The Espinosa Murcielago Shikaka TAA is the second release for the Tobacconist Association of America with the first coming in 2023 in the form of Murcielago Pelo de Oro. The two cigars share the same size of 6 x 54 box pressed oval Toro.
For those that don’t know murcielago is spanish for bat, and shikaka is a white bat found in Central America. It is also the name of the fictional bat in the movie Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
Production is limited to 1,000 boxes of 20 cigars.
Cigar Review: Murcielago Shikika
Size: 6 x 54 (Box Pressed Oval Toro)
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: San Lotano
Release Date: December 2024
Box Count: 20
The Cigar: Out of the cello the Murcielago Shikaka is absolutely stunning with its gold texture on white primary band and the reverse for the secondary band denoting Espinosa. The foot band adds some color to the TAA logot making it pop on the shelves. In the hand the cigar is firm with no voids of tobacco and well packed foot. It feel slightly coarse under the fingers and I hope it smokes as great as it looks.
The Taste: The cold draw serves up notes of wheat and cream with a subtle mocha in the background. Meanwhile the foot doesn’t reveal much other then tobacco and a delayed pepper that causes me to sneeze a few seconds after I move the cigar away from the nasal cavity. Once the cigar is toasted and lit there is a subtle raisin the hides in the background.
The first third is remarkably creamy with notes of mocha, white chocolate and earth. The cigar is mild but there is a lot of flavor including a subtle cherry sweetness as the first third comes to a close. The retrohale has creamy white chocolate and a subtle earthiness with a delayed release pepper (no sneeze this time).
The second third transitions from mild to mild-medium with notes of cedar being front and center. There is some earth in the background and the cigar remains creamy on the finish. Toward the end of the cigar the cigar develops notes of brown sugar while the retrohale sees some pepper on the front end with cedar on the elongated finish.
Two hours later and zero relights the the Murcielago Shikaka comes to a close. The final third saw notes of earth and a touch of leather with some brown sugar sweetness and a creamy finish that was very clean. Only when we retrohale does the finish become elongated with green peppercorns and cedar and a touch of wheat.
Conclusion: The 72 hours prior to this review I worked 36 hours. I slept 14 hours before waking up and realized I didn’t schedule a review yesterday and I want a damn cigar. I decided to keep the review I had in the bank and fire up the Murcielago with a cup of coffee as I wake up. So this review is based off of one cigar. Hell, if one bite works for Dave Portnoy (even though he takes 10) one cigar will work for me.
I’m glad I opted to light up the Murcielago Shikaka but I’ll be honest as it was not what I expected it to be. With the original release such a full bodied cigar I was hoping for a medium-full experience. But given how fatigued I was this mild-medium cigar was perfect with a cup of coffee. It’s flavors were well defined and it takes Hector Alfonzo’s blending skills to different level. Now only if his Mets can win as often as his blends do.
Score: 93
Price: $15.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
While site sponsor Small Batch Cigar and their parent company Maxamar aren’t TAA members (someone needs to stand up for them and invite them into the group) they do have a full offering of Espinosa cigars. Use the coupon code BARRELBURNER to save 10% on all your orders.
