Fuente Fuente OpusX Destino al Siglo Shark

Perhaps more than any other cigar brand in the world, Arturo Fuente is well-known for its host of cigar creations in unusual shapes, sizes and designs. From the OpusX Football to the different creations stored in the “Forbidden Alcove” at the Fuente factory, the company has been producing unique vitolas for decades.

While most of the most unusual creations tend to be produced very rarely or for specific projects, there have been times when a former hard-to-find vitola has actually become a more readily available product, or at least as readily available as any OpusX branded cigar can be.

The Shark is one of those sizes: visually, it is a peculiar shape that starts with a rounded belicoso-like tip but transforms into a square box-pressed foot. It was first seen as a 5 5/8 x 54 prototype given out at the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation (CFCF) event in 1999 when it was referred to as a “Round To Square Shape” or “Bull Shark.” That early version was never formally sold, and it is fairly easy to distinguish from later versions since it featured a rounded cap instead of the pointed belicoso-style cap used on later incarnations.

Two years after that, the “Shark No. 77” was added to Fuente’s Añejo line of cigars, one year after the rest of the Añejos debuted in 2000. The unusual size was so memorable that cigar smokers began referring to it as just a “Shark” instead of using the specific ring gauge to identify it as is usually done with most other Añejo vitolas, (i.e. Añejo No.48, etc.)

As for the name, the now-defunct Vitolas.net website had some info on where the “Shark” moniker originated from:

The Añejo Shark was actually made and named because of Marvin Shanken (Cigar Aficionado owner) and Carlito’s brother in-law, Wayne Suarez. Carlito named it the “SS Shark” because they both loved this vitola and blend; one “S” stood for Shanken and the other “S” stood for Suarez.

The “No.77” designation comes not from the ring gauge of this cigar, as it does for the other cigars in the Añejo line, but rather from a more amusing reason altogether.Carlito took his kids to Sea World in Orlando, FL, and there noticed that some of the sharks in the tank had two pectoral fins, which looked sort of like two 7’s.

In the close to 25 years since the size debuted, there have been a number of new Shark vitolas released, not only as limited edition products but also added to multiple, more accessible Fuente lines. For example, the Sand Shark—a Cameroon-wrapped Añejo Shark No.77—was released in November 2006 as part of the Carlito’s Way sampler for Holt’s Cigars, while the Fuente Fuente OpusX Perfecxion No. 77 Shark was originally only available in special box sets like the Opus 22 Box and Toast Across America coffins, it has now become more widely available as a periodic box release from the Fuentes at various times during the year.

There is also the Diamond Crown Julius Caeser Shark that has been released in various years as part of the Toast Across America two-pack coffins—sometimes packaged with Fuente Fuente OpusX Perfecxion No. 77 Shark, as noted above—the proceeds of which benefit the aforementioned CFCF.

In July, Arturo Fuente showed off a new incarnation of its Shark vitola during the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show, this time as part of the company’s Destino al Siglo line. As it has done in the past, if retailers purchased a certain number of boxes during the trade show—usually between 20-25—then they could purchase boxes of special releases, including the Destino al Siglo Shark.

As has been the case with the rest of the Destino al Siglo line, Fuente has not disclosed the blend or production numbers, but the latest version of the Shark carries an MSRP of $21.10 and is packaged in 20-count boxes that began shipping to retailers last month.

• Cigar Reviewed: Fuente Fuente OpusX Destino al Siglo Shark
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
• Wrapper: Undisclosed
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed
• Length: 5 5/8 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Vitola: Shark
• MSRP: $21.10 (Box of 20, $422)
• Release Date: August 2022
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

From a visual standpoint, the Shark vitola has long been one of the more unique cigar shapes I have seen and the Fuente Fuente OpusX Destino al Siglo Shark is no different in that regard. The cigar is covered in a milk chocolate brown wrapper that is not only silky smooth to the touch but also almost totally oil-free as far as I can tell. All three cigars are nicely firm when squeezed, but one has a massive soft spot on the back just below the secondary band that is hard to miss. Aromas emanating from the wrapper include strong and creamy cedar, sweet hay, barnyard, generic nuts, earth and leather. Notes from the foot are not only quite different but also noticeably stronger in nature, with an aroma that instantly reminds me of the seasoning in a bag of trail mix mixing with cashews, cedar, dark chocolate and vanilla sweetness. After a Dickman cut of the cap the cold draw features more of the trail mix seasoning flavor, peanut shells, hay, aged cedar, freshly brewed coffee, gritty earth and more vanilla sweetness, albeit not that much.

