Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

So I must be missing something. Alot of people told me Tons of good things about Opus X. So I bought 2 of them. I Smoked one tonight and I just wasn't happy with it. It was very tight. Hard to get any draw on it. And it smells wonderful but lacks in flavor.

other than the wonderful Aroma it has, I did enjoy the fact that it wasn't a very smoky cigar. Its one of the few cigars Ive smoked that didnt have alot of idle smoke to them.

Im not sure if its just me or not, but It didnt live of to the hype. From what I understand I did get a good deal on them price wise. 11.40 Each.

So am I missing something here or did I just get a bad rolled cigar?

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Yes you got a good deal, most people say Opus X need 6 months - a year minimum rest before they smoke good/right.

I would suggest letting them rest or buying aged Opus X.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Sounds like it was plugged.

Remember, a cigar is only as good as you want it to be. If you imagine the Opus X to be the most memorable experience of your life, you will probably end up disappointed.

I would try another, and don't expect too much from it. A cigar is just a cigar.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I've smoked a few Opus X's and don't see why people think they are so amazing. If I'm going smoke an AF I'd much rather have an Anejo.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Age makes all the difference in the world with Opus. Had some wonderful aged ones but fresh are not for me.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I smoked one several years ago and loved it but like Derrick said it's all in the frame of mind and anticipation of the smoke. I bought it and it was a very good smoke but was it worth the money I paid for it, I don't think so. For a few bucks less I think I have enjoyed better smokes. Give it some time, let the stick age, and try it again. If you still feel that the stick wasn't that good then maybe you need to avoid it in the future and find one that you enjoy more. JMHO :2

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

IMO Opus X's are a status smoke. I have had a few and like most people think they might be a bit over priced. I won't go out of my way to buy one though. I perfer the Hemingways and Ashtons.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I have a number of 06-07 Opus and a few new ones. The new ones don't even taste like the same stick as a new one. The new ones are too strong to let the complexity shine, with age that strength fades and you have a cigar that is tought to find a comparison to.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I have only smoked one and am told it's hard to make a judgement on that, but I wasn't all that impressed either. I had a freind tell me a week or two ago that he smoked 17 of them before they were great to him.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I know what you're thinking. I do. I smoked probably 15 or so over a 2.5 year time frame and was just never "WOWED". They didn't do anything for me.


Then one hit me just right and I've been a huge fan ever since.....

Now, I love 'em!


Hang in there, smoke a few more, enjoy the experience.......

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Been smoking Opus Cigars for 10 years and they are a great cigar. People get confused about when to smoke these and as one of the brothers suggested if they aren't aged at least a year you won't find them to be as good as you think. I smoke most of mine at the 18 month mark and they are great. Not everyone is going to love this cigar because not everybody has the same taste. That just means more for me.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I also heard age does wonders for OpusX...had the same situation as you experienced with one ROTT...was disappointed.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Been smoking Opus X since they came out. Many of them are just too oily and burn really slow. I always thought since the release they were novelty. Who cares if it is a DR wrapper, big deal.

Don Carlos still "the" cigar line from Fuente which was their flagship before the Opus X was released.

All that bashing aside, when an Opus X is good, it can compete with the best cigars in the world for sure.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Whew !!!!!!!! I thought is was just me ! I had three and I was not impressed either. I have had better smokes for a lot less. And yes, one I know for sure was aged for about two years. I'm not a prolific smoker or connoisseur and I can't really put my finger on it, but I think the stick just lacked some flavor or something.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

IMO A plugged cigar has no chance of being good.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I was a non-believer until I was bombed with some aged (1-2 year-old) smokes. The aged xXx was one of the best cigars I ever smoked CC or otherwise.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Totally agree with you Doug!!! :tu

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I hate these fresh but with 2 or 3 years of age they are fantastic. Some guys like them fresh but I think they need the down time to really reach their potential.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Opus need rest ROTT....imho. They have a tendency to be wet. If you dry box them for 48 to 72 hours your experience should be a lot better. If you have the time they get better with age.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

:tpd:

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Love these but age improves everything... even people...well most of them anyway.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I've had a few several years ago, it was suggested by the b&m guy to let them "set for a while." This was in November, and smoked them during the summer. VERY good cigar, lots of smoke and great taste. Hard to find, but well worth the wait.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Opus, new or old, = <3

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Many people find fresh Opus to be harsh and overpowering. I try to buy some every year, then let them rest for a year before smoking them.

