OpusX by Arturo Fuente isn't just a cigar; it is a Dominican love story about perseverance. Today we're talking about OpusX cigars that are widely considered the pinnacle of Dominican tobacco and one of the greatest out there.

[Alan Britt]: Let's dive into OpusX.

A Treat of a Cigar

[Tyler Caldwell]: When I think of luxury and the perfect way to treat yourself as a celebration of life, I think of OpusX.

[AB]: It's just a treat of a cigar. I remember the first time I walked into a lounge and saw Opus in the wild; having the opportunity to buy it was just a moment I'll never forget. Even now, when I walk in a lounge and they have Opus, I'm excited about it.

I walked into a lounge I used to work at recently and saw them and I texted you and told you, hey, they've got these Opus. As a person who loves cigars, it's just the pinnacle of Dominican tobacco.

[TC]: Absolutely. There's this legendary status that comes with the name of OpusX. There's just something magical about it and it's not the most easily obtained product that you can get. I've met so many people over the years that have never tried it, so I've taken from my own personal stash and given it to people. Opus is one of those cigars you want to share with people and if you've never had it, you've gotta have one.

First OpusX Experiences

[AB]: My first Opus was one you gifted me years ago.

[TC]: My first experience with Opus was through a really close friend who unfortunately is no longer with us. He was actually very close to Carlito Fuente, and this guy had $45,000-$50,000 of OpusX in his collection. I remember speaking to him about it, saying I've never tried it, but I've always wanted to, and he went out of his way to hand me a whole box of random Opuses, things that I'm never even gonna be able to find again.

That's the kind of experience that I think of when it comes to OpusX — being able to share it with people and expanding onto that legendary status that people should have at least once in their life.

[AB]: For sure.

History of Opus & Uniqueness in the Industry

To get into a little bit of the history of Opus, it was released in the mid '90s, initially at a time where people in the industry did not think that Dominican Puros were of the highest quality. It was almost impossible to grow really good Dominican wrapper leaf and the Fuente family, on Chateau de La Fuente, proved that wrong and turned the industry upside down, creating what is widely considered now one of the greatest cigars in the world.

[TC]: Absolutely, and there's so many different varieties of Opus that you can always touch back on the original and other editions, making it unique. I think their uniqueness is what makes Opus stand out the most. There's not many cigars out there that I could say that have this type of flavor profile or that specialness.

[AB]: There is a cigar profile for everyone, and in the industry today, it is genuinely difficult to make a unique cigar. Opus is an experience that you're just not gonna get elsewhere.

We're smoking the No. 4 currently, the more traditional Corona size. I also am a big fan of that No. 2 Petit Lancero. The plethora of releases they put out afterward their original, down to the new Templo De Oro, the mildest Opus they've ever offered, it's just an experience for everybody.

[TC]: Absolutely. I know you touched on this a little bit, but just to make it clear, this is an all-Dominican Puro: Dominican wrapper, binder, and filler. This is what put Dominican Puros on the map. This is the crème de la crème of that. Every company is always gonna put their best rollers to make their more esteemed products and everything; Fuente is no different.

Consistency, Flavors, and Age

I gotta say, I have a lot of respect for the folks in the Fuente line who are making these. To be able to make something that is the closest to perfection a cigar can be and is true talent.

[AB]: It's one of the most consistent cigars I've had through the years. I've smoked the original Opus Robusto most often. I've kind of gotten into the smaller sizes recently, but I've smoked at least a hundred of those Robustos. They have all been such a similar experience.

I'm just enamored with the profile of the original Opus. A lot of people prefer them with a bit of age and mellowing, but I like them straight out of the box. I like that little bit of spice. It's just got such a unique floral character that I find difficult to describe. We jokingly sometimes call it that Dominican funk. But it's this floral character that's high in range, think citrusy, that I've never had in another cigar.

[TC]: Sure. Something that probably gets overused a little bit, but is true here is that it's got that Cuban-esque feel to it. If you are familiar with Cuban tobacco and you like something with a little more oomph and kick, but still that Dominican signature, this is absolutely in the wheelhouse for a person like yourself.

[AB]: Yeah, I get that Dominican profile, floral funkiness, but also it's somehow complex and rich, at the same time. I get a lot of roasted coffee notes, hazelnut character, and warm baking spices. It's just a phenomenal cigar. It's something I could smoke every day for the rest of my life, and I would be more than happy with.

[TC]: I think their aging process has a lot of beneficial factors. Opus is going to be aged for a minimum of one year before ever coming close to touching the hands of the public. Fuente has a unique process where once the cigars are made, they actually store the cigars in cabinets that are much more confined in space so that they can age and ferment, building that flavor profile that's so unique. Whatever you're doing out there, Carlito, keep it up, man.

Fuente Friday Release

[AB]: One of the most common questions about Opus is how do I get my hands on these? Through Smokingpipes, the best way is to subscribe to our newsletter. If it is something that's existing, you can sign up for a one-time alert on site. You'll get an email as soon as it drops.

We have a release for Fuente Friday on March 27 of some rarer varieties of Opus. Angel's Share, the new Templo De Oro. But periodically we drop all of those rarer things. The 20th Anniversary, my personal favorite, the Oro Oscuro, and the Maduro Opus.

It's also super helpful to build relationships if you're a member of a lounge. People tend to take care of their great customers, and building those relationships is honestly the best way to get your hands on these rarer things.

[TC]: Absolutely. Check it out on Smokingpipes and hopefully get your hands on some great OpusX.