Fuente OpusX "Lost City" available for purchase online

http://www.cigar.com/cigars/viewcigar.asp?brand=830

Rolled with a Dominican wrapper grown in only one vintage harvest year, this special edition OpusX is available in only a handful of sizes with only 500 boxes shipped per year.

Fuente OpusX is one of the rarest cigars in the world. It is elusive to almost every enthusiast because of its limited production. Prior to 1990, the Dominican Republic was well know for its filler and binder tobacco. Growing wrapper tobacco on the island proved impossible due to the topography of the land and the wind. The wrapper is a vital component of any cigar as it contributes to most of the flavor. Carlos Fuente Jr. set out on a mission to be the first cigar maker in the Dominican Republic to successfully grow wrapper tobacco. With the help of cheesecloths to protect the tobacco from the elements, the first successful crop was turned out in 1992. This wrapper is matched with unparalleled vintage tobaccos for its filler and binder and was the first Dominican puro (it only contains tobaccos grown in the Dominican Republic) on the market.

Lost City remains full-bodied from head to foot with a toasty character thoughout. Perfectly blended, you will find each and every Lost City smokes, burns and tastes the same from box to box as they expel earthy nuances with hints of spice. Packed full of Dominican long leaves, all limited and rare, OpusX Lost City is one of the rarest blends ever released to date.

Illusione ~mk~

First third is black peppery. Second third remained peppery too.  Final third wasn't anything special.  This is a thinner stick than I generally prefer to smoke.  The tobacconist at Cigars & More in Libertyville highly recommended it against the others in the Illusione line up.  Having enjoyed the ~88~, I was eager to try my second Illusione.  Understanding that small ring gauges allow for more of an influence in taste by the wrapper, I still found this cigar to be disappointing despite the wrapper having a nice smell to it pre-light.  Others may enjoy it, but it is decidedly not for me.  I do still look forward to trying the ~MJ12~.

Montecristo Momento 2000 Limited Edition

Last two from my humidor....only waited 11 years to smoke 'em.  Off to a solid start @ Cigars & More in Libertyville.

The very ellusive Graycliff Profesionale PG Robusto (aka Blue Label)

Not the 1666 either...
This one started out with a really bizarre taste, but after the first 3/4" or so, it really evolved into a pleasant, enjoyable smoke.  These are quite rare, and typically very expensive.  As many people may not be "in the know" about this brand, I'll post their "about us" section from the website below.
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The Graycliff Cigar Company was founded by the Garzaroli Family when Enrico Garzaroli fell in love with cigars but was unable to find that “perfect” cigar to complement what Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant has always been known for: excellent cuisine, fine wines and luxurious accommodations.

The Company began production in January 1997 in Nassau, The Bahamas. What then began as a single roller in the restaurant entrance way has now expanded to an award winning boutique Cigar Company with 16 master rollers, each an expert in their various format.

Graycliff Cigar Company’s original blend – The Graycliff – was blended by Master Torcedore Avelino Lara. Once Fidel Castro’s personal roller, Lara is famous for his creations at the El Laguito Factory outside of Havana, where he created blends for Cohiba, Davidoff and among others. Since his retirement in 2000, Enrico Garzaroli and Paolo Garzaroli have collaborated on creating all of the new blends manufactured at the award-winning Graycliff Cigar Company from the Graycliff Professionale to the more affordable lines: G2 (available worldwide) and Bahiba (available only in The Bahamas). Each blend is created to please the palate of different cigar smokers – from the buttery Emerald to the smooth and silky Chateau Grand Cru and powerful Espresso.

Graycliff Cigars’ numerous awards include: France’s Club Cigare’s 2001 Cigar of the Year Award; The Robb Report’s Best of the Best in 2003 for the Crystal, the Espresso in 2004 and Chateau Grand Cru in 2006; and many accolades from Top25Cigars.com including Best Boutique Cigar Company.

Visitors to The Graycliff Cigar Company in Nassau, Bahamas, in addition to witnessing firsthand the torcedores at work, may also take a Cigar Rolling Lesson with our expert craftsmen.

Graycliff Cigars are available in seven award winning blends: Original, Professionale, Crystal, Emerald, Chateau Grand Cru, Heritage Royale and Espresso; as well as the G2 line. They can be purchased worldwide from fine tobacconists. Graycliff Cigars come in two choices of packaging the Humidor-box of 24 and select blends come in smaller gift packs; G2 come only in boxes of 25.

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Smoking choices!

