West Tampa Tobacco
West Tampa Tobacco brings together generations of cigar tradition, decades of industry experience, and a distinctly modern approach to premium cigars.
Founded by longtime cigar maker and blender Rick Rodriguez and business partner Gus Martinez, the brand is deeply connected to the city that inspired its name—and to the people, places, and stories that made Tampa one of America's great cigar cities.
West Tampa Tobacco
West Tampa Tobacco brings together generations of cigar tradition, decades of industry experience, and a distinctly modern approach to premium cigars.
Founded by longtime cigar maker and blender Rick Rodriguez and business partner Gus Martinez, the brand is deeply connected to the city that inspired its name—and to the people, places, and stories that made Tampa one of America's great cigar cities.
Born in Tampa.
Built Around the Cigar.
Tampa, Florida · Est. 2022
West Tampa Tobacco begins with a family story. Rick Rodriguez's grandparents came to Tampa from Cuba in the 1950s and worked as cigar rollers, becoming part of the city's rich cigar-making tradition. Their connection to tobacco would eventually become part of Rick's own story—but his path into the cigar industry took an unexpected route.
Rick didn't smoke his first premium cigar until he was 40 years old.
That first cigar came on the very day he interviewed for a position with General Cigar. During a walk through Ybor City, Rick stopped into a cigar shop and bought an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8. It was his introduction to premium cigars and, by his own account, not exactly a graceful one.
The cigar business would eventually become a nearly 25-year education.
Rick joined General Cigar in 2000 and went on to study under some of the industry's most respected figures, developing expertise in tobacco, blending, manufacturing, sales, and the traditions surrounding the premium cigar. In 2022, after decades spent learning the business, Rick and Gus Martinez launched West Tampa Tobacco Company.
The brand may be young, but the story behind it reaches back generations.
Born in Tampa.
Built around
the cigar.
Tampa, Florida · Est. 2022
West Tampa Tobacco begins with a family story. Rick Rodriguez's grandparents came to Tampa from Cuba in the 1950s and worked as cigar rollers, becoming part of the city's rich cigar-making tradition. Their connection to tobacco would eventually become part of Rick's own story—but his path into the cigar industry took an unexpected route.
Rick didn't smoke his first premium cigar until he was 40 years old.
That first cigar came on the very day he interviewed for a position with General Cigar. During a walk through Ybor City, Rick stopped into a cigar shop and bought an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8. It was his introduction to premium cigars and, by his own account, not exactly a graceful one.
The cigar business would eventually become a nearly 25-year education.
Rick joined General Cigar in 2000 and went on to study under some of the industry's most respected figures, developing expertise in tobacco, blending, manufacturing, sales, and the traditions surrounding the premium cigar. In 2022, after decades spent learning the business, Rick and Gus Martinez launched West Tampa Tobacco Company.
The brand may be young, but the story behind it reaches back generations.
What Makes them Different?
A Brand Built on History, Not Just Named After It.
West Tampa Tobacco's connection to Tampa goes deeper than a name on a box. Its founder's family was part of the city's cigar-making history. Rick spent decades learning from some of the industry's most respected figures. And the company's cigars frequently draw inspiration from the people, places, food, and traditions that helped shape Tampa. Here are some of the details that make West Tampa worth knowing.
A Family Connection to Tampa
Rick's grandparents came to Tampa from Cuba in the 1950s and worked as cigar rollers in Ybor, later continuing their career in West Tampa.
For Rick, Tampa's cigar heritage isn't something discovered through research after the fact. It was part of his family's history.
Learning From the Masters
Rick trained under several influential figures in the cigar industry, including Benji Menendez and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.
Those relationships helped shape his approach to tobacco and, perhaps just as importantly, his belief that the stories surrounding cigars are worth preserving.
25 Years of Industry Experience
Before launching West Tampa, Rick spent nearly a quarter century with General Cigar.
His career took him from sales into blending and brand development, giving him experience across virtually every side of the premium cigar business.
Keeping the Stories Alive
One of the lessons Rick carried forward from his mentors was the importance of remembering where cigars come from and the people who made them. That philosophy shows up throughout West Tampa—from its connection to Tampa's history to cigars inspired by local traditions.
