Kurt's Corner
Dear XIKAR Friends,
If you heard a loud sigh of relief at the end of May from the Sunflower State, you heard Kansas  tobacconists, customers, cigar enthusiasts and me celebrating our win over a proposed tobacco tax increase. Anti-tobacco forces combined with powerful Senators fighting a budget deficit, to increase the tobacco tax in a bill offered by Gov. Mark Parkinson. Our opposition and grass roots activism appears to have swayed the vote that killed the targeted tobacco tax. Thus for 2010, the proposed increase in tobacco taxes has gone up in smoke! This is clearly a demonstration of our unity and commitment to our industry.
I strongly encourage everyone to get involved with your voice and your vote, and join
CRA
to defend tobacco from target and usurious taxes and regulation!
May was the official start of the outdoor cigar season. Cigar enthusiasts gravitate to outdoor adventures, and patio decks become the new man-cave. We are now in "full bloom"! These activities tend to energize the urge to light up a nice smoke that's been perfectly preserved in our humidors all winter. For me, there's nothing like a great cigar and cold beverage (yesterday was cold green tea, but it could just as easily be a Negra Modelo, my favorite). As you all know, I also love wine with my cigars, and this is the season for more bold adventures -- in pairing! A Central Cost Syrah, with a steak on the grill followed by an HC Series Habano Colorado -- naturally go together. But so do a crisp Gewurztrimer and spicy Thai with that same HC! Think of it, a white wine and a bold cigar: so many possibilities. In fact, let's find out how many -- please complete the fun survey from the link below, and we'll publish the results.
>>
Kurt's Summer BBQ & Cigar Pairing Survey
Last month I had the pleasure of visiting our cigar friends in Texas, Maryland, Kansas and Missouri. I am amazed by the sheer number of
HC Series
cigar events we have across the country, and by how enthusiastic tobacconists, consumers and loyal XIKAR fans are at every event.
Kurt & Jenny Van Keppel
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HC Series Event
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A couple of weeks ago, I received a Google Alert on how to season and humidify your humidor. Since I consider myself an expert in humidification, I opened the link and was surprised to see an interview I conducted at IPCPR in 2008.
As I watched the video, I realized that every day hundreds of new cigar aficionados are seasoning their humidors incorrectly.
My intent here is not to lecture the true aficionados about humidification, but we can all learn from one another. So, here and attached, I am pleased to share some words of wisdom or tips of the day. Maybe I can paint a clearer picture on the importance a humidor plays in
maintaining your cigar collection.
Words of wisdom: always use
PG solution
not distilled water, which can spike and drop your humidity. Invest in a good digital hygrometer. Always maintain your
crystal humidifier
, and check your humidity at least twice a week. Remember, cigars absorb their environment like a sponge, and storing your cigars in a well-suited
environment will help them age and become "the perfect smoke", even to
the most discerning connoisseur.
I recently conducted a radio interview on entrepreneurship and below is a link to the stream for the first session. Note: the interview will take a few of minutes to load.
Kurt Van Keppel Interview on Entrepreneurship
In the coming months, you will see XIKAR launch some unique signature designs and innovation, symbolic of our range of luxury and leadership. XIKAR for Life is not just our service philosophy. Each product maintains a balance of inherent functionality with a sense of style and pure charisma that makes it a life-long tool. Thank you for being a life-time partner with us.
XIKAR for Life
Kurt Van Keppel
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XIKAR Events Reach The Big Island...
XIKAR representative Jon Fia was the life of the party during a cigar event in Hawaii. Jon is pictured here with local XIKAR fans and based on the miles of smiles it appears everyone was enjoying the beautiful surroundings. We encourage all tobacconists to check their event calendar and contact XIKAR for more details about an HC Series event activity. A typical XIKAR event includes 25% off XIKAR accessories, full array of HC Series cigars, valuable consumer offers, food & beverage, Havana Rhythms and numerous door prizes.
Loyal XIKAR Fans
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XIKAR's Jon Fia and Loyal Fans
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For more information on HC Series events click on
hc.xikar.com
or visit our
Facebook
. If you are a retailer, and are interested in planning an event, please send us an email at
info@xikar.com
and a XIKAR Customer Service Representative will contact you with with more details.
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XIKAR Review "News"
Unsolicited review from Ryan Weber.
