Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Figurado
Size : 4 x 48
Ring : 48
Wrapper : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Filler : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : ~$80 (!) each
More info about purchasing: Arturo Fuente Opus X cigars
While in Vegas a few weeks ago, I picked up two of these cigars. As I understand it, Casa Fuente is the only place where you can purchase a black label Forbidden. However, the cigar is the same blend as the regular Opus X banded LBMF.
Appearance : 
Gorgeous!! I’ll hand it to Fuente, they know how to make a good looking stick. This figurado carries a dark, brown wrapper that has almost a buffed, leather look to it. It’s slightly oily and each end is capped with bits of maduro, the Cuban tickler head being nicely offset.
Construction :
Impeccable. The cut, draw, burn . . . all perfect. Of course, for this kind of money, it better be.
Flavor :
Wow!! This is the first non-Cuban cigar that, to me, relayed the taste of that “Cuban twang.” You all know what I’m talking about . . . it’s that taste distinctive to a fine Cuban. Well, this Dominican replicated it to a “t.”
Initial flavor was a sweetened spice, almost peppercorn like. This quickly turned to a smooth cedar and leathery smoke, with undertones of cocoa. About half-way through, the spices reappeared and the last third was a deep earthy tone, with a cinnamon backdrop. The whole experience was like partaking in a fine, aged wine . . . accompanied by a truly intoxicating aroma of bluish-white smoke. This is a refined cigar for a true connoisseur. Not only do you have many, many flavors present throughout, each appears full and rich in presence.
Value : No Rating
$80. That sure is a lot of money for one cigar. Of course, there is no way that it could be worth that amount of money. As such, I did not assign a value rating. This cigar is only available at Casa Fuente in Vegas and, like everything else in Vegas, it is priced astronomically. Anyone purchasing it is doing so with disregard for price.
Overall Rating :
In looking back at my notes, one of them was “smoothy sweetness.” I think this description sums up this smoke quite nicely. As I’ve already noted, this cigar was a refined experience that, quite frankly, is the best I’ve had from any smoke. What is apparent throughout the experience is that you are smoking a meticulously blended, constructed and aged cigar that has been pampered for your pleasure. It doesn’t disappoint.
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