Issue: Cigar Insider, Dec 03, 2013

Score: 91

This long cigar imparts a tasty balance of brown sugar and cinnamon notes against a spicy core of red pepper and leather. Hints of salted caramel appear on the finish.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Nov 27, 2012

Score: 91

Full bodied and rich with a flavor core of red and black spices buttressed by a molasses sweetness and a touch of cinnamon.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Aug 01, 2012

Score: 91

Full bodied and rich with a flavor core of red and black spices buttressed by a molasses sweetness and a touch of cinnamon.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Oct 01, 2011

Score: 90

Wrapped in an oily, streaky leaf of tobacco, this big cigar shows a powerful, full-bodied range of leather, red pepper and cedar.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Oct 01, 2010

Score: 88

Strong notes of spice, cedar and leather dominate the palate, allowing touches of coffee to come through. These are the primary flavors communicated from this bold, dark evenly burning cigar.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Jun 01, 2008

Score: 89

The wrapper on this large cigar has a brilliant colorado tone. A very woody smoke with coffee bean and pepper notes.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Dec 01, 2005

Score: 92

Beautiful to behold, this silky cigar has a perfect draw. Combining complexity and power, the cigar is earthy, with notes of leather, red peppercorns and creamy coffee. A full bodied cigar that will become even better with age.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Sep 20, 2005

Score: 93

A stunning cigar with a silky wrapper and perfect cap. It’s powerful and flavorful, with an earthy, spicy character. It’s complex, smacking of red peppercorns, vanilla and creamy coffee. Balanced and rich.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Jun 29, 2004

Score: 91

A gorgeous, well-crafted cigar with a wrapper that has the texture of silk. It’s a very spicy smoke with notes of leather, black pepper and a faint hint of chocolate. A spicy finish.

Issue: Cigar Insider, May 01, 2002

Score: 88

Big, dark and oily, and it burns and draws well. The smoke is powerful and earthy, with a leathery flavor and a chalky, moist finish. Full bodied.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Dec 01, 1999

Score: 90

A beautiful, well-made cigar. It has a strong peppery taste on the palate, and a core of leather and earth notes on the palate. But there is a bite on the finish. Very complex, perhaps a little young.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Oct 01, 1998

Score: 87

A great looking cigar, but it lacked a bit of its normal depth. A light salty character, followed by a medium to full bodied earthiness. Some leather and coffee notes on the palate.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Sep 01, 1997

Score: 89

A cigar loaded with sweet spice and leather flavors with a solid earthiness. It is well-balanced and smooth, with just a hint of dryness on the finish.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Jan 01, 1996

Score: 92

A good looking, oily wrapper. This smooth cigar burns evenly, with a nice draw. It has flavors of sweet spices, nutmeg and leather.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Mar 01, 1995

Score: 93

A beautiful reddish-brown wrapper delivers flavors of spices, leather and coffee beans. It has a very earthy, perfumed aroma.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Jan 01, 1970

Score: 95

No cigar has had quite the impact on the premium cigar industry as the Fuente Fuente OpusX. Since its debut in 1995, the cigar has had a cult following that makes it a rare find in many smoke shops. Some retailers limit purchases, others charge far more than the suggested retail price. (In Las Vegas, it’s quite common for these cigars to retail for $60, $75 or even $100.) The brand has been the subject of more than one lawsuit and the target of counterfeiters. It also spawned great controversy as the first cigar sold with a Cuban-seed wrapper grown under shade in the Dominican Republic—a feat that many said simply couldn’t be done. Perhaps overlooked in all the hype is the undeniable fact that the OpusX is a great cigar. And current releases of the brand suggest that its quality is at a level not seen since its debut. The double corona size is a masterpiece, a classic on our 100-point scale. Like all OpusX cigars, the 7 5/8 inch by 49 ring gauge cigar is impeccably crafted by a small roomful of workers who make only about 75 cigars a day. The cigar is the pinnacle of full flavor, with complex tastes ranging from leather to creamy coffee and earth. If you have the patience to age these, they should prove even better in a few years.