Blue Smokes Honor OpusX
On a cold November evening in 1995, a cigar called the Fuente Fuente OpusX made its commercial debut in New York City. The cigars became an instant cult classic and have been in high demand ever since. To honor the 20 year anniversary, the Fuentes are putting out a commemorative series of cigars called the Fuente Fuente OpusX 20 Years Celebration. Technically, it's a 21 year celebration now, but the cigars were supposed to be released last year—so they're a little late.
The new anniversary line comes in four sizes, all of which are enrobed in the OpusX signature Dominican shade-grown wrapper: Believe, which measures 5 3/4 inches by 52 ring gauge; Power of the Dream, a 6 3/8 by 52 torpedo; Father & Son, 6 1/4 by 49; and God's Whisper, 6 1/2 by 56. The suggested retail prices range from $18.75 to $20.
Unlike the original Fuente Fuente OpusX, these cigars have been cast in a striking blue motif rather than the traditional red color scheme. According to company president Carlos Fuente Jr., this shift to blue has symbolic significance: the box's wavy blue design represents the river that runs alongside Chateau de la Fuente, where OpusX wrappers are grown. Fuente chose to render the bands and boxes in blue because he said that this was the original color of the earliest Fuente labels.
The OpusX first gained notoriety as the only major premium cigar brand that was composed entirely of Dominican tobacco. It was widely believed that growing quality Dominican wrapper was not possible. Fuente Jr. was determined to prove conventional tobacco wisdom wrong.
The Blue 20 Years Celebration is slightly different from regular-production OpusX cigars. Although both wrappers are grown at Chateau de la Fuente, this one comes from the third priming, as opposed to the darker upper primings of the normal line. There is also some filler tobacco from another farm exclusive to Fuente tobacco.
For a vertical brand tasting on the entire Fuente Fuente OpusX 20 Years Celebration line, see an upcoming Cigar Insider.
(Update, October 7: Blend details.)