I was nearing the end of a marathon shopping session with my wife and our friends in Chicago when my buddy and I decided to duck into a cigar shop. A nice selection of cigars was available, but what really caught our eyes was the collection of butane
jet lighters
and
cigar cutters
from XIKAR.
Once you pick up one of these you know it is more than your average lighter. A gentle press of the button flips the cover open and two adjustable bright blue jet flames instantly appear. This will definitely light your cigar or campfire with ease. The jet flame reaches about 2 inches tall and sets fire to anything in its path. It is windproof and works incredibly well in wet conditions. Get wet kindling going in seconds. A fuel gauge and a cigar punch are ingeniously built-in features.
For the more serious cigar fans, Xikar has a line of
cutters
and
containers
that are equally impressive. The teardrop shaped cutters are razor sharp and come in a wide variety of handle materials and colors. These strong compact cutters clipped a 50 ring gauge cigar in two like there was nothing there. If you have a taste for the exotic, you have to check out the
Fossil Mammoth Ivory Cutters
. The small
travel humidor
is durable and light, holds at least 5 cigars and is completely waterproof to make sure they stay safe and dry on the trek in.
I will have my XIKAR lighter in my pocket on my next trip into the woods. I know I will have fire no matter what Mother Nature throws at me. I will also have perfectly maintained stogies clipped with surgical precision. Possibly a bit unnecessary I admit, but well worth the added ounces in my pack.
Element Lighter
- MSRP $49.99
Xikar HC Series Connecticut Shade Robusto - Cigar Review
Xikar HC Series Connecticut Shade
The
Xikar HC Series Connecticut Shade
is one fine looking cigar.
The cigar is covered by a gorgeous blonde colored
wrapper that has some very small veins to it. The construction looks
good on these cigars but the bands look even better.
I've always admired
Xikar's Havana Collection
Series
lighters and cutters and the band on these cigars replicates that theme.
The draw on the HC Series
Connecticut is nice and even with a slight bit of resistance.
The burn is very even but has a blistering effect going on. The ash
remains solid and compact with no flowering or flaking.
The Xikar HC Series Connecticut offers nice
flavors of wood, nuts, sugar, cream and a little tingle of pepper. The
flavors of the cigar remain generally the same
throughout the cigar so there is no need to go into
thirds here. The body of the Xikar HC Series Connecticut is mild to medium and the strength is average.
If you are looking for a Connecticut wrapped cigar that offers a ton of flavor but still remains crisp and
light on your palate, look no further my friend. The
HC Connecticut
is a winner in my book and will also be a winner in
yours. This cigar joins the likes of the Camacho
Connecticut, Nub Connecticut and the Rocky Patel Connecticut as one of
my favorite morning smokes. If you enjoy your cigars mild but don't want
to sacrifice flavor, I suggest you pick some of these up.
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Professor K's Travel Tips
Enjoy the Great Outdoors and Protect Your Cigars in Style...
Rest assured knowing that from the golf course to the lake, your cigars will be protected in style with a XIKAR
travel humidor. Good cigars deserve special care - and XIKAR has designed
the best storage products no matter your budget or collection size. Relax
with your favorite cigar anywhere you travel using our indestructible
travel humidors.
All XIKAR cigar storage items are guaranteed for life.
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Get a FREE HC Series poster
and a chance to win a free box of cigars...
For the best photograph of you or your friends smoking an HC Series cigar. Send us a photo and brief caption...if we publish your photo on Facebook or Newsletter... we'll send you one box of HC Series cigars.
Consumers Speak Out
Inspired Feedback Confirms XIKAR for Life is Best In Class
I am absolutely blown away...
Your stellar service absolutely blew me away. Your products are already pretty great. I own the Executive, Plunge, and I JUST bought and received a Genesis and Crystal Clear Humidifier in the mail this evening. (the genesis feels really good in the hand btw).
Last week Thursday, I mailed my Executive in. I got the Executive back today! The turn around time was absolutely unbelievable. For my lighter to get to the mainland, get repaired and mailed back in one week time is unbelievable. Not only that, your very awesome company provided me with Xikar Butane!
I know that my email sounds a little too exuberant, and I'm probably coming off sounding a "little off", but customer service is HUGE in my book. The fact that your product feels good in the hand, and is a solid product is great. But, the customer service really is the cherry on top.
