Accessories

May 2012 Newsletter

Submitted by xikar on Fri, 2012-05-18 17:00

   
Kurt's Corner
Dear XIKAR Customers and Friends:

     Happy Memorial Day XIKAR Nation! This month, we salute all of the men and women of the US Armed Forces. Whether retired, stateside, or abroad, nothing can fully express our gratitude to all of you brave men and women. 
 
 
To show our appreciation and support of the troops, XIKAR sends out care packages to US troops all across the world. Our care packages consist of cutters, punches, lighters, travel cases, etc. that are donated from our retailers and sent overseas at no cost. We ask nothing in return from the troops but to use the XIKAR products proudly and send us a picture enjoying our products if possible. As if it wasn’t enough that they defend our freedom, some soldiers have sent us unnecessary but extremely honorable gifts as a thank you. These gifts mean the world to XIKAR and are displayed in our corporate office as a daily reminder of how blessed we are to live in this great nation.
      One of our XIKAR For Life Hall of Fame inductees, Capt. Dan “Dozer” Dwyer honored me with an unbelievable gift this past month. He presented me with an American flag that was proudly flown onboard of the U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet Aircraft 104. This aircraft launched off the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN77) and flew into the skies over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom for 6.7 hours. This flag represents every sailor, soldier, airman and marine who has defended our great nation and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. XIKAR is absolutely honored to receive Capt. Dwyer’s gift and many others over the years. 
      Help XIKAR in supporting our troops by donating to The Fisher House Foundation. Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. 
 
 
Have a wonderful month XIKAR Nation and God Bless the USA!
 
 
Kurt Van Keppel
President & Founder
XIKAR, Inc.

March 2012 Newsletter

Submitted by xikar on Tue, 2012-04-17 14:16

XIKAR March 2012
Kurt's CornerKurtsCorner

 
Dear XIKAR Customers and Friends:

            H.R. 1639 / S. 1461 is the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act. This is a proposed amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act clarifies the Food and Drug Administration's jurisdiction over certain tobacco products, which currently affects the manufacturing and distribution of traditional and premium cigars.

            This is a serious issue that could dramatically affect the cigar community in many negative ways.  Some possible examples are: no more walk in humidors (Canadian model); limits on advertising and promotions; bans on the very word cigar or tobacco; Manufacturer submission of blends to FDA for "testing." Before heading to your local shop - imagine the impact on premium cigar makers including limited new product introductions; price increases and possible end to boutique manufacturing.

         

         As a member of the advisory board of IPCPR, our industry's trade association, I have taken action. Along with other members of the board of the IPCPR, I traveled to Washington D.C. on February 10th to stump the hill. We split into squads of four and visited our representatives and senators at the Capitol. In our effort, my squad visited California Rep. Sam Far, New York Rep. Peter King, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Michigan Rep. Dave Camp, North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan, Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida Rep. Ander Crenshaw and many more. I even had the privilege to smoke a cigar with our Kansas Rep. Kevin Yoder while overlooking the beautiful National Mall lit up at night. What an unforgettable experience!

XIKAR Ashtray Can Featured On Cigar Aficionado Homepage

Submitted by xikar on Fri, 2012-02-03 13:03

Screen shot of Cigar Aficionado.com Ashtray can featureTrying to keep your cigar burning evenly while rolling down the highway is not easy. Holding it out the window has a horrible effect on the burn, and everyone knows that the second you bring it inside the cabin, that’s when the ash is going to fall, right in your lap. But Xikar has come up with a quick fix for your automotive smoking needs with a cupholder-sized mini ashtray.

>> Read full story at Cigar Aficionado.com

February 2012 Newsletter

Submitted by xikar on Wed, 2012-02-01 01:00

XIKAR February 2012
Kurt's CornerKurtsCorner

 
Dear XIKAR Customers and Friends:


      We are thrilled for 2012 to be a celebration of XIKAR Nation! Events, contests and awards will highlight our community of enthusiasts

 throughout the year and in this month's newsletter, you can learn about becoming a part of it.

 

      XIKAR Nation is more than just a group of our consumers. This is a group of aficionados dedicated to a lifestyle with extraordinary experience in every smoke. XIKAR Nation has become an elite assembly of cigar enthusiasts that we are extremely proud to have represent our company all around the world.

