Ace Prime announces the launch of “Maria Lucia” at the 2022 Las Vegas PCA Trade-show. The new smoke is inspired by the story of grit, passion, and survival of Ace Prime founder and co-owner Luciano Meirelles’ mother, Maria Lucia Meirelles.
When entrusted with the opportunity to blend a premium cigar to honor his mother, Master Blender Luciano Meirelles sought to draw inspiration from her intricate nature connecting every flavor note and smoking experience to her personality traits.
“It took me many years before I dared to blend something inspired by my mother. She passed away when I was only twelve years old, and it was only recently that I was able to fully understand and know her complicated life’s story,” Meirelles said.
The cigar box and band feature art by Meirelles’ oldest daughter, Deborah, a Paris-based artist, and fashion designer. Without ever seeing a photograph of her grandmother as a teenager, she drew the portrait of a woman she dreamed of. “When I saw the drawing next to old photographs of my mother, I saw the similarity immediately.” Luciano Meirelles said. “It was almost supernatural the way things happened. It’s hard to believe it was only a coincidence. And now, years later, when I decided to finally create this cigar, naturally, in a full-circle kind of way, we thought there would be no better idea than to use my daughter’s drawing for the box.” Luciano said.
Blend-wise the Maria Lucia consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over Ecuadorian Sumatra and HBN 92 double binders, with filler tobacco from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Peru. The cigar comes in a single box-pressed Robusto size measuring 54 x 134mm (5 1/4”) and will be sold in twelve count boxes. Retail price is set at $12.80 before any taxes.