Key Takeaways
Founded in 2022, West Tampa Tobacco is a modern cigar brand rooted in Tampa's cigar heritage and the family story behind Rick Rodriguez.
More than a Tampa name, the portfolio ranges from approachable core cigars to distinctive blends inspired by the city's people, traditions, and stories.
After nearly 25 years in the premium cigar industry, Rick brought together decades of experience in tobacco, blending, and brand development.
What Makes
them Different?
A Brand Built on History, Not Just Named After It.
West Tampa Tobacco's connection to Tampa goes deeper than a name on a box. Its founder's family was part of the city's cigar-making history. Rick spent decades learning from some of the industry's most respected figures. And the company's cigars frequently draw inspiration from the people, places, food, and traditions that helped shape Tampa. Here are some of the details that make West Tampa worth knowing.
A Family Connection to Tampa
Rick's grandparents came to Tampa from Cuba in the 1950s and worked as cigar rollers in Ybor, later continuing their career in West Tampa.
For Rick, Tampa's cigar heritage isn't something discovered through research after the fact. It was part of his family's history.
Learning From the Masters
Rick trained under several influential figures in the cigar industry, including Benji Menendez and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.
Those relationships helped shape his approach to tobacco and, perhaps just as importantly, his belief that the stories surrounding cigars are worth preserving.
25 Years of Industry Experience
Before launching West Tampa, Rick spent nearly a quarter century with General Cigar.
His career took him from sales into blending and brand development, giving him experience across virtually every side of the premium cigar business.
Keeping the Stories Alive
One of the lessons Rick carried forward from his mentors was the importance of remembering where cigars come from and the people who made them. That philosophy shows up throughout West Tampa—from its connection to Tampa's history to cigars inspired by local traditions.
Key Takeaways
Founded in 2022, West Tampa Tobacco is a modern cigar brand rooted in Tampa's cigar heritage and the family story behind Rick Rodriguez.
More than a Tampa name, the portfolio ranges from approachable core cigars to distinctive blends inspired by the city's people, traditions, and stories.
After nearly 25 years in the premium cigar industry, Rick brought together decades of experience in tobacco, blending, and brand development.
The Cigars
The Cigars
West Tampa's portfolio is easier to understand when you look at it as a collection of different expressions, rather than a single house style. Some cigars showcase the brand's core approach to blending. Others explore Rick's personal preferences, Tampa's history, or relationships that have shaped his career.
West Tampa's portfolio is easier to understand when you look at it as a collection of different expressions, rather than a single house style. Some cigars showcase the brand's core approach to blending. Others explore Rick's personal preferences, Tampa's history, or relationships that have shaped his career.
West Tampa - White
White is an approachable introduction to the West Tampa portfolio, opening with creamy cedar, natural tobacco, earth and subtle sweetness before developing touches of pepper, nuts and baking spice. It offers enough evolution to keep things interesting while remaining an easygoing choice for a relaxed afternoon or a first experience with the brand.
Body: Medium
Drink Pairing: Aged rum or lightly spiced rum
Food Pairing: Roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, or pecan dessert
Explore West Tampa - White
West Tampa - Black
Black takes the foundation of West Tampa's original collection in a darker direction, bringing together earth, oak, coffee and subtle cherry before developing deeper notes of leather and roasted wood. It offers more depth and richness than White while stopping short of becoming an overly heavy cigar.
Body: Medium
Drink Pairing: Bourbon or aged dark rum
Food Pairing: Grilled steak, smoked brisket, or dark chocolate
Explore West Tampa - Black
West Tampa - Red
Red is a particularly personal expression of Rick Rodriguez's blending style, created around the kind of cigar he enjoys smoking himself. Mexican San Andrés brings a darker foundation of chocolate, coffee, oak and leather, with pepper and subtle sweetness adding dimension as the cigar progresses.
