cigardawg
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,557
I was at the OffCenter Bar in downtown York, PA celebrating Patrick's (LC-Smoker) engagement.
I decided to start with a 2 1/2 year old Opus X Super Belicoso. This particular Opus has a medium-dark wrapper, quite reddish and mottled. There were no veins to speak of and the overall feel was firm, though not hard. The prelight nose was of leather and earth. The pre-light draw was open and easy. The cigar lit easily and like just about all fuentes, burned cool and even throughout. This cigar required no touch-ups. The draw remained open and each puff produced copious amounts of thick, medium-to-full bodied smoke. The ash was white, though not particularly firm.
The flavors were typical dark-wrapper Opus. I say that because I believe the wrapper really drives this cigar. The darker ones tend, IMHO, to be better than the lighter ones. Anyway, the flavors kicked-off immediately with tastes of leather and burning cedar-wood. There was a bit of spiciness, the kind from cayenne, though not the taste. The cigar became a bit more earthy, but never lost the leather and wood notes. This particular belicoso developed into a pretty full bodied cigar as I smoked it, though always smooth, never harsh. All in all a fantastic smoke.
After clearing my palate, I lit up the PAM Superior. This is a lonsdale sized cigar...not a vitola that I would normally purchase for myself. I have to thank mrjinglesusa for this stogie. This particular padron was coal-black and beautiful. One of the sharpest box-presses I've ever seen from padron. The pre-light nose was light, though had some good earth and coffee. The pre-light draw was a little firm. The cigar lit easily, but the draw stayed a bit tight throughout the smoking experience. Despite the tightness, the cigar produced plenty of medium-bodied smoke. Many times, small ring-gauge cigars burn hot, but this cigar stayed cool down to the one-inch mark. Even burn, white, firm ash...fantastic construction.
The flavors started with a bit of sweet spice combined with charred wood and black pepper. An incredibly interesting combination. After about 1/2 inche, the cigar picked up some coffee, but maintained the charred wood/sweet flavors from the maduro wrapper. At the 1/2 way mark, the cigar developed some earthiness, but the coffee stayed and intensified. This was truely a cigar worthy of marking such a special occasion. Wonderful!!! :thumbs:
If I had to pick between the two...the PAM wins this bout hands-down.
I decided to start with a 2 1/2 year old Opus X Super Belicoso. This particular Opus has a medium-dark wrapper, quite reddish and mottled. There were no veins to speak of and the overall feel was firm, though not hard. The prelight nose was of leather and earth. The pre-light draw was open and easy. The cigar lit easily and like just about all fuentes, burned cool and even throughout. This cigar required no touch-ups. The draw remained open and each puff produced copious amounts of thick, medium-to-full bodied smoke. The ash was white, though not particularly firm.
The flavors were typical dark-wrapper Opus. I say that because I believe the wrapper really drives this cigar. The darker ones tend, IMHO, to be better than the lighter ones. Anyway, the flavors kicked-off immediately with tastes of leather and burning cedar-wood. There was a bit of spiciness, the kind from cayenne, though not the taste. The cigar became a bit more earthy, but never lost the leather and wood notes. This particular belicoso developed into a pretty full bodied cigar as I smoked it, though always smooth, never harsh. All in all a fantastic smoke.
After clearing my palate, I lit up the PAM Superior. This is a lonsdale sized cigar...not a vitola that I would normally purchase for myself. I have to thank mrjinglesusa for this stogie. This particular padron was coal-black and beautiful. One of the sharpest box-presses I've ever seen from padron. The pre-light nose was light, though had some good earth and coffee. The pre-light draw was a little firm. The cigar lit easily, but the draw stayed a bit tight throughout the smoking experience. Despite the tightness, the cigar produced plenty of medium-bodied smoke. Many times, small ring-gauge cigars burn hot, but this cigar stayed cool down to the one-inch mark. Even burn, white, firm ash...fantastic construction.
The flavors started with a bit of sweet spice combined with charred wood and black pepper. An incredibly interesting combination. After about 1/2 inche, the cigar picked up some coffee, but maintained the charred wood/sweet flavors from the maduro wrapper. At the 1/2 way mark, the cigar developed some earthiness, but the coffee stayed and intensified. This was truely a cigar worthy of marking such a special occasion. Wonderful!!! :thumbs:
If I had to pick between the two...the PAM wins this bout hands-down.
