21st Dec 2010
I inspected the cigar and the wrapper already feels like sand paper in spots on the wrapper. I cut the cigar at 5:05pm and the initial puffs is going to produce a lot of smoke. I did this before lighting the cigar. Also the wrappers seems to be strong. I lit the cigar at 5:15pm and wowza!!! Strong and lots of peppery notes right off the bat. I exhaled some smoke out of my nasal passage at 5:17pm. My impression is its a young cigar and the smoke was mild passing through the nasal passage. It feels like I just took a mild sniff of fresh, ground peppercorn. This cigar reminds me of taking a bite of a Peppercorn Steak. I inhaled some smoke at 5:21pm and its unique. Exhaling the smoke out of the nose leaves a burning feeling like if you just smelled some fresh grounded peppercorn. So far I love this cigar. It takes the regular Opus X Scorpio and puts it into a new playing field with the maduro wrapper on it. I record this impression at 5:24pm which is the first time I ashed the cigar.
So far a well balanced cigar with the hints of pepper. The smoke is cool in the mouth and the draw is fantastic. Hell, the burn is great. There is another flavor going on that I can't identify in the smoke at 5:27pm. With the pepper back bone of the cigar, its hard for me to put the taste into words. For some reason I had the impression of a hint of sherry at 5:29pm. That is the thought that crossed my mind at least. At 5:32pm I have decided I want a few hundred of these cigars to put in my humidor. Its one of the best refined Opus X to come straight out of the CFCF boxes since I started purchasing them on a regular basis since 2008.
Time to ash at 5:32pm. The Fuente Family hit a Grand Slame with this cigar. So far I'd call this a full bodied cigar with a balanced pepper back bone which is picked up after blowing out the smoke. For a strange moment at 5:35pm I picked up like a Pina Colada taste. I know its od, but that is what the smoke smelled like. I'd say a semi-sweet taste at 5:37pm that I detected in the smoke. So far I can't place my finger on what the sweet taste reminds me of. Other than the tobacco in the cigar. Whatever it is, its working pretty good.
Time to ash at 5:39pm. A hint of pepper once again. I ashed at 5:46pm. The smoke is getting a little stronger when smelling the smoke. I just exhaled some smoke through the nasal passage at 5:49pm and its definitely picked up in strength. I took the small 2010 band off at 5:50pm. I slid it off and no damage to the wrapper. I ashed again at 5:51pm and got some smoke in the eyes so they are watering a little. Damn glasses.
Tme to ash again at 5:58pm. Not much has changed in the taste other than the smoke is getting stronger. I'm getting a little nicotine buzz as well. Still a great draw, burn and plenty of smoke off each puff. Getting close for the Opus X band to come off.
I slid the big band off at 6:02pm and I ashed at this time. This is probably the best cigar straight out of the CFCF box. I will see how it changes over time since I will be picking up a few more boxes to sit on. I'm still entertaining the idea of doing a massive CFCF cigar review of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 box while traveling abroad. Back to the review. The strength is definitely here as I got up and had a little rush from the nicotine. As much as I would love to see these produced more, I know the Quality would suffer. This is something I would not want to see so I know I will only have a couple in the collection. But I will give them a home if no one wants to smoke theirs.
Now I am starting to get hungry.
At 6:09pm, the strength is getting more as I approach the nub. I've already noted what the flavor is like and not much has changed in that department other than the strength. Time to ash at 6:09pm. I did notice a small channel in the filler. Nothing that will hurt the cigar burn at all. Gotta love the nicotine buzz I have right now. I'm sitting in the back of the Honda CR-V smoking this cigar while my Android phone is playing some Russian music. With the good tunesm great cigar and a wonderful day one could say this is a perfect day of cigar smoking. No worries in the world at this moment for me. Only thing that would made this experience so much better is if I was herfing with my friends up on KC.
Time to ash again at 6;16pm. My lips have started to tingle and my head is swimming in a sea of nicotine. Again, no changes in the cigar but the strength. I'm down to the last 1" of the cigar and wondering how far I will take the nub. The pepper notes is more pronounced at 6:21pm and my throat is feeling it now. I ashed once again at 6:22 and the small channel is back. The cigar started to get pretty hot trying to hold the last 1/4". The smoke started to get pretty hot in the mouth so I tossed it at 6:29pm. My impression of this cigar is that it will be hard to beat this one for now. I'd give this a 100 out of 100 points. Everything was perfect and hit home for me. I'm sure the nicotine buzz could have been avoided if I would have ate before I smoked this cigar.