Body: Medium-Full
Drink Pairing: Rye whiskey or bold aged bourbon
Food Pairing: Grilled steak, barbecue, roasted nuts, or dark chocolate
West Tampa - Circle of Life
Circle of Life carries a story of bringing Rick Rodriguez back together with his former mentor, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. Dark espresso, earth, cedar, chocolate and baking spice give the cigar substantial character, while its relatively restrained strength makes it an interesting example of how body and strength aren't always the same thing.
Body: Medium-Full
Drink Pairing: Aged bourbon or a barrel-aged stout
Food Pairing: Braised short ribs, espresso-rubbed steak, or bittersweet
chocolate
West Tampa - Devil Crab
Devil Crab draws inspiration from one of Tampa's distinctive culinary traditions, turning the city's famous deviled crab into one of the most unconventional stories in the West Tampa portfolio. Its undisclosed blend develops earthy cedar, mineral, chocolate and pepper notes, becoming progressively richer as the cigar moves toward the finish.
Body: Medium-Full
Drink Pairing: Dark rum or robust porter
Food Pairing: Cuban roast pork, smoked meats, or Devil Crab
West Tampa - Chef Rick
Chef Rick reflects the personality of its namesake with a sweeter, more culinary-inspired profile built around sweet tea, raisin, creamy cedar and roasted nut flavors. Coffee, baking spice and subtle chocolate add depth without overwhelming the sweeter character that makes this cigar distinctive.
Body: Medium-Full
Drink Pairing: Bourbon, aged rum, or amber ale
Food Pairing: Glazed pork, roasted pecans, cinnamon-spiced desserts, or a cheese board
WHITE
White is an approachable introduction to the West Tampa portfolio, opening with creamy cedar, natural tobacco, earth and subtle sweetness before developing touches of pepper, nuts and baking spice. It offers enough evolution to keep things interesting while remaining an easygoing choice for a relaxed afternoon or a first experience with the brand.
Body: Medium
Drink Pairing: Aged rum or lightly spiced rum
Food Pairing: Roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, or pecan dessert
Explore West Tampa - White
BLACK
Black takes the foundation of West Tampa's original collection in a darker direction, bringing together earth, oak, coffee and subtle cherry before developing deeper notes of leather and roasted wood. It offers more depth and richness than White while stopping short of becoming an overly heavy cigar.
Body: Medium
Drink Pairing: Bourbon or aged dark rum
Food Pairing: Grilled steak, smoked brisket, or dark chocolate
Explore West Tampa - Black
RED
Red is a particularly personal expression of Rick Rodriguez's blending style, created around the kind of cigar he enjoys smoking himself. Mexican San Andrés brings a darker foundation of chocolate, coffee, oak and leather, with pepper and subtle sweetness adding dimension as the cigar progresses.
Body: Medium-Full
Drink Pairing: Rye whiskey or bold aged bourbon
Food Pairing: Grilled steak, barbecue, roasted nuts, or dark chocolate
Explore West Tampa - Red
CIRCLE OF LIFE
Circle of Life carries a story that is almost as compelling as the cigar itself, bringing Rick Rodriguez back together with his former mentor, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. Dark espresso, earth, cedar, chocolate and baking spice give the cigar substantial character, while its relatively restrained strength makes it an interesting example of how body and strength aren't always the same thing.
Body: Medium-Full
Drink Pairing: Aged bourbon or a barrel-aged stout
Food Pairing: Braised short ribs, espresso-rubbed steak, or bittersweet chocolate
Explore Circle of Life
DEVIL CRAB
Devil Crab draws inspiration from one of Tampa's distinctive culinary traditions, turning the city's famous deviled crab into one of the most unconventional stories in the West Tampa portfolio. Its undisclosed blend develops earthy cedar, mineral, chocolate and pepper notes, becoming progressively richer as the cigar moves toward the finish.
Body: Medium-Full
Drink Pairing: Dark rum or robust porter
Food Pairing: Cuban roast pork, smoked meats, or Devil Crab
Explore Devil Crab
CHEF RICK
Chef Rick reflects the personality of its namesake with a sweeter, more culinary-inspired profile built around sweet tea, raisin, creamy cedar and roasted nut flavors. Coffee, baking spice and subtle chocolate add depth without overwhelming the sweeter character that makes this cigar distinctive.