The profile of two OpusX Destino al Siglo Sharks starts with a combination of cedar and leather, and while my second cigar is quite a bit harsher and acrider at first, it begins to turn around the halfway point of the first third. Main flavors of cocoa nibs and cinnamon eventually win out, followed by notes of brewed coffee, cedar, leather, hay and a light citrus that comes and goes at various points. A bit of spice is noticeable on my tongue throughout the first third on all three cigars, and while a light mint note is present on the finish on two cigars, it does not last very long and is gone from the profiles of both by the end of the first third. The retrohale is not exactly overwhelming, but I can still easily make out some white pepper and honey sweetness, the latter of which seems to be getting a bit stronger as the burn line progresses. Flavor, body and strength all end the first third closer to medium than mild, but all are still increasing as well. In terms of construction, all three cigars are trouble-free when it comes to each aspect: wonderful draws after Dickman cuts, burn lines that are close to razor sharp and plenty of thick, gray smoke.

There are some slight progression in the profile of the OpusX during the second third, although both cocoa nibs and cinnamon continue easily leading the pack of flavors. Additional notes include creamy hay, cedar, leather tack, toasted bread and gritty earth but the spice on my tongue from the first third has totally dispersed by the halfway point. As expected, the retrohale has changed a bit with slightly more white pepper and honey sweetness compared to the first third. Flavor increases to a solid medium, the body is firmly in the medium range and the strength increases slightly to hit a point just under medium by the time the second third comes to an end. Construction-wise, the draw and smoke production continue to work in almost perfect harmony, but two of the cigars run into a couple of issues each that need correction with my lighter.

A new combination of flavors takes over the top spots in the profile during the final third of the Destino al Siglo Shark, specifically creamy peanuts and espresso beans. Secondary flavors of dark chocolate, earth, toasted bread, leather tack, hay and slight cinnamon flit in and out, and one cigar actually features a return of a small amount of spice on my tongue. The retrohale is still going strong as well, with the amount of both the white pepper and honey sweetness at a slightly higher level. Flavor bumps up to medium-plus while the body increases to slightly above medium, but the strength ultimately manages to cross over the medium mark, albeit just barely. Finally, while the draw and smoke production continue along their excellent paths, the burn on the two problematic cigars has made a complete turnaround compared to the second third, meaning there are no other issues before I put the nubs down for the last time with an inch remaining.

Final Notes

• The profiles of all three cigars I smoked for this review were remarkably consistent, except for the first third of my second cigar. While that cigar started out noticeably harsher and more acrid than the other two, it was never overwhelming, and the profile changed by the halfway point of the first third with flavors that reverted back to the creamy and sweet profile I had come to expect from this blend.
• Both the Fuente Fuente OpusX Destino al Siglo and the Fuente Fuente OpusX Rosado Oscuro Oro share the same bands and color scheme, but the Rosado Oscuro Oro blend is packaged with a gold ribbon around its foot.
• In 2015, Fuente released the Eye of the Shark to celebrate not only Carlos Fuente Sr.’s 80th birthday, but also the 30th birthday for his eponymous brand, Don Carlos. While it is the same vitola shape as the normal Shark, the Eye of the Shark is a bit smaller, measuring 5 3/4 x 52 instead of the normal 5 5/8 x 54 made famous by the Añejo vitola.
• The Shark is not my favorite vitola in the Destino al Siglo blend. That honor goes to the lancero, which I find not only more complex, but also slightly more balanced.
• Having said the above, I prefer the Añejo Shark to just about every other vitola in that line that I have tried.
• Arturo Fuente has a habit of putting the Destino al Siglo secondary bands on any number of releases that range from Destino al Siglo cigars to regular OpusX to unique blends.
• Arturo Fuente advertises on halfwheel.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time for all three cigars averaged two hours and 23 minutes.