When it comes to Arturo Fuente and OpusX, it is exciting to think of the possibility of smoking something new in that brand. At the end of 2025, a new line called the Templo de Oro was shown off at the La Gran Fumada event in the Dominican Republic. Templo de Oro translates from Golden Temple or Temple of Gold in Spanish. Very little information has been shared on this cigar but Carlito Fuente Jr. claims this is perhaps the mildest OpusX cigar he has ever made.
Under the Lid
- Wrapper: Undisclosed
- Binder: Undisclosed
- Filler: Undisclosed
- Vitola: #13 (6 x 58 Toro)
- Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
- Released Date: December 2025
- Box Quantity: 20 Cigars
- MSRP: $32.50 (Box of 20, $650)
Being an OpusX, one can automatically put together it is a Dominican puro. However, the exact blend specifications are not being disclosed. The cigar has a much lighter wrapper on it than other cigars in the OpusX line and with it are a gold sleeve and a red foot ribbon. Templo de Oro also utilizes the black Forbidden X bands with a secondary band carrying the name of the cigar. Visually, this cigar reminds me of the Oro Magnum R Super Sixty, although this is a 58-ring gauge. But everything else about it seems very similar which I find interesting and amusing since I love that particular cigar.
The boxes are the same as the ones used for the 20th Anniversary, 2020 and Forbidden X boxes that come packaged in felt bags and colored outer boxes. What is interesting is a few years ago I saw this box from the front only in the offices at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia in the Dominican Republic and I did not know what it was, but I remember thinking “oh…is there another release coming in those boxes?” Now I know what I saw. The boxes are black with bright gold detail, and the red outer box features Chinese characters. This cigar we are reviewing is the #13 size (6 x 58), but it is also offered in three other sizes: #1 – 6 1/8 x 50, #3 – 5 1/2 x 52, and #8 – 6 1/8 x 55.
Cutting the cigar was simple, the cold draw on all three was nice and light. Warm cherries, saffron and sweet corn husk is what I pull off of it. One thing I will mention is you need to be very careful removing the gold foil. All three samples suffered a small wrapper tear no matter how careful I was to remove it. This wrapper isn’t suer brittle like some wrappers I have encountered over the years however, it is still somewhat delicate. This cigar feels soft to the touch, buttery if you will. I sense it isn’t a very dense pack of tobacco in the bunch.
First Third
The first few puffs after lighting confirm a super loose draw and a milder flavor than I am used to tasting when smoking any OpusX. It does however give off plenty of smoke production. Early notes of walnut, hay, and paprika form with the slightest bit of pepper in the back that doesn’t hang around very long, almost like a ghost sighting from down the hall. Once you look again, it is already gone. The second and third samples were a little firmer – closer to normal – than the first but still looser on the draw.
Second Third
By this point I have already begun to notice something again I do not usually see in any cigar from Arturo Fuente – a very light and flaky ash. This cigar is pretty decent so far other than making an absolute mess. The loose draw continues so I find myself trying not to smoke it too fast to keep the tobacco cool. It stays lit and burns well, the ash just won’t hold and breaks off frequently and easily. I find myself breaking the ash or tapping the cigar against the tray to discard the crumbs more frequently than I normally would. I will add that the burn line caught up and burned much better at this point than it did in the beginning. I pick up notes of salted butter, cumin and some clove. Across both thirds, the notes all seem to blend together well and balance each other out without making the cigar overly complex, making it very consistent.
Final Third
Burn and construction remain consistent where you want them to be. The flavor begins to ramp up a little more but nothing too crazy. A slight yet welcome bitterness hides up front but melts into a muted anise with some cocoa and honey. Ash begins to hold up better at this point but I wouldn’t expect to stack it the rest of the way either. The burn line is almost perfect and the cigar isn’t getting too hot. It is right where I want it. I smoked this cigar down well past the band and got my moneys worth from it without feeling forced to do so.
Core Flavors: Earth, Walnut, Hay and Dry Spice
Strength: Mild
Body: Mild +
Complexity: Medium
Smoking Experience
The biggest takeaway here is that this cigar starts off a little questionable but seems to work its way and settle in and hold true from there on out. The cigar burned great in the sense that it wasn’t tight, didn’t get too hot and none of the samples had any major issues or defects such as bursting. The only true gripe I had was the first half being very messy with the ash being so brittle but it got better on the last two samples and was less of an annoyance.
This is a mild OpusX cigar, plain and simple. Is it too mild? No way, Jose (Blanco). But it is very different than what a regular OpusX smoker is used to and to me, it is a nice change of pace. I like that Carlito went outside the norm on this one and challenged himself a bit with the blend. The OpusX brand is known for being full bodied so depending on how you look at it, this is something unique. The wrapper cracked slightly on the head towards the end on the last sample when I took my photos but I will eat that as it was my fault.
Purchase recommendation: Buy One
Smokin Facts
- To my knowledge, this is the lightest wrapper used on an OpusX
- Cigars were purchased by Smokin Tabacco
- Templo de Oro was a limited release with no word on future shipments
Smokin Wrap
Cigars Smoked for the Review: Three
Average smoking time: 1 Hour and 45 Minutes
