Smoked my first aged opus x last night...

[txaggie9307]

And what a difference 3 years make. This opus was a super Belicoso that I purchased 3 years ago at a local b&m. It was covered in plume and was sublime to smoke; all of the nuances were much more balanced compared to smoking one while fresh (opus leather/spicy fruity wood taste). Although, I was expecting the nicotine strength to calm down after 3 years; this was not the case. After nubbing it, I had to lay down for about an hour!

In summary, save your opus to age; don't smoke em fresh!

 

[Le Buzz]

I definitely like them both rotb and aged. I think most great NC's can be smoked both ways. I have a 5yr old #2 that im waiting for the right day to light up and im curious how it will smoke.

 

[maverickdrinker]

I fired one up recently from 2008. A Opus X robusto. Almost knocked me on my ass. Will have to wait another year to try them out again.

 

[cmhicksusmc]

they are way more pronounced! That's for sure

 

[torin]

Love them with some age!

 

[Thegreekone]

Love them with some age!

+1 smoked a OR PL and one from a fresh box within a month and it wasn't even the same cigar.

 

[blown_smoke]

I havent smoked one in a lonnnng time... Have a few boxes from 07, looks like I know what I am doing this weekend.

 

[Jfire]

I've never been a big Opus fan. (yet I still smoke a xXx and # 5 now and then) I've had a OR DC that didn't even blow me a way. However last weekend I had a 09 CFCF Beli and it was a phenomenal smoke.

 

[warpedcigars]

Love me some aged Opus, but I prefer mine with 5+. Letting them sit that long really sucks.

 

[Craig Mac]

I've never been a big Opus fan. (yet I still smoke a xXx and # 5 now and then) I've had a OR DC that didn't even blow me a way. However last weekend I had a 09 CFCF Beli and it was a phenomenal smoke.

so... you like xXx's???

 

[gentimmy]

haha

guess i'm letting my opus' sit longer.

 

[CuritibaRex]

You mention nicotine. I certainly hope you are not ingesting more than trace amounts into your blood system. No part of tabacco - save full body, cut, shoulder aromas and the small amount of smoke inherently delivered from encounters with the foot - should be ingested into the body.

I do agree that cigars are best smoked with some age on them. At least 2 years, preferably 2 and 1/2 or more. I will put it this way, I have never had a GREAT young cigar, but have had numerous GREAT aged smokes ... ahhhh .... with a tumbler of cold scotch ... mmmm. I am planning later today to have a 5 year old Partagas D4. Have been pre-light evaluating all morning ....

 

[Le Buzz]

You mention nicotine. I certainly hope you are not ingesting more than trace amounts into your blood system. No part of tabacco - save full body, cut, shoulder aromas and the small amount of smoke inherently delivered from encounters with the foot - should be ingested into the body.

Huh? As I understand it nicotine enters your blood stream through the lining of the mouth.

 

[CuritibaRex]

Huh? As I understand it nicotine enters your blood stream through the lining of the mouth.

Unless one is attempting to force nicotine laden smoke through the lining of the mouth, the accumulation of nicotine ingested in this manner would also be considered trace amounts. Unless one is doing a lot of puffing. I puff only to keep the fire burning.

 

[Twobarrel]

Unless one is attempting to force nicotine laden smoke through the lining of the mouth, the accumulation of nicotine ingested in this manner would also be considered trace amounts. Unless one is doing a lot of puffing. I puff only to keep the fire burning.

If this is true, then why do some people get sick from strong cigars after smoking them on empty stomachs??

 

[gibbleguts]

If this is true, then why do some people get sick from strong cigars after smoking them on empty stomachs??

With you here. SOme cigars are strong enough to kick your ass even on a full stomache. There can be quite a bit of nicotine ingested without inhaling the smoke itself. And while I am a big fan of aged cigars many great cigars will get better with age but sometimes a fresh cigar just fits the bill. Best Cohiba I have smoked to this day was a fresh Corona Especiales given to me by the head of the El Laguito factory. Age is not always everything

 

[CuritibaRex]

I am not trying to say that nicotine does not enter the body while smoking cigars. Of course it does. Enough to make folks sick? Sure. Been there, done that! I have also been physically addicted to a nicotine "buzz" in my past.

Do you feel the need to smoke a cigar in order to receive nicotine?

(Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

 

[Twobarrel]

I am not trying to say that nicotine does not enter the body while smoking cigars. Of course it does. Enough to make folks sick? Sure. Been there, done that! I have also been physically addicted to a nicotine "buzz" in my past.

Do you feel the need to smoke a cigar in order to receive nicotine?

(Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

No. In fact, I try to avoid any nicotine buzz as often as I can. But I think he was hoping to get LESS of a nicotine buzz from aging the stick. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

 

[gibbleguts]

No. In fact, I try to avoid any nicotine buzz as often as I can. But I think he was hoping to get LESS of a nicotine buzz from aging the stick. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

That will happen as well just the aging time needs to be longer. The 40 year old sticks I have smoked have not had much for nicotine left in them and were quite mild. That said the flavour was there, not the same but there. The become more delicate and complex with that much time on them. Some sticks can seem to grow in body for the first few years of aging so 3 to 5 is not always enough to let the nicotine subside.

 

[Thegreekone]

I do agree that cigars are best smoked with some age on them. At least 2 years, preferably 2 and 1/2 or more. I will put it this way, I have never had a GREAT young cigar, but have had numerous GREAT aged smokes ...

I have to respectfully disagree here. When it comes to CCs, for the MOST part, I agree, but now always. There are some smokes that smoke well ROTT. As Aaron mentioned, sometimes there is the exception depending on the cigar.

When it comes to NCs, Opus and Anejos, IMHO, need time. I have had an aged #9 Pig that was wonderful and complex, whereas a fresh T52 Corono Doble was just the kind of flavor bomb I needed and wanted on a recent Saturday.

It should also be said that some smokes LOSE something with age. For instance, Anniversary Padrons and 26s LOSE something the older they get. I got a #26 Sampler Box from 2007 and they were so bland. The richness was GONE, totally and completely. This was recently confirmed by a well-respected blogger on this board. Does that mean you won't like it? No. But, again, for the most part, like CCs needing age to hit that magic period, Padron Anniversary cigars are "generally" regarded as being better the fresher they are. As most know, the tobacco is already aged. On the other hand, the x000 series have come alive with age. Go figure.

Anyway, back on topic. :ccool:

Finally, I do agree that my first great CC was a Cohiba with serious age and it was, uh, an experience.