The Dominican Republic is an island known for its storied history for tobacco growers, rollers and blenders. Tamboril, Santiago on the Dominican Republic is often referred to as the \u2018epicenter\u2019 of cigar manufacturing, housing more cigar factories and rollers than anywhere else on the planet. Arturo Fuente Cigar Company is among the many cigar companies that call the Dominican Republic home.<\/p>\n
Entombed deep below industry giants emerged a young man by the name of Franklin Pichardo. Unaware of his hidden talent, Pichardo was a 16-year-old boy relegated to washing cars in Santiago. He didn\u2019t know the first thing about tobacco – until a dear friend changed his life forever. \u201cA very good friend of mine, Andres Belliard, said to me one day, \u2018Hey young man, do you want to start rolling cigars?\u2019\u201d Pichardo said. \u201cI told him, \u2018Sure. Nothing is impossible. Let\u2019s try.\u2019 So I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was 1995. Today Pichardo celebrates 21 years in the cigar industry, including the first 15 with Arturo Fuente as an Opus X roller (Tabaquero).<\/p>\n
The Arturo Fuente Opus X cigar is one of the most highly regarded cigars in the world. It is the benchmark for which many cigar companies use to measure excellence, and Pichardo was one of the chosen few who had the opportunity to roll the majesty of the industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a lucky guy because not many people can make the Opus X,\u201d explained Pichardo. \u201cThe Fuente family is very careful and selective of whom they choose to roll the Opus X. They hand select a few of the best rollers in the world who they can trust handling the Opus tobacco.\u201d<\/p>\n
From neophyte to master, Pichardo, like all Fuente cigar rollers, attended the Fuente school of cigar rolling. He underwent a rigorous hands-on regimen where he learned about tobacco and how to cut, roll and control the leaf. He also saw firsthand, just how meticulous the Fuente family is about quality control, especially with their beloved Opus X.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Fuente school is one of the best schools in the world to make cigars,\u201d Pichardo boasted. \u201cThey taught me and I didn\u2019t know anything about tobacco.\u201d<\/p>\n
To become an Opus X roller, one has to have relaxed hands, very delicate, flexible fingers and a gentle touch. Pichardo\u2019s natural-born talents were quickly discovered early in his training. He was chosen to join the existing 28 privileged tabaqueros as the only persons in the factory allowed to handle the delicate, highly-selective tobacco used exclusively for the Opus X cigars.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you work for Fuente you have to be highly qualified and precise. You have to control the leaf very well,\u201d explained Pichardo. \u201cYou have to have concentration, love and passion if you want to make Opus X.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pichardo made one particular cigar throughout his entire tenure with Arturo Fuente Cigars – the Opus X Perfecxion #2. \u201cFrom the beginning to my last day there, I can say they gave me the opportunity to learn and only make Opus X Perfexcion #2,\u201d Pichardo pointed out. The Perfecxion #2 is an impeccably crafted cigar that is absolutely stunning. It is a 6 3\/8 x 52-ring pyramid vitola. It is a highly sought after cigar that has earned numerous accolades and high ratings since its 1995 debut.<\/p>\n
The Opus X cigar is a \u2018special cigar that requires special attention.\u2019 The blend is a top secret recipe of more than seven different tobaccos shrouded in an extremely delicate, ultra-rare Dominican wrapper leaf grown exclusively on the Fuente farm. In fact, 75% of all the tobacco grown on the Fuente farm is reserved for the Opus X cigars.<\/p>\n