moki
el Presidente
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2003
- Messages
- 9,418
By now I've had a few different sized Opus X cigars, and enjoyed them all quite a bit. I decided to break out an Opus X Super Belicoso and give it a whirl. I'm not a huge fan of torpedo-shaped cigars, probably because I like to use a punch (which is rendered fairly useless on most torpedo's). However this Opus X Super Belicoso does have a satisfyingly fat ring gauge, and a beautiful brown wrapper.
I sat down at a table at my local smoke shop, and put the torch to foot of the cigar. In my zeal to get it lit, inhaled a large puff of smoke, and proceeded to choke nearly to death while the rest of the patrons looked over at me with bemused and condescending looks. I could read their minds: "Hey, look at the idiot who thinks you smoke Opus X's like a joint"
After I regained my composure (if not my self-respect), I got back to enjoying the smoke. This cigar is all Opus X, though it is slightly less powerful than some of the smaller, thinner Opi I've had, it still isn't anything to take lightly. It's a wonderful combination of sweet/sour/spicy that's a hit in my book -- like a good 3-star Tom Kar soup. The wrapper tastes sweet, then the draw brings in some interesting citrus flavors on your tongue, and then finishes with a nutty/spicy flavor that's like some unholy Dr. Moreau-created cashew nut/jalapeño pepper crossbreed.
The burn on this cigar was immaculate, it never needed a re-light, touch-up, or any help at all to burn straight down, and provided a very easy draw from start to finish. I still find it hard to believe that the tobacco in these cigars is not flavored at all; I've never tasted anything quite like it. The experts insist that it's just a specially grown and cared for tobacco leaf, and nothing more. If that's true, it's truly impressive.
The Opus X's I have never fail to give me a nice little nicotine buzz as a parting gift, and this Super Belicoso was no exception. Definitely don't smoke one of these cigars before (or while, for that matter) performing open heart surgery, because your hands will be shaking like a leaf. When my ash was about 1.5" long, I tapped it into the ashtray head first to knock it off. ::Thud:: What? This ash was almost as solid as the cigar itself, it wasn't going anywhere until it was damned good and ready.
Are Opus X cigars overrated? No way, not in my opinion: they have a big, bold, unique taste that I find very enjoyable. Are they overpriced? That depends on what you paid for them, and how much value you place on an enjoyable cigar. The MSRP is actually relatively reasonable for Opus X cigars, about the same as Padrón Anniversary's, and other premium domestic cigars (this Super Belicoso has an MSRP of $11.50). The task of finding them for MSRP is, as they say, left as an exercise to the reader. Opus X's deserve an honored place on the top shelf of any humidor, in my opinion.
