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Smoked 2 Power Rangers today

Lumberg

Lumberg

Opus Lover
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
3,708
SO I smoked one while walking to the metro in DC and it had a most uneven burn. I thought it was because I lit it kind of huuriedly in a wind. It was good, just a bad, bad burn. So I am smoking another one now and whaddya know, same thing. And I KNOW I lit it evenly this time.

It's probably becuase it's been sitting in a certain orientation for a long time, and tightly sealed in a ziploc bag from JR...but this is kinda weird...anyone else having anything similar? This is from a batch from the end of summer '04.
 
Opus X, of all the Fuentes that I smoke, give me the most burn problems. I think mostly because the others don't give me any problems at all. I've had burn problems mostly on the larger vitolas. The smaller sizes, like the xXx, seem to burn well for me. The only thing that I can really place as being different is the wrapper. I wonder if it is something about the nature of that Dominican grown wrapper that sometimes causes burn problems. I know that the H2000 wrapper, at least that grown in Nicaragua, gave the cigar makers fits with its burn properties. I don't believe it is construction, as every Opus I've ever smoked drew great and produced plenty of smoke.

What does the consensus say? Is it the wrapper? Storage? Construction? Alignment of the stars?

Good post Lumberg. Can't wait to see what others think.
 
I will add that Opus X also seem to behave poorly when stored at 70%, and like it much better when they're stored in drier conditions. I love 'em, I really do, but they need extra special care.

When stored at 70, I often have trouble keeping them lit, and sometimes get some tar accumulation on the head.
 
Lumberg said:
I will add that Opus X also seem to behave poorly when stored at 70%, and like it much better when they're stored in drier conditions. I love 'em, I really do, but they need extra special care.

When stored at 70, I often have trouble keeping them lit, and sometimes get some tar accumulation on the head.
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From what I've heard, there is your answer right there. I am NOT an Opus slut by any means, but I've heard that they are best kept at a lower humidity. I am sure that would have an effect on your burn.
 
My humi stays at 70%
I put my Opus in a dry box for a week or so, if I
have time to plan ahead.
Burns much better at lower humidity
course it's humid where I live (avg 75% !!) so I have to work at keeping my
cigars dry enough

Bill
 
I have my entire opus stash in a 63-65% rh nd have not had any burn problems since.
 
You'll also find that if you let them age for a couple of years they burn much better.
 
I've had burn problems with Power Rangers when I've bought them from the shop and smoked them immediately, same with the Belicosos. Chances are they were kept around 70% RH

BUT, when they've been sitting in my humi for a while at 60%, they smoke fine. I also have some five year old Belicosos that are smoking great. :thumbs:
 
I've had the same problem before. Last one I smoked. it sat for atleast a month and a half after hitting my doorstep. oh well, still loved it! :laugh:
 
A few things -- first, Opus do like to be stored at a bit of a lower humidity, 65% or a bit lower is ideal (you'll notice the humidipaks that they ship with are 65% packs).

Secondly, yep, Opus are an oily cigar. Just as many people will not even bother to smoke their Cubans without a good bit of age on 'em, ditto with Opus. The tobacco that has been harvested on Chateau Fuente has also been getting oilier and oilier over the years... tobacco plants are living things, and they do evolve and change.

Consequently Fuente has been upping the time they age the cigars before delivering them to market -- the 2005s should likely burn a bit better because they have more age on them from the get go.

Trying to smoke a fresh Opus is an amusing exercise -- it can be done, but you can't be the kind of person who lights a cigar, and then leaves it sitting there... gotta be puffing away.

To answer your question succinctly, it's a bit of everything you mentioned. Store them at a lower humidity, 65% or so, put them in a nice box (not a bag) where they can breathe and age a bit, and be patient with them as you are with habanos, and you'll be richly rewarded.
 
Had a Lancero straight from the store and left out for about 45 min friday. smoked and burned awesome. I am pretty sure these were from the 2005 season.I think you guys are absolutely correct the lower humidity seems perfect. I was going to post on this just because i think the opposite for the anejo i like them a little more wet.
 
Im having burn problems with the smaller sized Cohiba- panatela. I have noticed that if i take them out of 68% and let them sit a week (at 35% is what the inside RH is at) that they draw much better. I wonder if maybe anyone can advise from experience as to maybe i should be keeping these in the low 60's RH?
 
I've noticed burn problems with Opus, too. Aging some Opus right now and hopefully the burn problems will be fixed. Only time will tell...

Ree
 
I picked up an Opus X power ranger from the local tobacconist yesterday. Went into the lounge and lit it up. Here is what I got for my efforts.

I think these are really cool little cigars...great size, shape, everything. The wrapper was flawless, no visible seams or appeciable veins. The pre-light nose was mild, but of leather and cedar. The pre-light draw was open and easy, really nice.

This cigar lit very easily and the draw stayed wide open. In fact, the cigar almost smoked itself. Each puff produced huge amounts of thick, very rich smoke, perfect for smoke rings. :blush: The cigar burned cool right down to a nub..I almost burned my fingers on this one. It also burned very evenly, never requiring correction or adjusting. Toward the very end, it developed a "geyser" about a 1/4 of an inch from the burn line. This did, however, correct and did not cause any real problems. The ash was white and firm, staying on an inch at a time. I knocked it off because it makes my tobacconist nervous :p . Great construction.

The last Opus that I smoked was one of the best ever (see Baltimore Smokes)...this one was not too far behind. There was a taste explosion from the first draw, with heavy leather/coffee/wood flavors right off the bat. It developed a very pleasant smokiness after about an inch that seemed to richly enhance the other flavors. As it burned, the coffee became more pronounced while the smokiness played on the wood more to create a fantastic undertone. The incredible mouthfuls of smoke really contributed to the tastes. Excellent tasting cigar.

Now, this was one of the 2005 releases, so it might have more age on it. However, the cigar was stored at 70 percent and has been for about 3 weeks. It did have a pretty oily wrapper as well. I did not put the cigar down for much longer than to pour and mix a cup of coffee for my Mate. Regardless of the reasons, this was a great cigar. I rate it an A . Not as good as the one in Baltimore, but close.
 
I prefer a 60-65% enviroment for all my cigars. When I finally switched from a 68-70% enviroment a few years ago burn issues became almost non existent.

The longer you smoke cigars the more you will see a preference to a lower humidity amongst botl.
 
Allofus123 said:
I prefer a 60-65% enviroment for all my cigars. The longer you smoke cigars the more you will see a preference to a lower humidity amongst botl.
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Wise words for all the newbies ;)

Resistance is futile - You will be assimilated :D
 
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