Body: Medium
Drink Pairing: Bourbon, aged rum, or amber ale
Food Pairing: Glazed pork, roasted pecans, cinnamon-spiced desserts, or a cheese board
Explore Chef Rick
What does West Tampa Tobacco Taste Like?
There isn't one single West Tampa flavor profile. That's part of what makes the portfolio interesting. The collection moves through different levels of richness, intensity, sweetness, spice, earth, wood, and complexity. Rather than trying to make every cigar taste unmistakably the same, the lines give smokers different ways to experience the West Tampa approach to blending.
What does West Tampa Tobacco
Taste Like?
There isn't one single West Tampa flavor profile. That's part of what makes the portfolio interesting. The collection moves through different levels of richness, intensity, sweetness, spice, earth, wood, and complexity. Rather than trying to make every cigar taste unmistakably the same, the lines give smokers different ways to experience the West Tampa approach to blending.
Start with your palate
You don't need to know everything about tobacco to find a West Tampa cigar you'll enjoy.
Think about the flavors and experiences you already gravitate toward.
WEST TAMPA - WHITE
Look for cigars where cedar, cream, nuts and natural sweetness take the lead.
An approachable introduction to the collection with a softer, more balanced character.
Explore White →
WEST TAMPA - BLACK
If coffee, dark chocolate, oak, earth and roasted flavors are your thing, look toward the darker expressions.
A deeper interpretation of the West Tampa style with more pronounced roasted and earthy character.
Explore Black →
WEST TAMPA - RED
You want a cigar that develops as you smoke it and gives you something new to notice along the way.
A richer, more assertive blend that reflects Rick Rodriguez's personal preferences as a blender.
Explore Red →
WEST TAMPA - CIRCLE OF LIFE
You like cigars with depth and complexity, but you do not necessarily want overwhelming strength.
Cocoa, coffee, earth, cedar, pepper, and subtle sweetness come together in a balanced blend created by Rick Rodriguez and his former mentor Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.
Explore CIRCLE OF LIFE →
WEST TAMPA - DEVIL CRAB
You're less interested in the traditional cigar profile and more interested in discovering something you haven't tried before.
A cigar inspired by Tampa's culinary history with an unusual story and distinctive character.
Explore Devil Crab →
WEST TAMPA - CHEF RICK
You gravitate toward natural sweetness, nuts, baking spices and flavors that remind you of the kitchen.
A flavorful, food-inspired cigar with sweet tea, raisin, cedar, roasted nuts and baking spice.
Explore Chef Rick →
Start with
your palate
You don't need to know everything about tobacco to find a West Tampa cigar you'll enjoy.
Think about the flavors and experiences you already gravitate toward.
Look for cigars where cedar, cream, nuts and natural sweetness take the lead.
Start with:
WEST TAMPA - WHITE
An approachable introduction to the collection with a softer, more balanced character.
If coffee, dark chocolate, oak, earth and roasted flavors are your thing, look toward the darker expressions.
Start with:
WEST TAMPA - BLACK
A deeper interpretation of the West Tampa style with more pronounced roasted and earthy character.
Explore Black
You want a cigar that develops as you smoke it and gives you something new to notice along the way.
Start with:
WEST TAMPA - RED
A richer, more assertive blend that reflects Rick Rodriguez's personal preferences as a blender.
Explore Red
You like cigars with depth and complexity, but you do not necessarily want overwhelming strength.
Start with:
CIRCLE OF LIFE
Cocoa, coffee, earth, cedar, pepper, and subtle sweetness come together in a balanced blend created by Rick Rodriguez and his former mentor Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.
Explore Circle of Life
You're less interested in the traditional cigar profile and more interested in discovering something you haven't tried before.
Start with:
DEVIL CRAB
A cigar inspired by Tampa's culinary history with an unusual story and distinctive character.
Explore Devil Crab
You gravitate toward natural sweetness, nuts, baking spices and flavors that remind you of the kitchen.
Start with:
CHEF RICK
A flavorful, food-inspired cigar with sweet tea, raisin, cedar, roasted nuts and baking spice.
