Merlion by La Sirena Sea Lion Maduro
Wrapper: San Andres Maduro (Ecuadorian Corojo is the normal wrapper)
Binder: Brazilian Sumatra
Filler: Brazillian Bahia, Dominican Corojo, Dominican Criollo ’98, and Nicaraguan Ligero
Sea Lion: 5 1/2 x 47 (Perfecto)
Price: $12.95 (North Carolina)

This cigar was assessed in depth on Cigar Coop.

The Sea Lion is a limited production extension to La Sirena’s Merlion line. The cigar itself is a medium-length, thin perfecto with an unfinished foot. There was one little twist to how the Sea Lion was released. In each box of ten cigars of the Sea Lion, there was one cigar that was different – a special San Andres Maduro version of the Sea Lion (as opposed to the Ecuadorian Corojo). As a result, the Sea Lion Maduro is an even more limited cigar.

The Sea Lion Maduro feats notes of coffee, citrus, and white pepper. The first half of the cigar has some great flavors as the coffee has almost an espresso syrup flavor on the pallet. However, the second half sees a major increase in the spice and it becomes very pungent – something I’m critical of San Andres wrappers of doing.

While the flavors are full-bodied, this cigar could have also used a little more strength in my book – I assessed this as being a medium strength cigar.

It was interesting to see what this blend would do like in a maduro, but overall I’d stick to the natural Sea Lion.