Arturo Fuente Opus X Forbidden X 13 God's Whisper 1924 (7.2 x 41)

It is not everyday that I smoke a cigar from deep inside the depths of the special places in my humidor.  When I do there is usually some sort of occasion attached to the smoke so it becomes significant to the event, place and time.  In this case I was just in the mood for something bold, and special and whilst writing my latest political diatribe in my political blog (www.commonsensenotcommonpractice.blogspot.com), I fired up this selection from the dark recesses of the lower trays in my generous humi.

Opus smokes are often what the individual smoker makes of them.  Much too strong for the regular Fuente smoker, in my opinion, they are a reserve smoke for those of us out here that like to experience the power of a cigar, while also understanding the subtle nuances.  I am an arrogant SOB (most of you should know this by now) and I am a cigar elitist (most of you should know this as well), so I will come off as pedantic when I say if you can't understand the finer nuances of a fine smoke you should stick with whatever chicken bones you normally smoke until you graduate into the upper echelons.  This takes years of hard work, and smoking, and smoking things that would make a goat puke, but you will eventually get there and when you do you will appreciate the finer smokes out there with the level of gravity and attention that they deserve.  Of course I am just F'in with ya (or am I), you can smoke whatever you want (just don't expect to be offered something from my stash of specials).

The very name of this cigar inspires the imagination before it even breaches the wizened and yellowing cello.  God's Whisper?  I think I hear it as I get ready to smoke this bad boy.  It's saying pay attention my son...  The band work is excellent, the attention to detail here is wonderful.  The wrapper is evenly and expertly applied by the hand of a master.  The reddish hue and the wonderful dusty feeling are something to behold.  An examination shows nary a blemish, soft spot or area too firm.  The pre light aroma is a dazzling essence of French Toast from a food artisans kitchen.  The pre light draw shows magnificent illuminations of pepper and wood.

The cigar opens with a profile that is full of cinnamon, maple and light wood essences.  I am struck by the profundity of it all right off the bat.  This complex array of flavors dances across the palate with the delicacy of a Joffrey trained ballet ingenue.  There is so much balance and nuance that I struggle to figure it all out in the early moments.  At the back of the palate there are wonderful hints of crisp tobacco and light earth that bind the sweetness of the front portion of the smoke wonderfully together.  The draw is a dream and delivers booming clouds of smoke that lazily drift o'er head as I blog away on the idiocy of our elected officials.  The burn is rock solid and the ash holds on wonderfully as the smoke progresses.

The first half of the smoke is wonderful.  The core profile maintains some nice cinnamon flavors, but a slight hint of citrus zest has come in here as well and makes for an interesting flow.  The back of the palate has picked up the syrupy, maple flavor with some wood and tobacco notes that complete a wonderfully balanced package of flavors.  The draw maintains all it's glory as it churns out scads of smoke.  The burn continues on unhindered as if in a slow directed march to the finish on a course that can not be deviated from.

The final half of the cigar is nearly legendary, and this is where the true Opus power and nuance come into full view.  The core profile becomes a wonderfully peppery presentation that keeps building and building until it is slapping the palate with powerful bursts of pepper flavor.  The palate reaction to this phenomenon is unique, most smokers would not be ready for this rapid turn of events in a cigar that had exhibited so much sweetness for the better part of the smoke.  I truly enjoy turns of events like this and it excites me as a smoker.  The back of the palate continues to deliver wood and tobacco notes as a base upon which the experience can lie.  The draw was exceptional to the finish, as was the burn.

The finish was a fine array of pepper and wood, but came off a bit sharp.  Having that as my only complaint I am willing to rate this as one of the finest smokes I have ever had in 25 years of smoking.

Appearance- 98 a wonderful looking smoke
Taste- 99 one point lost at the finish
Construction- 100 flawless
Strength- 97 a powerhouse, but wonderful
Overall- 98.75 a classic smoke no matter how you cut it