Explore Chef Rick
Born in Tampa
To understand West Tampa Tobacco, it helps to understand the place. Tampa's cigar history was built by immigrants, cigar rollers, factories, families, and neighborhoods where tobacco became part of everyday life. West Tampa was one of those places.
Rick's grandparents arrived from Cuba and worked as cigar rollers, making his family's connection to Tampa's cigar culture personal. That history remains part of the company's identity today. But West Tampa doesn't attempt to recreate the past.
Instead, the brand uses Tampa's history as a starting point—taking inspiration from its cigar traditions, food culture, people, and stories and giving them a modern expression.
The past provides the inspiration. The cigars move the story forward.
Born in Tampa
To understand West Tampa Tobacco, it helps to understand the place. Tampa's cigar history was built by immigrants, cigar rollers, factories, families, and neighborhoods where tobacco became part of everyday life. West Tampa was one of those places.
Rick's grandparents arrived from Cuba and worked as cigar rollers, making his family's connection to Tampa's cigar culture personal. That history remains part of the company's identity today. But West Tampa doesn't attempt to recreate the past.
Instead, the brand uses Tampa's history as a starting point—taking inspiration from its cigar traditions, food culture, people, and stories and giving them a modern expression.
The past provides the inspiration. The cigars move the story forward.
The Deep Roots of
West Tampa Tobacco
West Tampa is well known for its large collection of historic brick cigar factories. Common design features include the structures being three stories over a basement and an east-west orientation to take advantage of southern light exposure. This was critical and necessary in grading tobacco by color.
The Deep Roots
of West Tampa Tobacco
West Tampa is well known for its large collection of historic brick cigar factories. Common design features include the structures being three stories over a basement and an east-west orientation to take advantage of southern light exposure. This was critical and necessary in grading tobacco by color.
Keep the stories alive
There is a reason storytelling appears so often in the West Tampa story. Rick was taught early in his career that selling a cigar isn't simply about describing its tobacco. It's about understanding where the tobacco came from.
Who grew it?
Who rolled it?
Who blended it?
Who taught the blender?
Why does the cigar exist in the first place?
That philosophy became part of West Tampa Tobacco.
The cigars are important, but so are the stories surrounding them.
Because premium cigars are handmade products, their history is carried by people. Every generation learns something from the one before it, and every new blender adds something of their own.
West Tampa is Rick's contribution to that continuing story.
Keep the
stories alive
There is a reason storytelling appears so often in the West Tampa story. Rick was taught early in his career that selling a cigar isn't simply about describing its tobacco. It's about understanding where the tobacco came from.
Who grew it?
Who rolled it?
Who blended it?
Who taught the blender?
Why does the cigar exist in the first place?
That philosophy became part of West Tampa Tobacco.
The cigars are important, but so are the stories surrounding them.
Because premium cigars are handmade products, their history is carried by people. Every generation learns something from the one before it, and every new blender adds something of their own.
West Tampa is Rick's contribution to that continuing story.
SHOP West Tampa Tobacco
Now that you know the people, history, and ideas behind the brand, explore the cigars themselves.
From the original Black and White releases to Red, Devil Crab, Circle of Life, and Chef Rick, the collection offers several different ways to experience West Tampa Tobacco.
Shop West
Tampa Tobacco
Now that you know the people, history, and ideas behind the brand, explore the cigars themselves. From the original Black and White releases to Red, Devil Crab, Circle of Life, and Chef Rick, the collection offers several different ways to experience West Tampa Tobacco.
WEST TAMPA - WHITE
An approachable introduction to the West Tampa portfolio, White is a balanced, medium-bodied cigar built around creamy cedar, natural tobacco, earth, and subtle sweetness. As it develops, touches of nuts, baking spice, and pepper add complexity without pushing the blend into a heavier direction.
PROFILE
Smooth and inviting, West Tampa White begins with creamy cedar, soft earth, and natural tobacco. Gentle sweetness runs through the profile while roasted nuts, baking spice, and pepper gradually add dimension, making White an easygoing but flavorful expression of the West Tampa style.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cedar | Earthy | Nuts
Berry | White Pepper
STRENGTH
Medium - 2.5/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - WHITE
An approachable introduction to the West Tampa portfolio, White is a balanced, medium-bodied cigar built around creamy cedar, natural tobacco, earth, and subtle sweetness. As it develops, touches of nuts, baking spice, and pepper add complexity without pushing the blend into a heavier direction.
