In 1995, Arturo Fuente Cigar Co. debuted its most ambitious project to date: Fuente Fuente OpusX.

By now you probably know the story. While the Dominican Republic had risen to become the second most important handmade cigar producer in the world, only behind Cuba, the country was infamous for the inability to grow wrapper on the island’s soils.

While filler tobacco factory and cigar factories were plentiful, fields of wrapper didn’t exist, and not because people hadn’t tried.

The latest person entering their hat was Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. The company began planting seeds for the crop in 1992 and by 1995 it was ready to show off the cigar, a Dominican puro, to the world.

By now, Dominican puros are no longer the rarity they once were. In fact, most people smoking Fuente Fuente OpusX probably aren’t even aware of the accomplishment. Instead, OpusX is known as a stronger cigar—for most people it is; a rare cigar—it only comes out in limited quantity a couple times per year; and a special cigar—the rarity and price make it arguably the epitome of an American market “top shelf” cigar.

Last year, Fuente celebrated 20 years of Fuente Fuente OpusX with a pair of special cigars. One of them, FFOX Rosado Oscuro Oro, was shipped late last year. The other, Fuente Fuente OpusX 20 Years Celebration, was shown at the 2015 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, but never shipped.

Next week, it will once again be shown off at the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show and is expected to be released this year.

Four sizes will be offered, each in boxes of 20: Believe, Power of the Dream, Father & Son and God’s Whisper. The company has not confirmed actual dimensions, but suggested retail pricing will be between $17.75-20 per cigar.

Fuente Jr. declined to talk details about the blend itself. He did confirm they will be shown and sold at the trade show, which begins next Monday in Las Vegas.

(Image via Instagram/Manny Iriarte)

 

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.