1st Opus = letdown . . . need some insight

[Zoomschwortz]

[SIZE="4"]WARNING[/SIZE]

If you have or find any of the Lanceros, don't smoke them, sell them to me and you can avoid the risk of being disappointed

[Firridge]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

I've had around 15-20 Opus and only two of them were, what I consider, good. They both had four years on them so I agree that aging makes a huge difference. On the whole, I am not a big fan of Opus or AF in general, sans Anjeo. I buy them to gift for trade.

If you didn't like them, you are not alone.

I'm with Greg on this one. I usually buy several Opus and Anejo to gift or trade, and the few that I keep usually underwhelm me. I would much rather have a TAT brown label(any size) or PAM 64 any day of the week over the much hyped Fuente cigars. That being said I was in Florida last week and bought several Opux for $8-10. They can be found, and this particular retailer will mail order them to your front door.

[floydp]

The X is not a favorite of mine, by the same token I haven't smoked more than a dozen and they have never made me say WOW!. I love the Anejo's though. Anita has had more than me and loves em. Construction has never been an issue, burn and draw have been spot on for us. If you like the flavor then I'd give em another chance. At a reasonable price of course.

[Blowin' Smoke]

Originally Posted by RGD

Deep breath here - deep breath.

Since we are taking exceptions here - I'd like to comment on your price points. I'm certainly glad to hear that someone is buying Opus at MSRP - because in reality most of the cigar buying population is not. I'd invite you to come to Northern Virginia and find one B&M selling at MSRP - heck let's just extend that to Maryland and DC also. For that matter find me an online retailer doing the same that actually has them in stock.
And just for fun - show of hands - how many can actually walk into their local B&M and find boxes of Opus on display? Hmmmmm - yeah, me neither.

And so while Opus may be a great $8 to $15 smoke - most of us just are not as fortunate as you are.

As for the OP - yeah it sucks but it does happen with any cigar. Did you smoke them outside? How humid was it? That can certainly have an effect on re-lighting.


Ron

My B&M gets them at least twice per year and ALWAYS sells them at MSRP. I haven't paid over MSRP for an Opus yet. If you are, its the fault of the B&M not Fuente.

[CigarmanTim]

Originally Posted by RGD

And so while Opus may be a great $8 to $15 smoke - most of us just are not as fortunate as you are.

Ron

With the exception of 1 cigar, I have never ever paid over $16 for an opus. I have 4 b&m's I buy them off of. I guess I am a lucky one also.

[CigarmanTim]

If you are going to try an opus for the 1st time...go with the #4. For some reason that size is better new than any of the other sizes I've tried...by far.

[DriftyGypsy]

There are far too many better cigars out there... if you want to spend that much for a cigar, try an AVO 80th or if you can find one a LE05. I have tried many Opus and always found them wanting for the price point.

let's see an AVO 80th for $15.00 or an Opus X for $13.00, I spent the extra $2.00 for something I will enjoy a whole lot more.

[adsantos13]

Originally Posted by Only Fuentes

That is exactly my point. I understand that I am lucky to be able to buy them at MSRP. However the point of price is not a Fuente issue it is a B&M issue.

Im not so sure the blame doesn't ultimately lie with Fuente. It is my understanding that Fuente strictly limits the supply, which in turn is exactly the reason why their is a veritable feeding frenzy over acquiring them whenever they are released. Most places have them marked up to ridiculous prices because people will pay for something perceived to be limited (and also going to be flying off the shelved). This is their right just as its Fuente's right to "hype" their limited smokes (I dont mean to imply the cigars are bad and all hype, obviously they are high quality). This is capitalism, right?

It may very well be because they don't have enough tobacco every year to make a ton of Opus X, but it is still technically a function of their business practice IMHO. Correct me if I'm wrong here, by all means.

[Pampero]

Originally Posted by Only Fuentes

I take serious exception to this comment. Opus X are NOT $30; MSRP ranges from about $8 to $15. Anything above this is simply gouging by your B&M. As far as the ads go , what do you suggest mud all over their faces? Have your ever looked at a new SUV ad lately: an impecably clean black SUV with not a speck of dust or dirt on it even it is designed to go off roading. Or how about an ad for a new casino: people laughing and having a great time winning money hand over fist even though the casinos make BILLIONS on lost gambling revenue. They are an awesome $8- $15 smoke ( and I have smoked about 100 per year since '96 so I think 1200 qualifies me as knowledgeable on Opus)and when was the last time you had an inconsistent Cohiba or other CC? Cohibas/LEs/REs aren't hyped at all are they? The same cigar wth a second band at 50% higher cost! I won't even go into the Tat Black(or should I say Tat Crap)! I have visited and personally met Carlito and I'll tell you that there is no one out there to rival his passion about cigars! Bottom line is this: what isn't hyped in today's marketing world? Opus are a great moderately priced smoke and if you have to pay more than MSRP go find a new B&M.

I'm here in Washington State, and I barely find them locally and can't find them with any ease at retail prices on line, so for me, they are expensive cigars.
I can't wait until I can buy CCs locally and legally, (and Fuentes at retail) and nowhere in my post did I even mention the Cubans. In fact, I believe it's impossible to determine exactly what kind of hype the Cubans might bring to the party because for American smokers that question is moot.

Of course your opinion is perfectly valid, and no offense was meant to be issued but if anything I said is untrue as opposed to not in accord with your view, please correct me. The stuff about their ads was meant a bit tongue in cheek, but really, have you ever seen anything more airbrushed and hand painted than a Fuente Opus X ad? I'm sure the Fuentes are great folks, I have nothing against them and I smoke their gars from time to time, but that's my read on their promotional efforts.

