Merlion Sea Lion Heads to IPCPR 2013

This July, Arielle Ditkowich’s personal cigar will be sold in limited quantities for the first time. Miami Cigar & Co. confirmed to halfwheel that the Merlion Sea Lion, a 5 1/2 x 47 Figurado, will be offered to retailers at the annual IPCPR trade show and convention in Las Vegas, Nev.

While no pricing has been set, the Sea Lion will be limited to 5,000 10-count boxes with nine of the cigars featuring the regular Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper used on the standard Merlion blend and one cigar featuring a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. It is the fourth vitola for the line and the only non-Parejo Merlion.

“The Sea Lion was originally made for me to smoke at events, and there was a lot of interest in them,” said Ditkowich. “Miami Cigar & Company and I decided that we would release a limited amount of boxes this year at the trade show.”

To date, less than 200 Sea Lions have been handed out at events around the country. The cigar that is sold to retailers will differ slightly as Miami Cigar & Co. confirmed it will have an unfinished foot, whereas the cigars Miss Ditkowich has been smoking for the last year have had traditional feet.

Miami Cigar & Co. introduced Merlion at last year’s IPCPR trade show and convention. The cigar is the second release for the La Sirena brand comprising of an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper over a Brazilian Sumatra binder with Brazilian, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. It is made at La Aurora’s Dominican factory.

(Prototype box picture via Miami Cigar & Co.)