Editor’s Note: I make the following warning, the above is the name of the cigar. if you are reading this on a work computer, think about it. If you are on a computer with kids, think about it. If not, get ready for a review of a cigar that most have never heard of, perhaps for good reason.

In 1995, Arturo Fuente introduced a cigar that would change the cigar world forever — Fuente Fuente OpusX. Since its release, OpusX has been perhaps the most sought after cigar in the world. Even with production that is likely over a million units a year, for any smoker starting out, OpusX is the holy grail. It’s led to what has been a lot of myth and misinformation about the brand and in large part leads to the specialness that is everyone’s first Opus. While it is not the easiest cigar to find, it is in fact readily available. Still, for the vast majority of people whoever try a cigar, Opus is about as rare as it gets. While the normal sizes are available across the country four times a year, Fuente has become notable for producing unique releases, largely available only through their partnerships with Prometheus for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation and at select stores, namely Casa Fuente, Holt’s and Tampa Sweetheart’s.

Some OpusX releases never see the light of day, although there is one notable website — vitolas.net. There lies a few hundred pictures of the OpusX sizes that few knew existed, many of which have never left the special part of the Fuente factory, aptly named the “Forbidden Alcove.” (You can see a few pictures here.)

In April of 2011 on the Cigar Family forum, Andrew Welch, known to many strangers as moki, the person responsible for vitolas.net posted a thread that by all accounts seemed like a belated April Fool’s Joke. The cigar was called “Pussy Juice,” a 6 3/4 x 36 Maduro-tipped unbanded creation: You can read his description here with more in the final notes.

There are two noted characteristics of the Pussy Juice: first, this is open at both ends, which Fuente claims is the first time this has occurred in this segment of the marketplace. Secondly, there are allegedly seven filler leaves in a 36 RG, which is a bit ridiculous.

Last year, someone close to the Fuente family was kind enough to send me a bundle of five, which looks like this:

Cigar Reviewed: Fuente Fuente OpusX Pussy Juice

Fuente Fuente OpusX Pussy Juice Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia

Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia Wrapper: Dominican Chateau de la Fuente Sun Grown Rosado

Dominican Chateau de la Fuente Sun Grown Rosado Binder: Dominican Chateau de la Fuente Sun Grown Rosado

Dominican Chateau de la Fuente Sun Grown Rosado Filler: Dominican Chateau de la Fuente Sun Grown Rosado

Dominican Chateau de la Fuente Sun Grown Rosado Size: 6 3/4 Inches

6 3/4 Inches Ring Gauge: 36

36 Vitola: Panatela

Panatela Est. Price: n/a

n/a Date Released: 2011

2011 Number of Cigars Released: n/a

n/a Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 4

At the tip is a bit of an undisclosed Maduro tobacco. As you can see above, the holes aren’t really consistent, but draw was never a problem. The wrapper looks and smells like classic Opus: slightly red in color, but generally tan; some dark nuts, aged tobaccos and a touch of spice. You can tell there’s a bit of tobacco in the cigar, but far from exorbitant in appearance. It’s interesting contrast in aroma from the bottom of the Pussy Juice with some sweet nuts and brownies and a sharp black pepper. I opt for not cutting the tip any further, although if you gave this to someone with no instructions, nine out of ten probably cut the tip off. cold The draw is extremely narrow, yet quite open, which was a bit shocking with some sweetness and sourness and a plethora sharp black pepper.

The Pussy Juice starts the first third with some dark nuts and spices as an aroma and then it hits you. Tons of pepper with some aged earth underneath. The first fifteen minutes of the OpusX Pussy Juice is the most black pepper I’ve had in a cigar by miles, to the point where it’s almost toxic. There’s no warning, there’s no foreshadowing and the gingerbread and dry earth underneath do little to help my palate, which is beyond on fire, it’s in plain shock. It eventually settles to a slightly more manageable, yet still obnoxious, amount of black pepper with some burnt woods and eventually some sweet nuts and tartiness. While my palate is still attempting to pull together and get through it, there’s time to admire the construction: an inch and a half or so of stark white ash and a draw that is open, yet with great smoke production. I do get a bit of saltiness towards the end of the first third, more on that below.

Into the second third and you are reminded that you are smoking a somewhat fresh OpusX, as it’s not until the middle point for the Pussy Juice to begin its assault of nicotine. While the pepper is still essentially where it was in the first third, there’s some earth, sweet cocoa, aged tobacco and some grassiness, albeit with a finish that is essentially pepper and tartiness. Draw is great and easy, although the cigar challenges you to smoke quickly. Smoke production is flawless with the smoke just suspended in the air.

By the final third, most would have stopped, most should have stopped. The nicotine of the Pussy Juice continues to climb seemingly until the end of the cigar with the pepper becoming even more concentrated. There’s some citrus notes and dark cocoa, but the flavor that is not pepper is mainly just tarty. Construction of the Pussy Juice remains much the same and the cigar doesn’t get hot, even under an inch.

Final Notes

Strength is on the higher side of full. When these are fresh, they are absolutely dangerous.

For a variety of reasons, slowing down was my natural reaction, however the cigar needed to be puffed on at a bit of a quicker rate than a puff a minute to stay lit. If you attempt this like you’d smoke a Lancero, it will go out.

The draw is super unique, with a thin tunnel of smoke leading to your mouth. However, smoke production is quite good and the draw is slightly open throughout with smoke naturally flowing from the top from start to finish.

The first half, particularly first fifteen minutes, can be an uncomfortable amount of black pepper, while the second half is an absolute nicotine bomb.

And here goes the journalism. This cigar is called Pussy Juice because it is supposed to start salty and finish sweet. When I smoked these fresh, this concept wasn’t entirely apparent. After a few months in the humidor, the saltiness is easily recognizable on the front, although masked largely by the pepper, and the sweetness is present towards the end.

No one knows how many have been made, there’s no real way to get one unless you are friends with the Fuente family. There also happens to be no way to estimate the price.

While this isn’t the most complex cigar Fuente has ever made — the Pussy Juice offers a complex array of peppers.

The best way to describe the Pussy Juice — pepper buffet with some other flavors.

The name was allegedly Carlito’s (Carlos Fuente Jr.) idea, Fuente has a regular production OpusX named Pussy Cat

These feature a slightly different FFOX band than normal, it’s a bit cleaner and I like it a bit more. Still no word if we are going to see these on a regular Fuentes.

After seven months, the cigar is still full, the flavors are still full and the pepper is still present. The biggest change is the increased role of the non-pepper flavors. I will say after seven or so months, it won’t be the strongest thing on the market today, when fresh, the Pussy Juice is easily stronger than anything most people will ever smoke.

There’s a natural tipped version as well as the Maduro. It should also be noted that you obviously don’t want to get the tip too wet, as that would produce the flavor of wet tobacco.

The Pussy Juice is also known as the OpusX Vulva — I’m not sure which one I like more.

These were sent to halfwheel by someone close to the Fuente family and not purchased.

Final smoking time is one hour and 30 minutes.