PROFILE
Smooth and inviting, West Tampa White begins with creamy cedar, soft earth, and natural tobacco. Gentle sweetness runs through the profile while roasted nuts, baking spice, and pepper gradually add dimension, making White an easygoing but flavorful expression of the West Tampa style.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cedar | Earthy | Nuts
Berry | White Pepper
STRENGTH
Medium - 2.5/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - BLACK
West Tampa Black takes the foundation of the original collection in a darker, richer direction. Built around a darker Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, the blend delivers oak, espresso, dark chocolate, leather, and black pepper, with a subtle cherry-like sweetness adding balance as the cigar develops.
PROFILE
Deeper and more roasted than White, West Tampa Black opens with oak, espresso, and earthy tobacco before darker notes of chocolate and leather begin to build. Black pepper adds structure while a restrained cherry sweetness keeps the profile balanced rather than overly heavy.
FLAVOR NOTES
Oak | Espresso | Cherry
Black Pepper | Leather
STRENGTH
Medium - 3/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - BLACK
West Tampa Black takes the foundation of the original collection in a darker, richer direction. Built around a darker Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, the blend delivers oak, espresso, dark chocolate, leather, and black pepper, with a subtle cherry-like sweetness adding balance as the cigar develops.
PROFILE
Deeper and more roasted than White, West Tampa Black opens with oak, espresso, and earthy tobacco before darker notes of chocolate and leather begin to build. Black pepper adds structure while a restrained cherry sweetness keeps the profile balanced rather than overly heavy.
FLAVOR NOTES
Oak | Espresso | Cherry
Black Pepper | Leather
STRENGTH
Medium - 3/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - RED
West Tampa Red is a richer, more assertive expression of the core West Tampa collection. A Mexican San Andrés wrapper brings darker character to the blend, combining cocoa, earth, cedar, and coffee with berry like sweetness and red pepper for a profile that builds in depth as the cigar develops.
PROFILE
Rich and layered, West Tampa Red begins with cocoa, cedar, and earthy tobacco before roasted coffee and red pepper add intensity. A subtle berry sweetness runs underneath the darker flavors, giving the cigar contrast and balance while keeping the profile complex rather than simply strong.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cocoa | Earth | Cedar
Coffee | Red Pepper
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper:
Mexican San Andrés
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - RED
West Tampa Red is a richer, more assertive expression of the core West Tampa collection. A Mexican San Andrés wrapper brings darker character to the blend, combining cocoa, earth, cedar, and coffee with berry like sweetness and red pepper for a profile that builds in depth as the cigar develops.
PROFILE
Rich and layered, West Tampa Red begins with cocoa, cedar, and earthy tobacco before roasted coffee and red pepper add intensity. A subtle berry sweetness runs underneath the darker flavors, giving the cigar contrast and balance while keeping the profile complex rather than simply strong.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cocoa | Earth | Cedar
Coffee | Red Pepper
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper:
Mexican San Andrés
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - CIRCLE OF LIFE
West Tampa Circle of Life is a collaboration rooted in Rick Rodriguez’s relationship with his former mentor, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. The cigar brings together their shared experience through a darker, more layered blend built around cocoa, coffee, earth, pepper, and subtle natural sweetness.
PROFILE
Rich and balanced, Circle of Life opens with cocoa, roasted coffee, and earthy tobacco before cedar, pepper, and baking spice begin to emerge. A restrained natural sweetness helps round out the darker flavors, creating a cigar with substantial character without becoming overwhelmingly strong.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cocoa | Earth | Cedar
Coffee | Red Pepper
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - CIRCLE OF LIFE
West Tampa Circle of Life is a collaboration rooted in Rick Rodriguez’s relationship with his former mentor, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. The cigar brings together their shared experience through a darker, more layered blend built around cocoa, coffee, earth, pepper, and subtle natural sweetness.
