Fuente Opus X Robusto

[jwm8592]

Wow, how this post has taken off. To bad KB24 about the Irish. I have had a few Opus X's, the first was about a year ago (gifted by a friend). It was very good, and at the time the most expensive cigar I had smoked. I then purchased 2, to smoke w/a buddy on his birthday. They both were crap, taste just wasn't very good and couldn't keep them lit. Might have been partly on me or the cigar. Bottom line for most, the Opus X's aren't affordable. Many other NC's that IMHO are better; Padron 3000, Perdomo de Silivo (as steelers mentioned), also their Lot 23, CAO Maduro, Torano 2004 Tribute, Oliva "G" & "V" series. Oliva's are relatively in-expensive. With all that said, I have personally crossed over. After smoking more and more Cubans, there is hardly any comparison. I prefer Bolivar's, PSD4'S, RyJSC'S, RASS, etc.. Thanks to Prez for this website, and to its contributors for all of their knowledge, I'm learning every day based on the reviews that you guy's post. Thanks, and hopefully soon I can begin to return the favor.

[Wiley]

Opus X is the only non-Cuban I can think of that I care to smoke. However, they are far more difficult to find. So much so that I gave up.

[Tampa1257]

The typical discussion of what or which is better, Cuban vs Non-Cuban cigar taste. Flavor, complexity vs value and price?

The Marketing and Distribution controls on the Opus X, i.e.; The elitism of the name cry’s for the extremely self imposed (note artificially inflated demand) limited availability product where by the shear mention of the name “Opus” has the preconceived allure of the rarest of rare, the epitome of refinement, the best of the best! We find Retailers charging over MSRP because they are charged over MSRP. To even have them on their shelves, they have to back channel purchase them from other Tobacco Shops that do purchase enough of the regular line of the Fuente’s products to be lucky enough to receive a few boxes with their order. The Fuente’s Ship what they want, not what you necessarily want to order.

The price per each Opus X cigar is expensive when compared to other Ultra Premium Domestic cigars. I have smoked both very good to very bad Opus X cigars. Each time I personally questioned “Why” did I spend that kind of money on a cigar? Was it a statement you myself that I was knowledgeable enough to know what is rated to be the best cigar out there? THE OPUS X hype? I smoked my first Opus X in 2003, and it had been aged for 5 years. So, it was one of the initial 3 years that had been on the market. Even at 5 years old the cigar for me was still very rich with a burnt charcoal flavor with a peaty earthiness and leather. It was not complex even with 5 years age. One dimensional would be very accurate in my opinion. But would the enjoyment value to me from smoking an Opus X worth the price paid? Just my opinion, but while it is a nice cigar, it should be available for no more than $8 - $10 TOPS! The newer models have continued to be strong, not very balanced in my opinion and many times harsh. Now I still enjoy a Domestic cigar for a change of pace, my go to has always been Padron and I prefer the Anniversary 1964 Maduro or the Anniversary 1926 Maduro. I prefer the consistency, balance; complex flavors in the Padron the most in a domestic made cigar.

My palate has evolved several times over the life time of my cigar smoking. It doesn’t matter is non-Cuban cigars or Cuban cigars taste like to me, it is what attracts the attention of the average Joe that walks into a cigar shop and all of a sudden has a special occasion coming up and wants his “Opus” and be living the dream of enjoying the best of the best, at least in his own perspective for the event. He is living his dream!

Smoke what you like and like what you smoke!:-D

[Wiley]

I realize that Opus X are commonly marked way up. Fortunately for me, on the rare occasions that my local vendor gets them, he doesn't mark them up. I think I paid $11 the last time I bought one.

[cigardawg]

» » Do you think opus X better than havana's ?

»

» Opus are very nice cigars when aged appropriately. There is no better or

» worse when comparing Opus to Havanas, just different IMO. When I am in the

» mood for an Opus, they are spot on and I enjoy them very much. There are

» many non-Cuban cigars that are very tatsy. It is an apples and oranges

» comparison. With that said, I generally prefer the twang of Cuban

» tobacco.

»

» I have seen one person online frequently compare cigars from different

» countries to red wine from different countries. As he so eloquently put

» it, is Burgundy or Bordeaux always better than a California Cabernet or a

» great Aussie Shiraz? IMO, the answer is no and I think this applies to

» cigars from varuious countries as well.

»

» Just my .02, of course!

Very, very well said!!

[Stalebread]

. . . The typical american consumer often thinks the cigars we normally refer to as "dog-rockets or yard-'gars" are good smokes . . .

An interesting point to keep in mind. The premium cigar market in the US accounts for a relataively small percentage of overall sales. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if the figures I saw were for dollar amount or some other number, like units sold.

Also, I wonder if we'll see any change in Fuente's marketing approach as other recent boutique brands such as Tatuaje, Padilla, and, most recently, Illusione, provide some competition. A smoker who wants an Opus can't find one; these other brands step up, they're good, usually less costly, so the smoker does not go back to Opus.

[SeriesV]

I have only had a few Fuente products, including the Opus X. I didn't particularily care for the Opus, but this could have been due to the fact that it was still fresh, and most Fuente smokers will agree that you have to age the Opus for at least a year before it really starts to 'pop'. I bought 2 sticks that day, and I've had the 2nd in my humi for a little over a year now. I also have a couple of others from trades that have been sitting for at least several months. I am still waiting for the urge to light one up to hit, whenever I go to get a smoke, there is always something else that I want to try instead. IMO, there are just too many other great cigars out there that are a much better value for me to worry aobut Fuente stuff, with a couple of exceptions (the Cuban beli and the Don Carlos I had were both pretty awesome, and cheaper than the opus).

CAO is another domesic company that seems to focus a little too much on marketing/presentation at times, and those particular cigars just aren't a good enough value for me to really be interested in them. That is not to say that they are not good cigars, but rather that there are other cigars out there that are just as good (or better) for much less money, and that are much easier to locate and purchase.

If i can get a 5-pack of a particular brand that I really enjoy from a website for roughly the same price as 1 or 2 Fuente sticks that I may or may not like as much from the 1 cigar shop in my area, it's not really a question as to what I am going to purchase.