The only high end cigars that I've found that don't benefit from a nice long nap are the top shelf Padrons like the 64's, 26's, etc. Those are ready to go right off the truck.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

There's also a lot of hype about Opus X which makes people think it is the end all be all of cigars. Pay $10-12 a stick, let them rest for a year or more and have an open mind.

If you pay too much you start expecting too much.

On that note tomorrow I think I'll smoke an Opus X.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I will say that a few Opus X that I have smoked that were "on" were wonderful cigars. Unfortunately for me, I have had far more duds than studs when smoking Opus X.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I also agree, Anejos are better in my opinion.. I have een gifts some Opus in the past few years, and so I am letting them age - I am hoping to be impressed more impressed with them, than I have been with the 2 score I've smoked since their inception.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I have been given Opus and purchased them for years,NEVER had one yet worth the money. Smoked Fuentes products in the 80's and 90's,they were good then.
Now I do not even bother with them,there is a whole world of better cigars.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

My least favorite fuentes. Give me a an 8-5-8 Sungrown over any Opus any day. Age makes them tolerable, but not "oh wow, that's worth the money" good. I could see where if you're a pure mouth smoker they could have merit, but 70% of my smoking enjoyment comes from the nose, so that colors my opinion:2

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

it's the right time of year for you to seek out some anejos. love them lots better than opus...

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Good thread. A cigar like an OpusX is going to be influenced by age, the moment, and the expectations you have going into the experience. Some cigars will never be able to live up to the hype, and the OpusX has a LOT of hype. Personally, I love 'em. But I put them down for at least a year before smoking them.

Right now, I think I have about 70 resting comfortably . . . :)

The Anejos NEVER disappoint. EVER. Had a 50 on Friday, and once again I was blown away. Great flavors, and the burn was PERFECT. Razor sharp. Great way to end a week.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

O_o 70 Opus :dr :dr :tu

I have to try these Anejos, not usually one for the regular Fuente lineup. More interested in Opus/GoF. But with the how many people recommending these in this thread alone, they are definitely on my list of cigars to try.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

My advice to the original poster would be, don't write them off just yet. My first Opus X didn't "wow" me either. I didn't actually come to appreciate them until after I started smoking Cubans pretty much exclusively. Now I can't think of another NC that even comes close to the richness and complexity of an Opus X. Honestly, they would be my number 1 cigar, (cc or otherwise) if price was not an issue.

This is coming from a guy who definitely doesn't give a crap about hype, or "status cigars". Most of my close friends don't even know about my cigar obsession. -(P

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

i still have 2 Opus X's buried in a humidor at home with about 18 months on it by now. Will have 2 years on them by the time I get home. I will dig 1 out and give it a try then. The others I have smoked were young and didn't have a chance to rest so that might be the problem.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

O geez, Opus is Opus for me. It stands alone, i dont compare
it to other cigars. Ive never smoked a tight Opus if it was kept well.
For me Fuente is reliable, draw flavor burn, almost never get a
flawed Fuente.
It can be an acquired taste.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I have to agree with Art here, I guess we can't all like the same things, that would be boring anyway. :)

You are not the 1st I know that doesn't like Fuentes stuff though!

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Fuentes do have pretty impeccable construction in my experience, think I have only had one that had a poor draw over the last several years.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

My first "premium hand-rolled" cigar was a Chateau Fuente in the fall of 1980. I smoked AFs by the box, predominantly Chateaus (nat. & mad.) and Rothschilds. When I wanted to splurge, I bought Hemi. Short Stories ($60 a box back then).

When the Opus line came out, we were all excited. I bought my limit of 2 on a couple of occasions to get some in my humidor. I smoked a few ROTT, but quite a few sat, their price was such that I was smoking these for special occasions. Their taste was always different, usually good, but sometimes lackluster.

