October 3rd, 2016

Occasionally, I am asked to do a 2-in-1 review. Today’s column is one of those reviews. I will be looking at two cigars from Xiphos, and seeing how they compare. Hang on. We are going to have some fun!

Cigar name:NR Maduro
Cigar brand: Xiphos
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Nicaraguan Viso and Seco, Ligero from Esteli and Jalapa
Vitola reviewed: Robusto (5 inches by 54 ring gauge)
Strength: Medium+
Body: Medium+
Price: $9.50

Visual

As I look over this sample, I take note of the construction. I find a dark chocolate colored wrapper with several small veins. I also find unevenness, but the cigar is firm.

Cold aroma

The scents coming off the wrapper are of a wide variety. I pick up fragrances of barnyard, earth, espresso, hay, tobacco, crushed red pepper, leather, and oak. The foot brings me black pepper, espresso, grass, butter, honey, walnut and BBQ.

Cold draw

The draw I get after cutting, but before lighting, has a profile including peanut, salt, earth, cloves, leather and oak.

1st third

The first part of the cigar has notes of espresso, walnut, butter, black pepper, cloves and leather.

2nd third

Moving into the second third, I begin to pick up some cocoa, coffee, cream, almond, black pepper, leather, smoke and more oak.

Last third

The final third includes more goodness, bringing in hints of espresso, butter, toast, crushed red pepper, walnut, leather, oak and coffee.

Afterthoughts

Summing up this first cigar, I found that the flavors were good and the construction was fair. There were visible seams and a constantly uneven burn. However, there was also plenty of aromatic smoke, a light gray ash and a perfect draw. Overall, I think the construction problems noted are likely not a common issue, since you will see in the review of the next cigar that those problems don’t arise. I am therefore willing to give this particular Xiphos the benefit of the doubt.
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Cigar name: CR Habano
Cigar brand: Xiphos
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Hybrid Habano
Binder: Peru
Filler: Peruvian and Dominican
Vitola reviewed: Robusto (5 inches by 54 ring gauge)
Strength: Medium+
Body: Medium+
Price: $9.25

Visual

As I look over the milk chocolate colored outer leaf, I take note of the firm, smooth wrapper. The seams are tight, and almost not there. I do see a couple of very small veins.

Cold aroma

The scents off of the wrapper include notes of leather, coffee and cream. The foot brings me grape, black pepper, coffee with cream and molasses.

Cold draw

Before I light this cigar, I take a cold draw and pick up notes of orange spice, coffee, crushed red pepper, salt and hay.

1st third

The first third includes a sampling of coffee with cream, mushroom, cedar, caramel, grape and some crushed red pepper on the retro-hale.

2nd third

The second third gives me some grape, coffee, cream, butter, crushed red pepper, cocoa and cedar.

Last third

The cigar finishes up with notes of espresso, alfalfa, bell pepper, butter, bread, cedar, leather, peanut and cocoa – a nice degree of complexity to finish out the final third.

Afterthoughts

The construction on this cigar was very good, offering a perfect draw, an even burn and a light ash. The flavor profile turned out to be very pleasant, and I had an enjoyable smoking experience. I will be looking to keep a handful of these around to enjoy anytime.
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