Stogie Reviews: Xikar HC Habano Colorado Robusto
28 Dec
Xikar entered the cigar-making business in 2009 when it partnered with Jesus Fuego to launch the HC Series. Before then, the Kansas City-based company was solely a purveyor of cigar accessories like cutters, lighters, and cases.
So far the HC Series has been met with positive reviews. Named for Xikar’s Havana Collection, the line boasts three blends: Connecticut Shade, Criollo, and Habano Colorado. Each is handmade at one of Nestor Plasencia’s factories.
The six-vitola Habano Colorado line features a filler blend of tobaccos from Honduras, Jalapa, and Costa Rica along with a binder leaf from Estelà and a dark, Jalapa-grown wrapper. The Robusto (5 x 50) is a rustic, sweet-smelling cigar with a firm feel and a clear pre-light draw. It sells for $8.50.
Touching fire to the foot, the Robusto’s fragrance of chocolate and peanut butter turns into espresso. The flavor is even heartier than the resting smoke smells. It tastes of spicy pepper, damp earth, and black licorice. Each puff is voluminous, making the smoke oily and dense.
Molasses comes to the forefront as the cigar progresses. Here, around the midway point, the spice recedes significantly and a creamy sweetness develops. All this is a nice setup for the final third, which features hints of graham cracker and nuts.
The Habano Colorado Robusto also displays terrific combustion qualities. Look for a straight burn, a smooth draw, and an ash that holds well for at least one inch—characteristics that are consistent with my previous two experiences with the HC Series.
True, I’m not surprised by how much I enjoy this cigar. And I’m certainly not surprised that the partnership between Fuego and Plasencia has resulted is such a fine specimen. While not the most exciting cigar on the market, this one has an interesting interplay between spice and sweetness that renders it worthy of four stogies out of five.
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photo credit: Stogie Guys