Press Release: XIKAR Introduces the New HC Habano² Cigar

July 22, 2012 (Kansas City, MO) – XIKAR, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of cigar accessories and distributor of HC Series premium cigars is proud to announce the arrival of the new HC Habano² (Habano-Squared),an addition to their HC Series line of cigars.

Following the success of HC Series line, XIKAR introduces a new blend that delivers a great smoking experience with the quality you expect from XIKAR.  This new cigar is specifically blended with a flavorful introduction that grabs your attention, which then mellows to a smooth rich smoking experience. The box-press shape provides a comfortable draw and feel of the cigar in your mouth.

This new cigar blend was born from the travels and life experiences of XIKAR founders Kurt Van Keppel and Scott Almsberger.  As a part of building XIKAR, they have visited many countries and made many friends in the tobacco industry.  Among these journeys and friends they find treasures, and sometimes that treasure is planted not buried in the ground.  This Habano² is one of those treasures which they have brought back to share with the XIKAR Nation.

“We are always hunting for treasures that we can share with our consumers,” said Kurt Van Keppel, XIKAR Founder and CEO.  He added “think of this as a souvenir that’s a lot more enjoyable than a T-shirt!”

The Habano² is a medium to full body cigar made utilizing Sumatran, Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco, all pulled together with a rich Habano2000 wrapper. It’s a rich, thick, deep, cigar with the flavor of roasted almonds, hints of spices, wood and nutmeg.  Additionally, this cigar is box-pressed which provides a fresh look and comfortable feel for a more enjoyable smoke.  This new blend will be offered in Robusto, Toro, Belicoso and Grande sizes.  The cigars will be priced from $6.75 to $8.50 plus local taxes.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.