The Demo Site

See the Xikar butterfly cutters in the hands of Lex Luthor in
Superman Returns

. In theaters June 30th.

The spring-loaded, double guillotine design of a XIKAR cutter provides feel and performance like no other. Many cigar cutters leave trailing pieces of tobacco on the lip of the cigar. Others don't cut enough of the tip to allow an even, smooth draw. Almost none of the cigar cutters on the market accommodate the large cigar sizes preferred in the US. Like a proper wine glass enhances a good wine, an excellent cigar cutter promotes the full performance of fine cigars.

These cutters, made in Solingen, Germany have blades hardened to a Rockwell C rating of 55; the result is the hardest, sharpest blade you can buy. The body retains the classic XIKAR shape and features a lightweight nylon fiberglass composite in metallic colors including blue, green, gray, burgundy (flat) and now, black.

The XIKAR® cutter gives cigar enthusiasts the finest cigar cut with power, efficiency and ease of use. A locking device retains the blades in the closed position after each cut. This feature adds to the safety and portability of the cutter. Smoke 'em if you you got 'em!
to buy CLICK HERE

Xikar is proud to introduce the long awaited Carbon Fiber Xi3. Part of the Carbon Fiber Collection, the renowned Xi3 cigar cutter now boasts top quality, genuine Carbon Fiber handles that are often found in luxury sports cars, jets and yachts. Carbon fiber is really millions of microscopic fibers, made of mostly carbon atoms bonded by crystals, making the material extremely strong and durable.

When these fibers are interwoven, the result is a strikingly attractive pattern with incredibly strong & lightweight properties.

Xi cutter blades are made of high quality 440 stainless steel with an HRC of 57.

All Xi3 cutters features the same unique, ergonomic teardrop shape and double-guillotine action that gives the Xi and the Xi2 such powerful cutting ability in one simple squeezing motion.

All Xi cutters are the same ring gauge: they will cut a 54 ring gauge cigar in half. Depending on how much cap you cut, they will cut up to a 58 ring gauge cigar.

to buy XIKAR Xi3 Carbon Fiber Cigar Cutter click HERE

This is a pretty handy little cutter, given how small and thin it is. Here's the details from the On The Fly site.

XIKAR's Xi series of cutters are world renowned. So when they introduced a cutter without the iconic "teardrop" shape, you can rest assured the Ultra has passed their strict tests for sharpness, quality & style. As thin as a few credit cards, (only 3.5mm thin!) the Ultra will fit any occasion. As useful as any Xi cutter, you'll never forget it rests your pocket or wallet.

It comes in three colors, gold, silver and gunmetal, but it's a little on the pricey side at $50.

You can buy one over at the On The Fly site

Sure, cigar smoking or any kind of smoking is bad for health. But cigar smokers are a different community and enjoy every puff of their cherished cigar much like their life is stuck in it! As a novice cigar smoker there are many things you’ll need to learn. While you can learn about most aspect of choosing and smoking a cigar here, there will be some things that you’ll be able to learn with experience. An important thing to keep in mind is that when determining the quality of a cigar, you’ll need to involve all your senses in the process.

From the leaf to the color of the ash, from the burn rate to tasting the smoke for flavor and richness – there are plenty of parameters that differentiate a good cigar from a bad cigar and quality is the key word when choosing a cigar.



Appearance: inspecting the cigar wrapper for smoothness, some oiliness, and an overall satisfying impression and checking for cracks or ripples will help you choose a good cigar. Ensure that the cigar wrapper is free of any large veins and flaws. It should feel smooth, silky, oily, or grainy, or bumpy when touched depending on the cigar brand. The cigar shouldn’t be too hard or too soft, so feel the cigar for springiness. You can smell the cigar for aroma as well.

Taste: as an inexperienced smoker, you must taste as many cigars as you can. If you enjoy the cigar then it is a good cigar; you can start with mild cigar and go on to bold cigars as you start differentiating between the undertones and complexities of flavor.

Choosing: Every cigar brand has its own unique taste and character. Cigars are made worldwide and with different curing, rolling techniques, and tobacco flavors, each element contributes towards the taste and flavor of each and every cigar based on the brand and type.

Here are very general typifications of cigars that can help you differentiate between mild cigars and
bold cigars.

* Jamaican cigars are mild
* Dominican Republican cigars are mild to medium
* Honduras and Nicaraguan cigars are strong and heavy
* Cuban cigars are the richest and creamiest of ‘em all!

Finally, remember that if the diameter is large, the cigar will be richer and offer full-bodied flavor and if it is long, the smoke will be cooler. As a new smoker, you can start with any Macanudo orArturo Fuente brand cigar.

Alright it is Saturday and I didn’t have any clue on what I’d do for today. So I thought I’d put a list of great cigar cutters you can get cigar smoker for Father’s Day or any other day for that matter.

No serious cigar smoker should be without a good cutter and it doesn’t hurt to have more than one. Different cigars smoke better with different cuts. Here are my favorites:

Palio Cigar Cutter (http://paliocutters.com)

Look!

Up on the screen!

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a XIKAR cigar cutter!

That was the reaction from Kurt Van Keppel, founder and president of XIKAR, the industry’s leading manufacturer of cigar and gentlemen’s accessories.

While in a Kansas City theater taking in the country’s hottest new film, “Superman Returns,” Van Keppel was pleasantly surprised to see his company’s Xi1 Titanium cigar cutter featured in three different scenes. Even his young daughter took notice saying, “Daddy, there’s your cutter!”

