George Rico S.T.K. Miami Zulu Zulu Mas Paz Edition 2014 Slated for Summer Release (Update)

George Rico’s G.R. Tabacaleras Co. has announced plans for a new S.T.K. release that is scheduled to hit store shelves later this summer, the George Rico S.T.K. Miami Zulu Zulu Mas Paz Edition 2014.

The release is as much a vehicle for a charitable donation as it is a premium cigar, as proceeds from the sale of the cigar will fund the renovations of La Casa de la Madre y el Niño, an orphanage in Bogotá, Colombia.

For the artwork, Rico has announced that he is working with Frederico Frum, the Colombian born street artist who goes by the name Mas Paz. Frum’s connection to the project is personal, as he was adopted from La Casa de la Madre y el Niño when he was a child. and now travels the world using his art to inspire and transform neighborhoods in the developing world. Frum is also a strong advocate for youth in our own communities in the United States, working with kids in local schools and community centers to teach and raise funds, making art classes more accessible.

The blend is the same as the Gran Habano Zulu Zulu S.T.K., with two wrapper offerings, an Ecuadorian Connecticut and Nicaraguan habano, both of which cover a Nicaraguan habano binder and Nicaraguan filler. The cigar is being made by G.R. Tabacaleras Co. at its Miami factory. It will be released in three sizes, a 7 1/2 x 40 lancero, 5 5/8 x 46 corona gorda and a 6 x 54 vitola called Rolo. MSRP for the three sizes ranges from $8.25 to $9.27.

Update (July 19, 2014)–G.R. Tabacaleras Co. sent out a press release this afternoon updating details of the release, including that the cigar will be available for pre-order at IPCPR at the Gran Habano booth. When this story was first published, Natasha Rico told halfwheel that they were going to be delaying the launch of the cigar until after the trade show. Additionally, the “Zulu Zulu” name has returned to the official name of the cigar, something that was left off when this story was originally reported. The company also released a photo of a second version of the box:

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 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.