I made the point, and stand by it, and it was made again by Silverfox that for whatever reason, the Opus X phenomenon is a setup for disappointment. If it isn't in fact the greatest cigar you ever smoked, the claims and all the noise are going to land like a lead weight right on one's foot. Just an observation, more in respect to human nature than a comment on the smokes.

With many CC vitolas available variously around the world at $225 a box, you're looking at 8 or 9 dollar sticks for many premium corona gordas (say, the classic Punch Punch as but one example) and robustos. That's the average going rate plus or minus for a lot of really classic CC vitolas. Sure, Esplendidos are $500 a box and so they match the top prices for the top of the market, but these days, they're pretty damn good too. In a real, free market economy, who knows what the Cubans would sell for here? Let's hope we can find out someday, but until then, comparing CC prices to legal product is pointless for Americans. I'm just glad I don't pay English prices. CCs are cgeaper to smuggle in illegally than they are to walk in and buy there. The value and comfort equation doesn't work properly with ISOM product; I'd contend that on a practical basis it's impossible to really assess their stuff accurately from our vantage point. Maybe someday.

If I knew you'd take personal offense at my post I probably wouldn't have put it up. It was intended to provide a slightly different persepective and, in a manner of speaking, to comment on what I think are the pompous ads that are part and parcel not only of the Fuente style, but equally of many cigar vendors today. I probably could have said the same of a dozen advertisers in CA. I mean, the whole magazine scene that CA (and their imitators) have promoted is a bit stuffy and pompous, don't you think? In another world, we'd be goofing on the cigar ads for being way over the top. Who looks like these people? Not me! Not most of the guys with beards and tats I see reveiwing the cigars on these pages! I find the cigar ads a bit out of my league as a rule...alll of them. It just happens that the Fuente ads are among the most posed and unnatural. YMMV, nothing against the Fuentes (though possibly against their Madison Avenuse folks) and all other disclaimers applied and taken umberage in.
Hey....I'm not here to pick a fight. Just to enjoy a good smoke with some buds and yak up the scene. Smoke what you enjoy and I'll do likewise.

I do have to agree with this though:

Originally Posted by adsantos13

Im not so sure the blame doesn't ultimately lie with Fuente. It is my understanding that Fuente strictly limits the supply, which in turn is exactly the reason why their is a veritable feeding frenzy over acquiring them whenever they are released. Most places have them marked up to ridiculous prices because people will pay for something perceived to be limited (and also going to be flying off the shelved). This is their right just as its Fuente's right to "hype" their limited smokes (I dont mean to imply the cigars are bad and all hype, obviously they are high quality). This is capitalism, right?

It may very well be because they don't have enough tobacco every year to make a ton of Opus X, but it is still technically a function of their business practice IMHO. Correct me if I'm wrong here, by all means.

Bottom line is it's their brand. If they are opposed to having their cigars sold at twice retail, they can ship them to people who don't do that. I wonder how they allocate shipment on Opus X in any case. Please enlighten me if you know.

[rockyr]

Hey TDock - Sorry those didn't work out. Were you smoking outside or inside? I have found that high outside humidity can cause burn issues, especially the last couple of weeks. Even though you are using 65% in your humi, you might want to dry box the Opus for several hours or more at 60% or less before smoking.

Glad to hear you are coming back to S.C. Keep a look out for PSHC herfs.

[Blowin' Smoke]

I have been told by more than 1 retailer that Fuente sends the Opus whenever they choose. (shops can't order a certain amount, they get what is sent to them). I don't disagree that Fuente hypes this line, but as far as price goes Fuente also sets the MSRP. If Fuente wanted the tobacconists to charge double or triple MSRP, they would be charging the shops more for them. If Fuente sells a box of Petit Lanceros to a shop for $8 per stick and the shop chooses to sell them for $30 each, fuente doesn't make any more money than if they are sold for the $11.75 MSRP.
I have no problem with shops raising prices if demand warrants it, but nobody should be mad at Fuente.

[Bax]

Originally Posted by hk3

In my opinion, the opus need to rest for quite some time (a few years).

In all the opus I have ever smoked (not that many but a few) I have never had any burn issues, nor have I had a problem with them going out.

Maybe it's a strange batch?

[smitty]

I have been wildly underwhelmed with Opus thus far, but have a couple in the humi aging for another try. One of the B&Ms here in Charlotte sells for about MSRP so I can pick some up, but I have stopped seeking them when I hear they are out.

For the $8-15 I would rather have a PAM64 or a Padilla Miami, but thats my opinion. Many people love them, which is why cigars are fun, everyone gets something different from them.

As far as fuente and prices go, I think as a retailer I would tell Fuente to pound sand as long as Casa Fuente is open. While I understand they don't own all of it, they certainly have a stake in it. Prices there aren't close to MSRP

[Hophead82]

Ive got a couple of these lined up for my birthday saturday night and I hope Im not disapointed but maybe ill just bring along a CAO Italia or a Olivia Series "V" and call it a party.

Originally Posted by Siebec

I had the same problem with a Perfecxion No.5 awhile back. I bought it in November of 07 and smoked it in feb. I had to re-lite it about 5 times, but finally gave up on it. But the first No.5that I smoked on new years of '08 was perfect all the way to the nub, it even held its ash till the band. I have one more No.5 that I will probably try here soon so hopefully it goes more like the first one I had.

[ahbroody]

I dry box everything now. Even keeping sticks at 65 I have found they just often smoke to wet for my preference. In the future when you try them again make sure to dry box it for 3 days prior to smoking