Espinosa Unveils Murcielago Shikaka as TAA Exclusive

Espinosa Premium Cigars has introduced an exciting new addition to its Murcielago line, the Murcielago Shikaka, a limited edition cigar exclusively created for the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). This latest release marks a fresh direction for the Murcielago series, with a completely new blend developed specifically for this exclusive release.

The Murcielago Shikaka features an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler, a blend crafted by Espinosa’s operations director, Hector J. Alfonso Sr.. The cigar comes in a 6 x 54 oval-pressed torovitola and is produced at the San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua. Production is limited to just 1,000 boxes of 20 cigars, with a price of $15 per cigar or $300 per box.

Nicknamed “the white bat” due to its lighter wrapper and distinctive white bands, the Shikaka draws its name from the 1995 film Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, where Shikaka was the name of the mythical white bat central to the story. While that bat was fictional, the name is also a nod to the white bat species found in Central America, tying the cigar’s theme to the region where it’s produced.

Scheduled to begin shipping in November, this cigar follows Espinosa’s previous TAA exclusive release, the Murcielago de Oro, which was launched in April 2023. Like the Shikaka, the de Oro was a 6 x 54 oval-pressed toro, but it featured a Mexican San Andrés claro wrapper, along with a Nicaraguan binder and filler.

With its unique blend and connection to the beloved Murcielago line, the Murcielago Shikaka promises to be a highly sought-after addition for cigar enthusiasts, particularly those looking for exclusive releases from the TAA’s 2024 series.