused some confusion. To the best of my knowledge there were no Lanceros (or Love Affairs for that matter) that were made using the Lost City OpusX blend. So whether they have the red bands or black bands they are both regular release OpusX."

 

[jorel]

Not to hijack a thread - but a newb looking for 411. I have my own Lost City Opus X lancero - but it is a Forbidden X Lost City lancero (with black band). I've seen a red band in other photos. Can you (or anyone) clarify - did they make two varieties of the Lost City line?

Thanks,

John

No. They did NOT make two different Lanceros. There was a mix up at the factory and some of the Lanceros shipped with black bands and some shipped with Red Bands. They are the same blend as the normal Opus Lancero and not made with the Summer crop of tobacco like the other TLCs.

Below is a summary of a PM discussion I had with a very reputable dealer (name omitted pending permission)

"Thanks for the PM. I do have the scoop on the Lost City Lanceros. I talked to Keith Park, the owner of Prometheus, about it a while back. All OpusX Lanceros that are associated with the Lost City release are indeed regular blend OpusX. I was told that some Lanceros were mistakenly released with black Lost City bands on them (sounds like there really was a mistake made at the factory). It sounds like these black banded Lanceros have caused some confusion. To the best of my knowledge there were no Lanceros (or Love Affairs for that matter) that were made using the Lost City OpusX blend. So whether they have the red bands or black bands they are both regular release OpusX."

Really good insight - so does that make one version even harder to find? Besides Lancero with Forbidden X Black band (and black Lost city band), I have two other sizes with same exact labeling.

John

 

[Breedy]

Really good insight - so does that make one version even harder to find? Besides Lancero with Forbidden X Black band (and black Lost city band), I have two other sizes with same exact labeling.

John

From a collectors stand point anything that was a "mistake" is more valuable. With out knowing the actual numbers produced of each it would be hard to say how much more. My understanding from conversations and from Prometheus website is that the Lancero and Love Story (Affair) are the only cigars NOT to use the summer crop. As such any of the other vitolas should be.

TLC Link

It would seem that the Love Affair (Story) and Lancero were added as "filler" for the Humidors. I am not saying that there are not differences between this release and past releases, just that they are NOT the summer crop. Wines are often described as being a good vintage so mayhaps this happens to be an specially good release of the Opus X Lancero.