The XEN by Nish Patel is a new one for me that I recently grabbed at random from my local B&M. Pre-Light Observations The wrapper is very smooth. Examining it in the sunlight reveals it to be slight mottled. There are a couple of tears and pin-holes as well as a couple of hard spots. The wrapper smells like hay and alfalfa, and the pre-light draw is very easy and tastes like liquorice. Tasting Notes The first thing I noticed after lighting up was the prodigious smoke volume produced by the cigar. The second thing I noticed was the searing pepper in the back of my throat and nose when I retrohaled! In fact, my eyes began to water at one point. The flavor profile of the cigar was roasted nuts with some spice and liquorice. Occasionally a the flavor would take on a metallic edge though. One thing that I did enjoy about this cigar was the pleasant spicy vanilla after-taste that it left in my mouth. Conclusions The burn was okay, but it occasionally went a bit wavy and I had to jump-start the cigar once or twice past the half-way (near one of the hard spots I believe). As a I mentioned, this was first time smoke for me. The flavors were fairly standard Nicaraguan, but were good enough that I plan to try this cigar again. Not a bad smoke at all!