Fuente Fuente OpusX The Lost City Review: History & Tasting Notes

Fuente Fuente OpusX The Lost City has always been one of my favorite cigars in the OpusX lineup. I already loved the cigar before learning the full story behind it, but understanding how The Lost City came to exist, and the charitable purpose connected to it, gave me an entirely new appreciation for this release.

The story dates back to 2004, when actor and director Andy Garcia was filming The Lost City. Garcia wanted to shoot an important scene at Chateau de la Fuente, the Fuente family’s tobacco estate in the Dominican Republic.

The problem was timing. Filming was scheduled for July, well after the estate’s normal tobacco-growing season and spring harvest. To create the authentic tobacco-field setting needed for the movie, Carlito Fuente planted a special crop during the summer specifically for the production.

Once filming was finished, that tobacco wasn’t simply discarded. The leaves were harvested and aged, and the unusual summer crop ultimately proved worthy of becoming something much more significant.

The idea developed into Fuente Fuente OpusX The Lost City, with the project also helping support the Lost City Scholarship Fund. The scholarship program benefits graduates of the school established through the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which has provided educational, healthcare and community support in the Bonao region of the Dominican Republic.

What started as a tobacco field planted for a movie eventually became one of the most recognizable and interesting cigars within the Fuente Fuente OpusX family.

Pre-light and first impressions

I’ve always thought The Lost City was a beautiful cigar.

Every time I open a box, the wrapper immediately catches my attention. It has a smooth, silky appearance with the kind of presentation you expect from a premium Arturo Fuente release. Add the classic OpusX band and the cigar looks special before you ever light it.

The Lost City is a Dominican puro, meaning the wrapper, binder and filler tobaccos are all Dominican.

But presentation and history only take a cigar so far. The reason I keep coming back to The Lost City is how it smokes.

Before lighting the cigar, I picked up a great combination of sweet cedar, dark cocoa and espresso, followed by lighter baking spices and a subtle caramel-like sweetness.

There was already quite a bit going on before the first draw, and the aroma immediately had me looking forward to lighting it.

Smoking experience

First third. The cigar opened around medium to full-bodied.

Sweet cedar was the dominant flavor for me early on, accompanied by oak and toasted bread. There was also a nice pepper presence, particularly through the retrohale.

What I liked was the balance. The pepper added enough intensity to keep things interesting without taking over the cigar or covering up the sweeter flavors underneath.

Second third. This was probably my favorite part of the cigar.

As I moved into the second third, The Lost City became noticeably richer and creamier. Dark chocolate and espresso began to move to the front, followed by roasted almond and walnut characteristics.

A caramelized sugar sweetness developed in the background and tied everything together.

This is where the cigar really showed its complexity. Instead of simply becoming stronger as it burned, the flavor profile evolved while remaining balanced and incredibly smooth.

Final third. The final third took the profile in a darker direction.

The sweeter flavors faded slightly and were replaced by aged leather, unsweetened cocoa, toasted wood and a lingering spice. Espresso remained in the background, while the wood and earthy flavors became much more noticeable.

Even with the increase in intensity, the cigar stayed smooth and never became harsh.

That balance is one of the things I appreciate most about The Lost City. There is plenty of strength and flavor, but it never feels like the cigar is trying too hard to impress you.

Burn, draw, and construction

The construction was exactly what I hoped for, producing an easy draw, plenty of smoke and an even burn. It never needed a touch up, the ash held for over an inch, and the Double Robusto gave me about an hour of smoking.

Value and buying perspective

The cigars are offered in multiple vitolas and packaged in boxes of 10, which I actually like. A 10 count box feels substantial without committing to a larger 20 or 25 count box, and the presentation makes it an excellent option for an OpusX collector or as a premium cigar gift.

The Double Robusto I smoked is $46.50 for a single or $465 for a box of 10. We also carry the Robusto, Toro, Piramide, a Double Robusto Tubo and a 5 cigar sampler, all on the Lost City page.

Final verdict

Arturo Fuente has built its reputation by producing some of the most sought-after Dominican cigars in the world, and Fuente Fuente OpusX The Lost City is a perfect example of why.

There is obviously a great story behind this cigar, but I wouldn’t recommend it based on the story alone. The Lost City earns its place in the OpusX lineup because the cigar itself delivers.

You get sweet cedar and baking spice early, rich dark chocolate and espresso through the middle, and a deeper combination of cocoa, leather and toasted wood toward the finish. More importantly, those flavors transition naturally instead of feeling like three completely different cigars.

For me, The Lost City sits in that rare category of cigars that manages to combine presentation, history, complexity and an excellent smoking experience in one package.

If you’re already an OpusX fan, this is one release I think deserves a place in your rotation. And if you’ve been looking for a special Arturo Fuente cigar to smoke for an occasion, give as a gift, or add to the humidor, Fuente Fuente OpusX The Lost City is an easy cigar to get excited about.

It’s a cigar I enjoyed long before I knew its full story. Now that I do, I appreciate it even more, and I’ll continue reaching for one whenever I get the chance.

For another OpusX, read my Opus X Baby Shark review.