But it was the construction that caused more grief - I have never had cigars that burn as erratically as the Opus. I am not talking a little run, but issues that need constant attention and thereby seriously detract from the enjoyment of the cigar. Even the ones I have had recently have had such issues. I had a 3 yr. old Power Ranger that was seriously giving me the WOW factor during the first inch & a half, but then developed a 1/2 - 3/4 inch run that would not take any correction, even when putting it down and allowing it to go out and lighting only the un-run side. I got about 4 puff and the run was again off to the races.

Anyway, the Opus line came out near the end of the boom years ('97). With all the Don's coming out of the woodwork trying to sell their $15 wonder-sticks to cigar snobs who wouldn't know a Cremosa from a Camacho, I think they lost a bit of their market share. There were rumors that they also lost some of their rollers. It is a definite fact that they tobacco that they were purchasing was now being snatched up by all these "Donnie-come-lately" companies and so they had to pay more for tobacco that probably wasn't as good.

It was during those boom years that we watched AF prices sky-rocket. And, something happened to the blends, they were not the same - and still are not to this day.

Today, my personal favorites in their normal lines are the Sun Growns, although the Rothschilds with their Cameroon wrapper are quite tasty, just harder to find. I still enjoy the Hemingways, but the price has more than doubled (and my salary hasn't), and they are not the flavor bombs they used to be. The construction, burn, and quality are impeccable with all their regular production lines, even the new Rosadas (excellent smokes), which has always been the case.

Of all the AFs, the Anejos however are stell the creme de la creme in my book.

All said and done, I love my Fuentes. There are always a few in my humidor. It is that time of the year now to look for deals on Anejos. AND, I will continue to try the Opus line. Like I said, I have a few the have been gifted to me in the last few years that have taken up abode in the bottom tetris row in my igloodor. I will reach for them to reevaluate again when the time is right. I really, really, really want to enjoy them.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Jeez oh petes, what a long-winded blow-hard.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I've got a draw full of Opus, all with more than a years age on em. I don't typically smoke them, but when I pull one out it's always great. I do have an OR Dbl Corona in there that I'll most likely never smoke *hint...hint...*

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I think I've traded/bombed/given away more Opus than I've smoked myself, but the few I had didn't do too much for me. Not bad at all, but there are other flavor profiles I prefer. Now the Anejos, those I love!

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Is that an Opus in your drawers, Walt, or are you just happy to see me? :D

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

personally, I love Opus X's, but won't go out of my way to get them.

I'm lucky to have a nice guy at the B&M near me that allows me as many as I want for msrp and normally carries a good stock.

More often than not, I will reach for a Don Carlos before an Opus if I'm spending that much money on a single.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Its a case of different smokes for different folks. Plenty of our customers love the Opus line but over the years they have become more available, atleast in our area. As they have become more available I have heard more and more people turn away from them. A lot of say they just don't do it for them anymore and that they feel like they have changed over the years. Then again more cigars have come out that have been receiving great ratings and peoples tastes change so the Opus doesn't seem as popular as it used to be. I used to sell out in about a week or two and now I have about 15 boxes in stock, with about 5 left over from the last shipment.

I would say if you haven't tried one and you get the chance then try one, you may miss out on something you like. Just don't pay more than $20 for one. If you don't like it atleast you tried one and found out.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

Funny that Ol Times should reply, they are the only store in my area I have ever seen carry Opus at msrp and never gouge the customer.

They are the store I was referring to.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

same here, I have a shop near me that gets a ton every year. They're not the absolute cheapest I've seen, but not too bad either, $12-16 usually.

I suppose if I had to pay $20+ or drive all over town to get them, I would probably be a little disappointed too.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

The Anejos on the other hand are a smoke that won't disappoint. We just got some in, hopefully we will see more but you never know. You should see them popping up at your local shops but they go quick. If you haven't tried that one it is worth it, but they are much harder to find.

Pete,
Thanks for the support and the good words.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I love 'em both. :sh

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

So do I, but I have yet to hear a complaint about the Anejos.

Re: Opus X ... Am I Missing Something
 

I certainly agree that the Anejos are probably more likely to appeal to a wider audience.