“Toward the end of the film, Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luther confidently revels in his defeat of the man of steel by cutting his cigar with the Xi1 Titanium,” said Van Keppel. “Then the camera comes in for a close- up. The cutter bounces around on the table-top during a Superman - induced earthquake.”

Warner Bros., the studio who made the blockbuster film did not seek a promotional fee from XIKAR to include their product. On the contrary, other companies are willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for such prominent product placement as a way to create customer interest and sales.

“It was the most wonderful surprise, and we’ve gotten lots of comments from customers and users who instantly recognized the cutter as ours,” said Van Keppel.

And as most in the tobacco industry already know, recognition is instant when it comes to the Xi brand of products.

That’s because of their ergonomic design and attention to manufacturing excellence, according to Scott Almsberger, co-founder and Executive Vice President of XIKAR.


“All of our products have a unique form and finish,” Almsberger said. “They are really works of art in addition to their utility.”

The specific cutter included in Superman Returns is the Xi1 Titanium cutter, which sells for $59.99 The cutter itself has an aluminum body encasing HRC59 stainless steel blades in a spring-loaded, ergonomic shape. It’s considered by aficionados and many leading industry experts to be one of the finest cutters ever made.

After discussions with various industry insiders, Almsberger thinks he knows how the XIKAR cutter landed this supporting role.

“We think it was placed by the head of Warner Bros. Studios himself, who has been a long time customer and has a number of XIKAR products,” Almsberger said. “He’s also responsible for placing our cutter in another recent hit movie starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney called Oceans 11.”

XIKAR plans to acknowledge their gratitude by sending product gift packs and a personal note of thanks to the producer, director and stars of the film.

“Our appearance in Superman Returns is tremendous publicity for our company,” Van Keppel said. “Even Kryptonite can’t destroy that kind of brand recognition.”

Superman Returns stars Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Brandon Routh as Superman. It is currently in wide release across the U.S.

source: cigarenvy.com

You've heard it said before that one of the most important factors to consider before beginning on a cigar-smoking regimen is the utilization of the proper cigar accessories. Unfortunately, many people find that they are ill-equipped when it comes to making a new purchase of any cigar accessory.

By far, one of the most important cigar accessories you will purchase as a cigar smoker is your cigar cutter. Believe it or not, there is an art to cutting a cigar. If you cut your cigar too much, you wind up with an unraveled mess. However, if you don't cut your cigar enough, you might find difficulty in lighting it and experience a hindrance of your cigar’s flavor.

Unfortunately, the variance in cigar cutters can mean quite a bit of trial and error for early cigar smokers. Some cigar cutters are more difficult to use than others. As a result of this, many cigar smokers find themselves purchasing more than one type of cigar cutter. If you're planning to engage in a regular and frequent routine of cigar smoking, it might be a good idea to spend some time researching the various types of cigar cutters. Purchasing a cigar cutter that's difficult to use may stop you in your tracks before you’ve ever smoked your first cigar.

You might also find it to be a good idea to spend some time educating yourself on the proper techniques for cutting your cigars. Remember, an improper cut can ruin your cigar-smoking experience and can end up costing you more money. Your cigar will last longer and will smoke more efficiently if it has been cut properly. If your cigar has not been cut properly, it can end up burning away faster, or worse, unraveling altogether.

Remember, you will get the most enjoyment out of your cigar-smoking experience if you know how to properly utilize the right cigar accessories. Shopping for cigar accessories can be an enjoyable pasttime, but it can also be a bit intimidating if you don't already know what you plan to purchase. Do some homework before you shop and take your time when looking. You're smoking cigars because you enjoy it. For this reason alone, you should enjoy the aspects of making purchases for your pasttime as well.

source: cigar-accessories-gifts.blogspot.com

A cigar cutter will be one of the most important pieces of equipment that you can have for you cigar collection. They can easily be purchased at any cigar shop or online store. You will be able to choose from a wide selection of different cutters. No matter how often you smoke cigars, either on a regular basis or every so often on special occasions; you will surely want to have a cigar cutter for your convenience.

It will make sense to purchase a good quality cigar cutter. If you have a cheap one, you can ruin your cigars. Cigars are made with dried leaves and a paper wrapper and of course with the tobacco inside. The quality of the cigar will depend on the size along with the way it was wrapped to validate a good cigar. You will need to understand what a good cigar cutter is and find one that works for you.

A cigar cutter is necessary in order to cut a small hole in the rounded end. This is important to allow you to have a good and smooth draw. You will want to make sure that you do this in order to enhance the entire experience you have from your cigar smoking.

If the wrapper for the cigar is damage in the process, you are unlikely to get the proper use from the cigar. You will not have such a good experience and this will only lead to nothing more than a waste of a great cigar. A bad cut may however go unnoticed to someone that is not used to smoking a cigar. Once you have enjoyed the experience of a good cigar, you will not want the ruin any future experiences with a bad cut.

Here are some of the different types of cigar cutters available:

[1] The guillotine cutter gives you a better and cleaner cut by using one or two blades to cut the cigar.

[2] The scissor cutter puts more pressure on to the cigar which will give a more centred and even cut.

[3] The Cigar punch is not really a cutter as it will simply punch a small hole in the end of the cigar. This can be a practical method for cigars that have a very wide diameter but will not be suitable for some cigars.

If you are not sure which cigar cutter will be most beneficial for you to use, simply ask someone at the cigar store that you intend shopping at. You will find that you can get all the necessary help and advice to allow you to get the most enjoyable experience from your cigar.

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