Like I said, I JUST ordered the Genesis and Xikar Humidifier this weekend. So I'm already a Xikar fan. But, now you will have a loyal customer for life. Not only that, I'm going to tell everyone of my very good experience. I hope that your company will always provide great customer service, and I hope for much success for your company.
Thank you very very much. Chad M.
Amazing turn around time and great service of your company...
I work for a large corporation, and recently went through a wonderful leadership class. In that class I learned that companies that provide absolutely great quality products (that function well), are providing customers like me with 'the cake'. There are many companies that can provide 'just the cake' and have a successful business model. Examples of this are companies like Costco, Mcdonalds to some extent, and any company that provides a great product but minimal customer service. Then there are companies like yours. The companies that provide a great quality product (as I mentioned, I own the Executive, Plunge, Xi1 Cutter. 10 Cigar travel humidor, recently purchased humidifier jar, Genesis), and just absolutely amazing service. Companies like yours are said to provide not only the cake but also the frosting.
Service is extremely important to me. As such, I kept my word and told all of my cigar smoking coworkers (4 of them) today about how blown away I was about your service. I won't stop there. I'm THAT passionate about service. Anyhow, thank you, thank you so much for the wonderful service. Please keep up the good work.
What to Look for in a Quality Cigar Humidor...
"Being a retailer of Fine Cigars and Accessories... I think another point should be added to this excellent write up... here is my version of #6.
6. Humidification: No matter how expensive your humidor, most probably it does not come with a State of the Art humidification system. It will come with a sponge type system that will out live its usefulness soon and doesn't do justice to the value of your humidor or more importantly - its contents. Upgrade the humidification system immediately to a XikarCrystal Humidifier which comes in 3 different sizes and be sure to use only Xikar Propylene Glycol solution with it. Doing so will assure near-perfect humidity conditions for your cigars and will eliminate any stress or guess work when you aren't around to check on the box every day."
Shyam G.
Via Facebook: Mark posted on your Wall and wrote:
"In a world where customer service is a thing of the past,. XIKAR stands high above the rest in product quality, and customer relations... more companies should take a page from their book on how to take care of customers... Kudos to Kurt, Scott and the rest of the XIKAR team"
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The Consumers Speak Out section is dedicated to our consumers. If you have an exciting story, comment, testimonial or a suggestion for a new design, please share it with us. If we publish your comment, we'll send you a fantastic XIKAR gift. Keep the letters and cards coming... we enjoy the connection!
rmoreno@xikar.com
XIKAR Supports Our Troops
Every month XIKAR sends hundreds of lighters and cutters to US Troops around the world.
Mike "Moe" O'Donovan, President of the Tali-banned Cigar Aficionado Club, located in Kabul, Afghanistan. Our membership is open to US and Coalition military, US and other government agencies and Contractors.
We feature a different cigar at each meeting. The characteristics such as shape, wrapper, filler and maker are discussed along with the source. Because the main focus of the club is to enjoy good cigars in the company of great people, we try to feature different brands and styles. We would like to recognize your generosity as a contributor on our website. Mike "Moe" O'Donovan
President, Tali-banned Cigar Aficionado Club
MSG Kala cutting w/Xi1 Sgt Varela lighting
Coupon available on-line
www.xikar.com
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Our Commitment
We never waiver in our commitment to offering you top
quality leisure tools that enhance your lifestyle. So you can buy with confidence, we back all our products for life and welcome any suggestions and concerns. If you feel that a XIKAR product fails to live up to our promise of fit, finish or function, simply return it to us and we will immediately and cheerfully repair or replace your product under our Lifetime Guarantee!
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About XIKAR, Inc.
From our Kansas City
headquarters, XIKAR is the world's leading manufacturer of cigar cutters,
including the well-recognized Xi cigar cutter, along with a full line of cigar
accessories, lighters and humidification devices and containers.
XIKAR cigar cutters and accessories are sold through more than 3,000 dealers
worldwide. With even more product and service introductions planned, XIKAR
strives to lead the market in providing quality and innovative cigar accessories now, and in the years to come.
CRA National Tobacconist Alliance - Cigar Rights of America
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XIKAR Media Contact:
Bob Moreno
Email:
Phone: 888-266-1193
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XIKAR Sales Contact:
Customer Service
Email:
info@xikar.com
Phone: 866-676-7380
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