BACKGROUND: Xikar Inc. has long been a worldwide designer and distributor of cigar accessories. However, more recently they have become a distributor of their own line of premium cigars.

This new line is called the Xikar HC Series and is made exclusively for Xikar by the company’s blending partner Jesús Fuego. Jesus Fuego is president of Tabacos S.A., and the maker of his own cigar line the J. Fuego. Fuego is a 5th generation Cuban cigar maker and former instructor of post-harvest tobacco at the University of Pinar Del Rio (Cuba). He is also a rising star in the cigar industry and has achieved some great cigar blends in a variety of styles and strengths.

The Xikar HC Series offers consumers a choice of three distinct blends and wrappers: starting out with a lighter bodied Connecticut Shade wrapped version and extending through to their most full-bodied Habano Colorado.

Today's featured cigar is the medium-bodied Criollo, which is made in the Segovia Cigars factory in Nicaragua. Each of the three lines offer Robusto, Belicoso, Lonsdale and Toro sizes. The Habano Colorado line will offer two additional sizes: Churchill and Petit Corona.

The HC Series is the second collection of cigars by Xikar and the second offering from the partnership of Xikar and Jesus Fuego. The first collection, called the Defiance, debuted at the 75th International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Show in Houston, TX in 2007. The new HC Series was revealed in New Orleans at this year's trade show and, according to Xikar President Kurt Van Keppel the company is "very pleased with the success of their cigar lines and of [their] partnership with Jesus [Fuego]. Van Keppel goes on to say that, the company has always wanted to create a collection of cigars that would celebrate the forbidden city of Havana and therefore it is only natural that the company forged a relationship with a cigar blender who possesses such heritage and history in the El Corojo region of Cuba.

By the way, this cigar is not only made in Nicaragua, but it is also heavy on the Nicaraguan tobacco. The blend consists of a Shade grown Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper that has been aged for 4 years. A Nicaraguan binder and a filler blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco.

The Robusto has a suggested retail price of $8.25 and right now, you are likely to find some deals that include a Havana Collection lighter along with a box purchase.

TASTING NOTES: The Criollo Robusto starts out with a light cedar spice, black tea and leather notes on the palate and there is a good dose of alfalfa spice on the retrohale. The thing I really like about these cigars is that, because of their medium-bodied blend, you can easily smoke these one after another all day long. These smokes are light and lively on the palate, with good complexity and a very nice balance between the body, flavor and strength.

The performance of this cigar was also very good. The draw and burn were effortless. And even though the ash was cracked, I was able to coax an inch to an inch and a half of ash before I tapped off.

The Xikar HC Series Criollo is a cigar that can be enjoyed by almost anyone. It's in the middle of the strength, and body curve, with outstanding flavors and good complexity. It is a well made cigar and it is reasonably priced.

Xikar and Jesus Fuego have teamed up to create a winning series of cigars. I haven't yet tried the other two lines in this series, but my experience with Jesus Fuego blends has been universally good so I expect the other blends to be just as exceptional as the Criollo.

~Doc