Current Top Smokes (in my book):

Tier 1:

• Oliva Master Blends 3
• Oliva Serie V
• Rocky Patel Edge Lite

Tier 2:

• Cain Habano Nub
• Illusione 88
• HC Habano (by Xicar)

Oliva Serie V 54x5

Chillin' at Churchill's n Down for the Oliva event.

Nub Connecticut 358

Mike's RP Edge Lite took him awhile longer than my Brickhouse robusto...  Nub will work to "kill some time."

Brickhouse 54x5 (Nicaraguan puro)

Muy bien!  Great smoke, sweet price.  Straight cut caused part of shoulder to unravel.  Probably shouldn't have.  Big vein preventing me from smoking it with the label right-side up.  Otherwise, excellent draw and taste.

Rocky Patel Edge

Strong stick!  Quality construction and well blended flavors are what it is in common with the Edge Lite, but that's where the similarities end.  Not for the weak!

Nub Cain Habano (460 I think)

And now for a Java Robusto!

Oliva Master Blends 3

Back to the #3..  What can I say?  Outstanding.....and hard to come by.
Oh, and thanks to Oliva Josh for the hook up!

Illusione ~88~

Very nice.  Woody and chocolatey, medium to full.  Nice oily wrapper, great construction.

Perdomo Habano Maduro

Very pleasant, full-flavored cigar with hints of wood.  Nice!

CAO Brazilia

Don't normally smoke the maduros, but this one is off to a good start.

Alec Bradley Family Blends

Really enjoying this one so far.

3rd cigar label project - next step is matting/framing

Cigar Cruise 2010 - Navy Pier, Chicago. Don Salvatore's "Smoke on the Water"

This event was definitely fun.  $100 per ticket, and well worth it.  Included 3+ premium smokes, wooden matches, guillotine cutter, open bar, buffet dinner and dessert tables. 

Cain Straight Ligero (on Cigar Cruise)

Stronger as expected, but smooth and enjoyable flavor.  4.0/5.0 stars

Alec Bradley Family Blend (cigar cruise)

Surprisingly good after a "not so impressive" Tempus. 
4.0/5.0 stars

Oliva Serie V (torpedo)

Strong and delicious!  Liga Especial

Smoke on the Water

Smoke on the Water

Already got my ticket!

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller

Like the "Short Story," but bigger..  I liked it!

La Flor De Cano - Habana

A Cuban smoke in Mexico. 

Camacho Connecticut

Good quality.  This "mild" cigar quickly intensifies for me. 
3.0/5.0 stars

CAO America - double-shaded wrapper (torpedo)

Picked this one up at the CAO event at Andrea's.  Medium bodied cigar.  Decent flavor, but nothing special.  Wrapper seems to be a fad, but sadly causes the wrapper to unravel when cut.  Might recommend a bullet-style (or punch) cut if it wasn't a torpedo shape. 
3.25/5.0 stars

El Rey Del Mundo

3.25/5.0 stars

La Gloria Cubana (torpedo)

Decent smoke, but draw was a little more loose than I tend to prefer.  Hints of earthiness and chocolate. 
3.5/5.0 stars

Oliva Master Blends 2

Never seen printing on the wrapper before!

Oh, happy day!

Fuente Opus X Super Belicoso 6 X 54

The best of the best (period).

No time for reviews, but here's a few recently smoked.

Montecristo #2 (smoked in Saskatoon, SK, Canada)

Nub Cameroon

Andrea's in Kenosha gave me a dried out stick!

Nub Habano

Flor de Gonzalez

Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real

Oliva Serie G Figurado (box-pressed)

Another great cigar by Oliva.  Interesting shape in that it's a box-pressed torpedo with a little nub sticking out of the foot.  Smooth, enjoyable smoke.  I have not had my computer or a notepad with me for the last three cigars, so the reviews are minimal.  Had this one before, and haven't tried a bad one yet.  Paired with Heineken.  3.5/5.0 stars

Don Pepin Garcia - My Father

This one got a 94 rating, so I expected it to be good - and it was.  Started out peppery, but soon smoothed out, with thick clouds of creamy smoke.  Very flavorful.  Paired with Cabernet Sangiovese.  3.75/5.0 stars

Oliva Serie V (double toro)

 Not usually a huge fan of the full-bodied lines, but the "V" is really, really good!
4.0/5.0 stars

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Banquet

Last of 10 box that my brother gave me for my 21st birthday, back in 1999. Still in good shape.  Nutty in flavor.  The wrapper is nice and oily.  Rich smoke with almost a cinnamon spiciness.  Good smoke! 
 3.25/5.0 stars