XIKAR Interview by Cigar Press Magazine

Submitted by xikar on Fri, 2012-01-27 17:23

XIKAR President Kurt Van Keppel and Vice President Scott AlmsbergerThor Nielsen of Cigar Press Magazine interviews XIKAR's founding partners Kurt Van Keppel and Scott Almsberger for the 2011 Vol V Issue I Edition.

>> Read full interview

Ashtray Can Featured in Cigar Detroit

Submitted by xikar on Wed, 2012-01-25 01:00

XIKAR Ashtray Can

We just picked up the Xikar Ashtray Can.  This item was introduced in 2011 and as we are in the midst of our second winter since the smoking ban, we felt it was time to have a proper ash solution when smoking in the car.  It fits stably in your car’s cup holder allowing you to smoke in your car and more efficiently store your ashes vs. trying to flick them out the window at 70 mph. Read full review

Posted by on Jan 10, 2012 in Gear Feature

Habano Colorado Grande Review by Seth's Humidor

Submitted by xikar on Thu, 2011-12-01 10:46

... for this review I went with the Habano Colorado version, and what a great version it is. The wrapper is Colorado in coloring, and is grown in the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua. Underneath that is a Nicaraguan binder from Esteli, and then the filler is composed of tobacco from Costa Rica, Honduras, and the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua. Jesus Fuego is one of those manufacturers who gets creative with his use of tobacco, and this cigar definitely shows that with Costa Rican fillers.
Read the full review here

XIKAR HC Series Criollo Grande Review

Submitted by xikar on Thu, 2011-11-17 14:03

This 6×6 stick offers a medium brown wrapper with minimal veins, tight seams, a firm even construction, double cap and a texture of fine sand paper with a very small tooth, with a rich smooth tobacco aroma. First light reveals a perfect draw, plenty of thick rich smoke and flavors of earth, rich tobacco with a pepper and spice finish that builds over time.

October 2011 Newsletter

Submitted by xikar on Thu, 2011-10-27 00:00

 
XIKAR News - October 2011

Kurt's Cornerkurtscorner

 

Dear XIKAR Customers and Friends:   

  

New Product Review 

XIKAR President: Kurt Van KeppelFrom Texas to South Dakota, Washington to New Hampshire, last month's events had no boundaries. Across the country, we are spreading the success of XIKAR For Life and sharing our love of the leaf. I hear that our innovation and quality continues to bolster the promise of our Lifetime Warranty. New product innovation is a key focus for us and we strive to provide the same benefits we look for when making our own personal purchases. We know from experience and customer surveys that you expect reliable product performance, fair price, and dependability. 

tech 2 All three of these characteristics encompass our new Tech Lighter that arrived in July 2011. This single jet flame lighter has a durable body style that achieves our commitment to form, feel and function. The Tech's sleek, transparent body fits in your hand and is guaranteed to improve your smoking experience with capacity and reliability.  

tech 4 

An Eventful Purpose

Cigar smoking is like any other crazed passion, you are always surrounded with people from all walks of life sharing one common interest. Regardless of what XIKAR cutter or lighter you are using to light up that Grande or Robusto, camaraderie is ever-present among cigar enthusiasts. At XIKAR, we are not just in the cigar and accessory business, we are in the camaraderie business. Employing camaraderie has a unique connection to our charity efforts, which has helped us support some meaningful causes. Our most recent charity effort  is raising money for autism, a cause that is close to many of us at XIKAR. My good friends at En Fuego,( Rockwall, TX) were looking for a partner for their 4th Annual Golf Classic, on October 28, 2011.  It didn't take long to gain my support. I knew raising money for autism was the right decision and the right cause.  My passion and commitment for finding medical cures and training for autism is for life.   

High Altitude Cigar Lighters Featured at 2011 IPCPR

Submitted by xikar on Sat, 2011-07-02 00:00

At the recent IPCPR in 2011 in Las Vegas, there were several companies boasting about their cigar lightersXIKAR Booth at 2011 IPCPR ( International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers) that work at ‘high altitudes’.  Those words are ambiguous – high altitude.  What is the exact altitude that you want?  5000 feet above sea level? 7000 feet?  10,000 feet or higher perhaps?  If you live in Denver, Albuquerque or Flafstaff, then something that works between 5K and 7K would be enough.  What about the days that you want to go hiking up in the mountains, or take a drive up the back of a peak, or that chair lift or gondola to the ski areas?  Suddenly your lighter just stops working.  Well, some of the manufacturers are making it easy for us to decide on a high altitude lighter, some you have to make an inquiry and others are just being mysterious.

Syndicate content