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Opus X Shark (Long Read)
BlueRings
Posts: 367
My B&M came across a box of the Shark 77 OPUS X. I elected to purchase a few @ $22 a piece along with some Anejo Sharks @ $20 a piece. Pricey but justified for such rare cigars due to demand.
Drink: Starbucks Sumatra
Cut: Straight double blade cut right before the 2nd cap.
Prelight impressions: Evenly thin wrapper with very little tooth, evenly colored torpedo working down to a square foot. No soft spots or uneven feeling through the whole stick. Excellent construction.
Prelight draw: sweet tobacco with no bitterness or sour notes indicative of a long fermintation and box aging due to the cedar finish. Draw similar to a smooth milkshake.
Inital light impressions: used a Xikar dual torch to light. I start to taste spice, sweet tobacco, and dried dates. No issues with lighting. Finish is long with flavor of mixed nuts through the retrohale.
First third: Dried date taste changing to a Leathery taste, still taste sweet tobacco and it lingers on the palate. Finish is clean. Mouth is watering, not a dry smoke, very nice. Finish changing to a sweet cedar flavor from the nutty flavor on the inital lighting. Burn at the foot not razor sharp and started to get a little wonky, a touch of corrective flame to even it up is keeping it straight.
Second third: Leather starting to strengthen now, picking up a creamy coffee flavor. Strength starting to pick up a bit, burn is still wonky and requires a few touch ups. Finish continues with sweet cedar, mouth is beginning to dry up a bit. A bitter note was noticied on the finish but does not detract from the cigar and quicky disappeared.
Final third: Burn has improved moving to the rounded shape of the cigar. Complexity of notes really starts to shine so much so you want it to be through the whole cigar as this is what you look for in a perfect cigar. Flavors of leather, creamy coffee, hazel nut, and dried fruit. The sweetness lingers and the finish is clean and light on the tongue. The Retrohale is smooth and packs all the flavor from the palette through the nose. Burn remains cool through the final inch.
Final thoughts: Yes, this is what you want a $20 stick to represent. This is the best of the Fuente line IMO. Aged Sharks tend to take on a mature taste as this cigar ages. This one is right out of the box with no need for further aging. It doesnt need it IMO. Buy them and enjoy them as you will not find these often and when you do they a worth every penny.
Drink: Starbucks Sumatra
Cut: Straight double blade cut right before the 2nd cap.
Prelight impressions: Evenly thin wrapper with very little tooth, evenly colored torpedo working down to a square foot. No soft spots or uneven feeling through the whole stick. Excellent construction.
Prelight draw: sweet tobacco with no bitterness or sour notes indicative of a long fermintation and box aging due to the cedar finish. Draw similar to a smooth milkshake.
Inital light impressions: used a Xikar dual torch to light. I start to taste spice, sweet tobacco, and dried dates. No issues with lighting. Finish is long with flavor of mixed nuts through the retrohale.
First third: Dried date taste changing to a Leathery taste, still taste sweet tobacco and it lingers on the palate. Finish is clean. Mouth is watering, not a dry smoke, very nice. Finish changing to a sweet cedar flavor from the nutty flavor on the inital lighting. Burn at the foot not razor sharp and started to get a little wonky, a touch of corrective flame to even it up is keeping it straight.
Second third: Leather starting to strengthen now, picking up a creamy coffee flavor. Strength starting to pick up a bit, burn is still wonky and requires a few touch ups. Finish continues with sweet cedar, mouth is beginning to dry up a bit. A bitter note was noticied on the finish but does not detract from the cigar and quicky disappeared.
Final third: Burn has improved moving to the rounded shape of the cigar. Complexity of notes really starts to shine so much so you want it to be through the whole cigar as this is what you look for in a perfect cigar. Flavors of leather, creamy coffee, hazel nut, and dried fruit. The sweetness lingers and the finish is clean and light on the tongue. The Retrohale is smooth and packs all the flavor from the palette through the nose. Burn remains cool through the final inch.
Final thoughts: Yes, this is what you want a $20 stick to represent. This is the best of the Fuente line IMO. Aged Sharks tend to take on a mature taste as this cigar ages. This one is right out of the box with no need for further aging. It doesnt need it IMO. Buy them and enjoy them as you will not find these often and when you do they a worth every penny.
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Comments
http://thesmokingstogie.squarespace.com/home/2010/10/26/arturo-fuente-aejo-sand-shark.html
nice review btw.
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