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Opus X Lancero 2005 “Phantom”

Kingantz

Growing too fast.
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
7,648
I received this stick in the MAWPIF from Breedy and figured today was a good day to put fire to it. This is a gorgeous lancero with a reddish brown rosado wrapper that is somewhat coarse with not much by way of oils. It’s firm when squeezed, has a good weight in the hand, and with the perfectly constructed pigtail triple cap punched I find a perfect draw with taste of sweet tobacco.

I have the foot burning in short fashion and proceed to blow on the embers to ensure an even burn, then take a couple of quick puffs and a long draw. I fully expected to get a good amount of spice, at least in the beginning stages, however I’m completely surprised as there’s practically none at all. The smoke is medium in body and quite smooth and thick on the tongue with the flavors seeming somewhat muted. I detect some woodiness, however again I’m not getting a great deal of flavor from the smoke in the first quarter inch or so.

The burn is good with a medium gray ash forming. I go to gently put the cigar in the ashtray and the ash easily falls on its own. I continue to puff and draw on this cigar, however am just not getting much as far as flavor from it. Possible hints of vanilla and what I believe is the Opus Rosado wrapper, but very faint. I am getting a small amount of spice in the still medium-bodied smoke, and not much at all in the finish. I keep trying to find flavor, but there’s just nothing there.

A third in and nothing has changed. Everything is the same as from the start, small amount of spice, muted flavor, no finish I can detect. I’m finding this very strange indeed from an Opus. I continue on in hopes that the cigar does start to perform in some form of fashion.

The burn continues to be sharp with a perfect draw allowing ample medium to now full-bodied smoke through. Finally, hitting around the halfway mark, I started getting a slightly stronger spice with flavors of toasted nuts, vanilla, and wood, however still somewhat muted to my palate. I can taste the Opus Rosado wrapper that I’ve been looking for, yet still not as flavorful as I would expect. I’m getting a somewhat tasty finish on the palate immediately after exhaling, however it is quite short.

The ash is very loose and falls on its own about every quarter to half inch. I’m to the point where I just don’t believe there’s much of anything else going to reveal itself in this cigar. It seems as though the flavors are right there, but just aren’t coming through. As I tried to remove the bands, the wrapper came completely unraveled, so just went ahead and set it down with probably a good couple inches left. Not sure what happened with this one, however just not as good as I had hoped.

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Greg,

Thanks for the review for more than it's content. I'm sorry to hear that the cigar just didn't do it for you.
 
Good review as usuall but to bad it turned out that way. I havent heard to many bad things about the construction of an Opus although I cant speak from first hand experience. I think I would cry if thats how my first Opus turned out. Beautiful looking little girl by the way, you two look great together.
Happy smoking
B
 
The bunch looks like it would give you a loose draw, but you seem to be ok with it and you generally like a draw on the tighter side if I'm not mistaken. Sorry to hear this didn't live up to expectations. I think all lanceros strive to be a Preferido once they grow up. :laugh: By the way, do you have the Convent picket out for Jess yet? You're in trouble my friend, deep trouble. ;)
 
Great brother. Jess' hair is getting long. Now that is funy, I see enough pictures of you and your daughter that I can say that.

A very nice review as always my friend.
 
Another great review, despite the sad ending.

I'm hoping that was a isolated incident because I'm planning on lighting up my last Phantom in a couple of weeks for our first wedding anniversary. Smoked one for our engagement and also for our wedding and they were just beautiful.

Keep those reviews coming!
 
Beautifull looking cigar, wish it would have tasted as good as it looked.
 
I had one of these picked out for Fathers Day but was unable to smoke on Sunday. I read this review yesterday and figured I'd give it a shot anyway. That turned out to be a huge mistake because I had the same experience as you. This stick just had no flavor! The burn was sharp all the way through, the stick looked great, but no flavor. I have 2 more of these sitting that if/ when I light up will hopefully bring something to the table. For now there's just nothing there.

Serves me right for not listening to your review! :laugh:
 
I found the same problem with the petite' lancero. No flavor. Smoked it for ~15-20 and tossed it. Wasnt worth the time.
 
I found the same problem with the petite' lancero. No flavor. Smoked it for ~15-20 and tossed it. Wasnt worth the time.

Thanks for the review and the photos!

I am sorry it ended that way, but I am not surprised...I smoked a BBMF that I was not overly impressed with, and the flavors of the recent batch of Opus seem to be quite a bit more muted then say, 5-6 years ago...

~brooks
 
Any of you unhappy with your Opus X lanceros, petite lanceros, or BBMFs feel free to contact me and see if we can work out a trade. :laugh:
 
Any of you unhappy with your Opus X lanceros, petite lanceros, or BBMFs feel free to contact me and see if we can work out a trade. :laugh:

Ah hahaha! Nice try there brotha!

I'm surprised to hear others are finding the same experience....
 
Any of you unhappy with your Opus X lanceros, petite lanceros, or BBMFs feel free to contact me and see if we can work out a trade. :laugh:

Ah hahaha! Nice try there brotha!

I'm surprised to hear others are finding the same experience....

I agree Greg, I am not a lancero fan, but the petit lanceros and the one opus lancero I've had I found to be excellent.
 
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