Comments on: Xikar HC Series Connecticut Shade http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/ Cigar reviews, ratings, news, stogie reviews, videos Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:53:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Tom http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-5628 Tom Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:07:50 +0000 http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/#comment-5628 Charlie - Thanks for the feedback. Just to play devils advocate... I checked Xikar's website http://hc.xikar.com/cigars and found that they are not hiding where the wrapper was grown. It's all right there for anyone to read. I also put it in my review. No secrets there... I do agree for example, cuban seed tobacco grown in the Dominican is nothing like true Cuban grown tobacco. I imagine the same would hold true for Connecticut seed. As for the HC Criollo... How many did you try? Were they all tightly rolled and exploded? Many variables have to be taken into account - Storage conditions, handling, bad construction. Smoking one cigar and passing final judgment may not be fair considering I've had those same flaws in many "Premium" brands. Anyhow I appreciate the comments. Charlie – Thanks for the feedback. Just to play devils advocate…

I checked Xikar’s website http://hc.xikar.com/cigars and found that they are not hiding where the wrapper was grown. It’s all right there for anyone to read. I also put it in my review. No secrets there…

I do agree for example, cuban seed tobacco grown in the Dominican is nothing like true Cuban grown tobacco. I imagine the same would hold true for Connecticut seed.

As for the HC Criollo… How many did you try? Were they all tightly rolled and exploded? Many variables have to be taken into account – Storage conditions, handling, bad construction. Smoking one cigar and passing final judgment may not be fair considering I’ve had those same flaws in many “Premium” brands.

Anyhow I appreciate the comments.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-5626 Charlie Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:45:34 +0000 http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/#comment-5626 And BTW, you have people like "Rocky Patel" who actually call their product by the name "Connecticut" when there is not a scrap of Connecticut Valley tobacco in it. Connecticut Valley wrappers are the best in the world, as well as the most expensive, and so cigar makers try to maximize their profits by misrepresenting their products. Of courrse, the same thing is done with the words "Cuba" and "Havana", but at least in that case everyone knows that the tobacco is not from Cuba--Connecticut however is still alive and well, but one cannot copyright a state name, tho CT growers have tried. And BTW, you have people like “Rocky Patel” who actually call their product by the name “Connecticut” when there is not a scrap of Connecticut Valley tobacco in it. Connecticut Valley wrappers are the best in the world, as well as the most expensive, and so cigar makers try to maximize their profits by misrepresenting their products. Of courrse, the same thing is done with the words “Cuba” and “Havana”, but at least in that case everyone knows that the tobacco is not from Cuba–Connecticut however is still alive and well, but one cannot copyright a state name, tho CT growers have tried.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-5625 Charlie Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:39:21 +0000 http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/#comment-5625 Having been involved in the REAL Connecticut shade business for over 15 years, and my father before me, I get very annoyed at these yuppie cigar makers who do not plainly admit that hteir tobacco comes from Ecuador, not Connecticut. In Ecuador, labor is cheap and the cigar makers are making a big profit from young smokers' ignorance. Tobacco takes on the characteristics of the place where it is grown, and so Connecticut seed grown in Ecuador is NOT Connecticut shade any longer, but Ecuador shade--a pale and inferior product grown by third world indifference to perfection. Regarding the HC, I smoked a Corillo which was too tightly rolled, so that when the filler expanded as it heated up the wrapper developed small cracks. By the time the cigar was half smoked it eas all cracked with pieces of wrapper hanging off. An inferior cigar produced by people who try to fool the public about where their tobacco comes from. Having been involved in the REAL Connecticut shade business for over 15 years, and my father before me, I get very annoyed at these yuppie cigar makers who do not plainly admit that hteir tobacco comes from Ecuador, not Connecticut. In Ecuador, labor is cheap and the cigar makers are making a big profit from young smokers’ ignorance. Tobacco takes on the characteristics of the place where it is grown, and so Connecticut seed grown in Ecuador is NOT Connecticut shade any longer, but Ecuador shade–a pale and inferior product grown by third world indifference to perfection.

Regarding the HC, I smoked a Corillo which was too tightly rolled, so that when the filler expanded as it heated up the wrapper developed small cracks. By the time the cigar was half smoked it eas all cracked with pieces of wrapper hanging off. An inferior cigar produced by people who try to fool the public about where their tobacco comes from.

]]> By: Tom http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-4346 Tom Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:13:26 +0000 http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/#comment-4346 I'm a Xikar fanboi when it comes to their lighters and cutters. It's nice to see them offering cigars that equal their accessories. I really like all of their HC cigars. I’m a Xikar fanboi when it comes to their lighters and cutters. It’s nice to see them offering cigars that equal their accessories. I really like all of their HC cigars.

]]> By: Mike - KnightRid http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-4257 Mike - KnightRid Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:09:45 +0000 http://www.tomscigars.com/2009/09/13/xikar-hc-series-connecticut-shade/#comment-4257 Great review! This one sounds right up my alley ;) I shall have to snag some to try! Mike Great review! This one sounds right up my alley ;) I shall have to snag some to try!

Mike

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