Cigar Review: Opus X La Diosa

Cigar: Opus X La Diosa
Size: 5 1/4 x 44 Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $65.00 per stick from Casa Fuente
Gifted to me by my friend Matt – thank you Matt!

You all are in for a treat today. One of my best friends from high school and college moved to Las Vegas a few years ago. Since that time, Matt has joined our fellowship of the leaf, trying nearly anything and everything that he can get his hands on. We talk a couple times a week and the conversation will sometimes move to asking if I have tried specific brands. One day, he asked if I had ever seen an Opus X La Diosa before, which I replied “No – never heard of it”. He found a picture of it and I immediately knew I would one day have to try it, just from the color of the wrapper alone. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, he and his wife come into town to see family and friends. We were able to hang out a couple times during his trip; the first night he presents me with the cigar above as a thank you for all the cigars I have sent him over the last couple years. The only stipulation was for me to write a review on it, which I happily agreed to.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of information out there on this cigar, as it is one of the rarest among the Opus X brand. “The Goddess” is made specifically for Casa Fuente and their policy is (if they actually have any in stock) one cigar per person per visit. Matt was incredibly lucky just to get this (the last one in stock when he was there) and was propositioned twice (once by a customer at Casa Fuente and another by a passenger on his plane ride to St. Louis) for the cigar. Thankfully, he turned down their generous offers. Even calling up the store and talking to Colt, one of their managers, he said they get almost no information regarding the cigar, as the Fuente family wants to keep much of that under wraps. Needless to say, I am very lucky just to get my hands on one, let alone be reviewing it.

No constructions were found on the La Diosa. The pre-light aromas gave me notes of wood and hints of molasses. The cold draw on this cigar gave me a fantastic depth of flavors, including black cherry, bitter chocolate and a tiny bit of sweetness. The draw was nicely balanced with a punch. This is easily one of the most complexly flavored cigars I have had, giving me starting notes of molasses, leather, earth, the bitter chocolate notes from the cold draw and the faint hint of sweetness on the aftertaste. I liken this cigar to getting a piece of chocolate cake from an artisan baker who used eight different chocolates in the making of the cake. It’s rich, complex but incredibly smooth and easy to enjoy. And expect a very long finish on this cigar. I tasted this long into the afternoon the day after smoking it. The halfway mark inches up the strength a bit and adds more leathery and earth flavors. The last inch takes the strength up even more and finishes the cigar with strong leather and pepper notes. Final smoking time on the La Diosa was 1:22.

No problems of any sort were encountered during the smoking of the La Diosa. It was smoked until the burn on my fingertips could not be taken anymore.

By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 10/10

To recap the Opus X La Diosa:

• My first Perfect 10 of the year, and well deserved. Rich, complex, full bodied and expensive but the ride you will take from this will not be forgotten.
• This is a Bucket List cigar, in my opinion. Or a cigar for the most special of special occasions. You will likely not be buying these to pass out to friends. And if you are, my birthday is next month =)
• The price tag would make near anyone balk when looking to purchase this cigar. I can tell you that for what I experienced with this cigar, it is worth every penny.
• I’m hoping that sometime in the fall season I can make my way out to Las Vegas to visit Matt. Should a La Diosa be there when we visit Casa Fuente, I am going to buy one. If someone were to put one in front of me right now and offer it for the asking price, I am going to buy it.

A huge thank you once again to Matt who made this review possible. Thank you very much for reading and I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.