Brickhouse
J.C. Newman owes me royalties.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2006
- Messages
- 10,172
A few months ago I was privileged with the gift of a Fuente Fuente Opus X Forbidden X. “preembargo” as many of you know him (Mike), gave me this gift as a present with one requirement. I smoke that bad boy instead of letting it stew in a humidor for years. This was a requirement that was simple to meet. Below is my review on the experience, and yes it wasn’t a smoke, it was an experience.
I saved it for a special day, my birthday, and walked out onto the cigar patio as it has come to be named, at about 1930. We hold a nightly herf out there and this day would be no different other than the specific cigar.
On to the review:
It was glass tubed with foam on the tip to protect the foot. Through the glass it appeared to be in flawless shape, no blemishes visible. Time to pop the top, so I did. A slight “pop” could be heard, sort of like a champagne bottle being opened but not as loud. First action was to whiff the foot. Wow, what a rush of aroma. Almost like that of some sort of fruit, I’m not a fruit guy, so not sure what it was.
I took the ‘gar out of the tube and rolled it between my fingers. It was as it had seemed, perfectly constructed with zero blemishes. Balance seemed right on. There were little to no bumps along the barrel as it was easy to roll in my hand. The wrapper it self was oily to the feel. Not overly so, but it just seemed to leave my fingers a bit oily on the touch. The wrapper was a dark and veiny and just looked plain yummy.
Here is a picture of me getting a good whiff
Then it was time to light, what I had been waiting for.
I cut this bad boy with my brand spankin new Palio. Nothing like the Palio popping it’s cherry on the Forbidden X. It did the job precisely as I had hoped, a perfect cut with no wrapper issues to deal with, cap removed.
I took a few dry pulls to test the waters and it was perfect, not so tight I would noticeably fight it, but not so loose that it would feel like I was just breathing air. As I pulled, it gave just enough as to say “Lets Dance Bro”.
So dance we did as I lit the foot, a first time go on the light. A plethora of smoke emits from it as I puff and square away the ‘gar. I take the first few pulls a little large so that I can take it all in. Wow, taste explosion, and full of spice. The spice wasn’t normal to what I taste though. I don’t know the word but it was almost a red pepper type spice. It was pretty strong at the beginning but would settle nicely throughout the experience.
Here’s a photo of me just plain ol’ lovin life.
The next half hour or so are just bliss. What’s surprising me is the amount of taste that is in each puff, yet the smoothness. I’m not afraid or ashamed to admit that there were too many flavors for my unrefined pallet to actually identify, but I had a hell of a time trying. It was different than the other Opus I’d had, it was it’s own beast.
The spiciness had retreated slightly towards the last third and I again picked up on some fruitiness that I had smelled in the beginning. It was very pleasurable as all of this seemed to be encompassed by an earthiness which I love it my ‘gars.
I decided for the last third to stop trying to judge this guy and just let it take over. So I sat and just puffed away. There was no heightened harshness towards the end, there was no burn issue throughout. The Forbidden X knew exactly what it’s job was and how to get it done.
It was fabulous, and you know I nubbed it.
Thanks for the wonderful smoke Mike, it was great and thoroughly enjoyed. I hope I did it justice.
I saved it for a special day, my birthday, and walked out onto the cigar patio as it has come to be named, at about 1930. We hold a nightly herf out there and this day would be no different other than the specific cigar.
On to the review:
It was glass tubed with foam on the tip to protect the foot. Through the glass it appeared to be in flawless shape, no blemishes visible. Time to pop the top, so I did. A slight “pop” could be heard, sort of like a champagne bottle being opened but not as loud. First action was to whiff the foot. Wow, what a rush of aroma. Almost like that of some sort of fruit, I’m not a fruit guy, so not sure what it was.
I took the ‘gar out of the tube and rolled it between my fingers. It was as it had seemed, perfectly constructed with zero blemishes. Balance seemed right on. There were little to no bumps along the barrel as it was easy to roll in my hand. The wrapper it self was oily to the feel. Not overly so, but it just seemed to leave my fingers a bit oily on the touch. The wrapper was a dark and veiny and just looked plain yummy.
Here is a picture of me getting a good whiff
Then it was time to light, what I had been waiting for.
I cut this bad boy with my brand spankin new Palio. Nothing like the Palio popping it’s cherry on the Forbidden X. It did the job precisely as I had hoped, a perfect cut with no wrapper issues to deal with, cap removed.
I took a few dry pulls to test the waters and it was perfect, not so tight I would noticeably fight it, but not so loose that it would feel like I was just breathing air. As I pulled, it gave just enough as to say “Lets Dance Bro”.
So dance we did as I lit the foot, a first time go on the light. A plethora of smoke emits from it as I puff and square away the ‘gar. I take the first few pulls a little large so that I can take it all in. Wow, taste explosion, and full of spice. The spice wasn’t normal to what I taste though. I don’t know the word but it was almost a red pepper type spice. It was pretty strong at the beginning but would settle nicely throughout the experience.
Here’s a photo of me just plain ol’ lovin life.
The next half hour or so are just bliss. What’s surprising me is the amount of taste that is in each puff, yet the smoothness. I’m not afraid or ashamed to admit that there were too many flavors for my unrefined pallet to actually identify, but I had a hell of a time trying. It was different than the other Opus I’d had, it was it’s own beast.
The spiciness had retreated slightly towards the last third and I again picked up on some fruitiness that I had smelled in the beginning. It was very pleasurable as all of this seemed to be encompassed by an earthiness which I love it my ‘gars.
I decided for the last third to stop trying to judge this guy and just let it take over. So I sat and just puffed away. There was no heightened harshness towards the end, there was no burn issue throughout. The Forbidden X knew exactly what it’s job was and how to get it done.
It was fabulous, and you know I nubbed it.
Thanks for the wonderful smoke Mike, it was great and thoroughly enjoyed. I hope I did it justice.
