You’ve heard of it. Maybe you’ve never smoked one but you’ve heard of it. The Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X - it was one of the biggest hits in the cigar world when it was released in 1995, it’s been awarded Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year (Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Corona, 2005), and these premium cigars have remained popular till this day.
It’s a fitting accomplishment for a brand as storied and well regarded as Arturo Fuente - but let’s take a closer look at what makes this master blend all it’s hyped up to be, and why it was such a big deal in the first place.
Why Is the Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X Really Such a Big Deal?
Arturo Fuente stands on a long history of dedication, passion, and ultimately, success. It would not be fair to say that the brand’s success is attributable only to the Opus X, or anything of the sort.
Arturo Fuente began over 100 years ago - in 1912 - in West Tampa, Florida. Through the years, its founder, Arturo Fuente’s, built a brand that bucked catastrophes and continued to define expert blending. The Fuente family has consistently led the industry for quality and has been well received by customers around the world.
Cigars like the Arturo Fuente Anejo, Gran Reserva, Don Carlos, Hemingway, and Chateau Fuente have all, in their own right, garnered uncommon acclaim. These are only a few of the many cigars that have generated a great deal of repute for Arturo Fuente through the years.
All the same, the Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X is consistently rated as among the best if not the best that Arturo Fuente has to offer - but why? What makes this cigar what it is?
Well, for one, it has been reviewed time and time again, and, opinions on the price notwithstanding, the cigar is unequivocally acclaimed for its superior construction and draw. In terms of physical quality - the torcedores that produce these cigars cannot be rivaled.
Another aspect of physical quality is the aging process that graces the Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X. Each Opus X cigar is produced from tobaccos that are aged for a minimum of one year, expertly, under exacting conditions, and in enclosed cabinets instead of on open shelves.
The wrappers used on these cigars also cannot be found anywhere else in the industry, which actually brings up the largest point of consideration here. It’s all about the wrapper.
It’s in the Wrapper: A Dominican Puro
Here’s the key defining feature of the Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X. It is a Dominican Puro. That is, all of the tobacco used to create this cigar is produced in the Dominican Republic. On it’s surface, that doesn’t seem all that outrageous. It’s certainly not unlike Arturo Fuente to use Dominican Tobaccos.
Chateau de la Fuente, where the wrappers for the Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X, also produces and ages much of the tobacco used in other iconic Arturo Fuente cigars - but none of them are Dominican Puros made entirely from tobaccos grown entirely in the Dominican Republic.
In fact, there was a pervasive belief among tobacconists that such a Puro could not be produced, and that the Dominican Republic did not offer conditions or soil suitable for the production of a quality wrapper tobacco. Many of the other exclusive Fuente cigars use wrappers grown in Connecticut, Cameroon, Ecuador, and elsewhere.
Carlito Fuente set out to prove that opinion wrong. While it was believed that Dominican soil could not produce quality Dominican wrapper, Carlito sowed the seeds of success - literally - with Cuban seeds that would produce a full-bodied, dark, powerful Dominican Corojo wrapper.
He did - and the Dominican Puro cigar, using all Fuente tobaccos, has become one of the most sought-after cigars the world has yet known.
What You Can Expect
There are several lines of Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X Cigars, including the classic Opus X, the Opus X Lost City, Oro Oscuro, Angel’s Share, Forbidden, Heaven and Earth, the Perfecxion, X, and of course, the Opus X 20th which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the line and the success of the in general.
The best way to experience an Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X is just that: to experience. But research is the next best thing, and due to the far-reaching popularity of the Opus X, it’s not too hard to find some decent reviews
There are hundreds of reviews you can consult online. Cigar Aficionado, for example, has produced a numerous catalog of reviews of rare cigars in the Opus X line. You won’t have to try very hard to find a reputable account.
In terms of construction, the Opus X cigars are universally considered top tier. They’re considered generally flawless, with pleasant, lightly veined, with a slight tooth and a firm but not too tight construction. They tend to produce a tight, even ash.
The cigars in the Opus X line are nearly universally acclaimed for their full-bodied presence. Just what the cigar produces for you is a matter of personal experience, but from cold draw to final third, these cigars have been hailed for their complexity and balance.
Depending on whom you ask, you might get a statement that somewhere between the start and finish, a cigar in the Opus X line will serve up notes of woods, nuts, dried or candied fruits, and even slightly more eclectic savors.
Some reviews peg the Opus X for slightly woodsy, charred, even oaky flavors. In the balance of flavors, it has been remarked that there is a light nuttiness, as of almonds, in addition to a bit of sweetness. Other tasters will offer up suggestions of coffee, chocolate, even molasses or caramel - but again, it depends on whom you ask. The best course of action is simply to try one of these highly acclaimed cigars for yourself.
Contact Us for More Information!
Looking for a specific recommendation for an Opus X cigar? Get in touch with our customer service specialists at 800-887-7877 or by email at admin@atlanticcigar.net for more information. We’d be thrilled to help you discover a new favorite in a timeless classic.
Otherwise, check out our comprehensive collection of cigar brands and do your own digging!