Newbie samples Opus X Perfecxion X Review

[Linder]

Hi Everyone,

Saturday night, the wife and I had dinner with some good friends from our church. Mrs. Linder provided a very creamy lobster bisque while our friends supplied a well prepared caeser salad, fresh baked bread and a lemon torte for dessert. The evening was exquisite.

When we returned home, the temperature was still quite warm for December so Mrs. Linder suggested we sit outside together while I smoke a cigar. After partaking in such a wonderful culinary experience, how could I turn down the offer of her fine accompanyment with a nice cigar?

Despite being very anxious to sample my first Opus X, I had been patiently aging a couple of Opus X beauties for the last year, a Perfection X and a Belicoso XXX Power Ranger from last year's Carlito's Way sampler from Holts. Knowing our meal was light and that I was afraid of the Power Ranger's reputation for being a strong cigar, I chose the Perfection X, but it was mostly because it was nice and long and I wanted to be able to sit in peace and relax for as long as I could

The 6 1/4" by 48 toro was very pretty with a silky smooth dominican wrapper. After clipping the head with my trusty Palio, the draw was very nice and reminded me of chocolate covered cherries with a slight spice in the background.

After lighting her up, soon I was able to confirm what I thought was the chocolate covered cherries but still, the image seemed slightly off. After about 1.5" inches in, I was able to fully identify it was instead, raspberries in a very dark chocolate. (Something Mrs. Linder enjoys so I knew I had tasted it once before).

Around the midway point, I briefly tasted horseradish but the flavor quickly returned to the raspberries and very dark chocolate. As I approached the band, the spice that had been lingering in the background became more apparent and the deceptively smooth 1 year old Opus X began to show its true colors.

I was soon light headed. Wow, I had no idea I was sampling such a strong vitola all this time. I removed the band and let my friend die out, sitting outside for a while before I waddled inside for a glass of apple juice. After an hour, several glasses of apple juice, and some cheese and crackers with Mrs. Linder, I stumbled off to bed and called it a night.

The finish was extremely long. The next morning and up until lunch, I could still clearly taste the dark chocolate and raspberries from the night before. Overall, it was a nice experience but at the end of the night, it was still just a cigar. I will probably buy more in the future but thankfully, I will not feel pressured to break the bank and buy all I can find.

I think I will be saving the Power Ranger for a very strong finish to a very large steak dinner

Thanks everyone!

[jkorp]

Excellent review. I can relate to the waddling and stumbling off to bed after a good strong smoke.

I look forward to breaking into the few opus I have stored away for a special occassion.

[sailchaser]

Nicely writen review,Thanks for sharing your eveing

[vintagejc]

Nice review. I kind of feel the same about Opus. I like to have them around, but I don't make it a point to buy as many as I can.

[dantzig]

Originally Posted by vintagejc

Nice review. I kind of feel the same about Opus. I like to have them around, but I don't make it a point to buy as many as I can.

I'll buy as many as I can at MSRP, if just to share with people here on C/S. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any Opus at B&Ms so far. (I'm going to keep looking as I heard that Dec 15th might be a magic day.)

[barbourjay]

Originally Posted by dantzig

I'll buy as many as I can at MSRP, if just to share with people here on C/S. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any Opus at B&Ms so far. (I'm going to keep looking as I heard that Dec 15th might be a magic day.)

i think you heard right. one of the b&m's i frequent talked to their rep while i was there. they said a week and a half for opus and that was this past wednesday. hope they sneak a few other boxes in.

if you like the perfexcion x then try a petite lancero. they are fantastic with some age.

[nwksaxman@hotmail.com]

The perf X is my favorite cigar...cubans included!

[tireiron]

Very nice. Caution you will need that large dinner before the xXx.

[Nabinger16]

Very nice review! Thanks