Stogie Reviews: Arturo Fuente Opus X Petit Lancero
10 Dec 2009
Even though Tatuaje recently eclipsed the Fuente Opus X as the most in-demand cigar in America, for most smokers the Opus X needs no introduction. Made by Fuente in the Dominican Republic, this Dominican puro regularly sells for well over its suggested retail price.
Fortunately, I was able to find two of these cigars for $11 each at Holt’s in Philadelphia, but a quick spot check of internet sites shows this six and a quarter inch by 39 ring gauge smoke selling for $20-30 each. The short lancero is well-packed and features a torpedo head.
Like all Opus X cigars, the Petit Lancero has a Dominican rosado wrapper, grown specially on Fuente’s tobacco farm then cured in rum barrels prior to being rolled. Today there are many Dominican puros on the market (in part due to the success of Opus X), but when the Opus X was introduced in the mid-1990s the idea of using Dominican wrappers was pretty revolutionary.
Of the two cigars I sampled, one had a large soft spot that foreshadowed some serious burn issues. While very uncharacteristic of the various Opus X cigars I’ve smoked, this flaw created a horribly uneven burn that required numerous touch-ups just to remain smokable. Fortunately, the other sample had good construction with a deliberate draw and a sturdy ash.
The flavors of these cigars are classic Opus X: loads of leather, spicy pepper, and cedar. It’s not very balanced, or nuanced for that matter, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable. The long finish is particularly nice, with sweet wood and a hint of pepper.
All in all, the petit lancero is much of what I’ve come to expect from Opus X. While it’s a bombshell of flavor, it doesn’t have the complexity of my favorite Opus X, the torpedo-shaped Perfecxion No. 2. So while the Arturo Fuente Opus X Petit Lancero loses a point for a lack of nuance and some uncharacteristic construction issues, it still earns an impressive four stogies out of five.
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What a cigar! I got gifted a few of these a couple weeks ago, and smoked one at my bachelor party. I agree that it isn’t as complex as other Opuses, but I do love the size.
This vitola got a big increase in popularity after Carlito Fuente named it his favor cigar on Cigar Aficionado. I tried it, and didn’t enjoy it as much as other Opus X. I’d much rather smoke the xXx Belicoso aka “Power Ranger” over the petit lancero.