Thread: just picked this up

Opusx Black Orchid
I dont smoke much, but the guy at the store said this was a pretty solid and uncommon cigar. Plan on smoking it this weekend! photo-154.JPG

How long has it been aging for?

Nice, let us know how it is

I have no clue... I bought it on Friday I think and its been in the bag with humidity pouch since then

Its coming from a 2012 Charity box so it hasn't been aged relatively long...

It is such a special cigar that you might want to consider aging it for awhile and pulling it out for a special occasion. Usually Opus X are better...smoother smoke and complexities of the tobacco come out after some aging time.

I know it is tough to hold back from smoking it and I wouldn't blame you if you just lit it up...but coming from a smoking an Opus X that is relatively newly rolled tobacco vs something you have aged for a year...it is night and day.

That is one of the reasons I love the Padron premium line so much...they are already aged tobacco and don't need any down time in a humidor except some "rest time" after shipping. With the Opus you really need patience to really feel something REALLY special...plus pairing it with a nice single malt wouldn't hurt.

so I should buy a humidor and age it? Is this cigar that special? should I just sell it to someone who can taste a difference?

It is a special cigar in the sense it is a great looking vitola, it is an Opus X tobacco, and not many around.

At this point, it is probably a good cigar that is at full strength. Good and bad...if you like a strong cigar...good...bad in the sense that the strength would probably mask the other tastes and complexities of the tobacco where aging the cigar would let the tobacco properly (if humidified properly) mature...

Aging would smoothen it out...take the harshness out of the cigar...the fullness would still be there but the flavor of the tobacco would come out more...

That is why some folks are disappointed in smoking Opus X at times...I have to be honest with you when I bought a box and opened it up and just fired one up...it was a bit harsh and it kicked my ass. The same cigar after sitting in my humidor for a year was a totally different cigar...mellower...the harshness was gone. I could enjoy the cigar...

As far as buying a humidor...that is up to you. If you have a buddy that has one that will let it sit in there and age...cool. But you could get an inexpensive one and keep a couple of cigars in there...just make sure you keep the humidity and temp @ 70/70 range.

PS You don't have to age it for a year...that is just my personal cutoff on Opus X and Cubans. A couple of months (3-6) would help...if you see the plume developing on the cigar you know that it is aging properly (i.e. the oils are seeping up to the surface of the cigar).

Originally Posted by AMGfan

It is a special cigar in the sense it is a great looking vitola, it is an Opus X tobacco, and not many around.

At this point, it is probably a good cigar that is at full strength. Good and bad...if you like a strong cigar...good...bad in the sense that the strength would probably mask the other tastes and complexities of the tobacco where aging the cigar would let the tobacco properly (if humidified properly) mature...

Aging would smoothen it out...take the harshness out of the cigar...the fullness would still be there but the flavor of the tobacco would come out more...

That is why some folks are disappointed in smoking Opus X at times...I have to be honest with you when I bought a box and opened it up and just fired one up...it was a bit harsh and it kicked my ass. The same cigar after sitting in my humidor for a year was a totally different cigar...mellower...the harshness was gone. I could enjoy the cigar...

As far as buying a humidor...that is up to you. If you have a buddy that has one that will let it sit in there and age...cool. But you could get an inexpensive one and keep a couple of cigars in there...just make sure you keep the humidity and temp @ 70/70 range.

PS You don't have to age it for a year...that is just my personal cutoff on Opus X and Cubans. A couple of months (3-6) would help...if you see the plume developing on the cigar you know that it is aging properly (i.e. the oils are seeping up to the surface of the cigar).

Just went humidor shopping. I think I am going to go with the diamond crown 90 cigar box. any other suggestions?

That's a nice humi...get a digital hygrometer and a decent humidification system...whether it is a crystal gel jar, humidipak, or beads...

It doesn't have to be fancy...just check it on a weekly basis and keep it out of direct sunlight or air conditioning vent.

NOTE: Over humidification is just as bad as not being humidified enough...instead of being a dry cigar...you could introduce fungus into your cigars with too much humidification.

What is a good range for a humidor? Mine seems to hover around 64-66%