PROFILE
Rich and balanced, Circle of Life opens with cocoa, roasted coffee, and earthy tobacco before cedar, pepper, and baking spice begin to emerge. A restrained natural sweetness helps round out the darker flavors, creating a cigar with substantial character without becoming overwhelmingly strong.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cocoa | Earth | Cedar
Coffee | Red Pepper
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
AVAILABLE SIZES
ROBUSTO | 5 x 50
TORO | 6 x 52
GIGANTE | 6 x 60
WEST TAMPA - DEVIL CRAB
West Tampa Devil Crab takes inspiration from the Tampa staple that shares its name, tying the cigar back to the Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrant communities that shaped the city’s food and cigar culture. The short perfecto format gives it a distinctive look, while the smoking profile leans darker and more savory than the core White, Black, and Red lines.
PROFILE
Devil Crab opens with earth, cedar, and pepper before moving into darker notes of cocoa, coffee, and mineral character. A savory, slightly salty quality runs underneath the profile, with touches of sweetness appearing as the cigar develops. The result is a compact cigar with more depth and intensity than its size suggests.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cocoa | Black Pepper
Toasted Bread
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Wrapper:
Undisclosed
AVAILABLE SIZES
FIGURADO | 4 1/2 x 52
WEST TAMPA - DEVIL CRAB
West Tampa Devil Crab takes inspiration from the Tampa staple that shares its name, tying the cigar back to the Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrant communities that shaped the city’s food and cigar culture. The short perfecto format gives it a distinctive look, while the smoking profile leans darker and more savory than the core White, Black, and Red lines.
PROFILE
Devil Crab opens with earth, cedar, and pepper before moving into darker notes of cocoa, coffee, and mineral character. A savory, slightly salty quality runs underneath the profile, with touches of sweetness appearing as the cigar develops. The result is a compact cigar with more depth and intensity than its size suggests.
FLAVOR NOTES
Cocoa | Black Pepper
Toasted Bread
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Wrapper:
Undisclosed
AVAILABLE SIZES
FIGURADO | 4 1/2 x 52
FLAVOR NOTES
Creamy Sweetness | Oak
Roasted Nuts | Baking Spice
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
AVAILABLE SIZES
TORO | 6 x 52
WEST TAMPA - CHEF RICK
Chef Rick is the final cigar in West Tampa’s food-inspired trilogy, following Boliche Blvd. (former Limited Edition) and Devil Crab. The blend was created around Rick Rodriguez’s idea that cigar blending shares something with cooking: technique matters, but so do creativity, balance, and knowing how different ingredients work together.
PROFILE
Chef Rick leans warm, woody, and spice-driven. Cedar and oak form the foundation, joined by roasted nuts and baking spice, while coffee, cocoa, and black pepper add depth. A creamy sweetness softens the profile, and some smokers also pick up touches of vanilla, floral character, or mint as the cigar develops.
WEST TAMPA - CHEF RICK
Chef Rick is the final cigar in West Tampa’s food-inspired trilogy, following Boliche Blvd. (former Limited Edition) and Devil Crab. The blend was created around Rick Rodriguez’s idea that cigar blending shares something with cooking: technique matters, but so do creativity, balance, and knowing how different ingredients work together.
PROFILE
Chef Rick leans warm, woody, and spice-driven. Cedar and oak form the foundation, joined by roasted nuts and baking spice, while coffee, cocoa, and black pepper add depth. A creamy sweetness softens the profile, and some smokers also pick up touches of vanilla, floral character, or mint as the cigar develops.
FLAVOR NOTES
Creamy Sweetness | Oak
Roasted Nuts | Baking Spice
STRENGTH
Medium/Full - 4/5
COMPOSITION
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
AVAILABLE SIZES
TORO | 6 x 52
Keep Exploring
West Tampa's combination of Tampa heritage, experienced blending, and modern interpretation makes it a natural starting point for discovering other brands.
Enjoy the West Tampa approach?
Explore brands with similar characteristics, regional connections, blending philosophies, or cigar profiles.
Discover More Brands
Keep Exploring
West Tampa's combination of Tampa heritage, experienced blending, and modern interpretation makes it a natural starting point for discovering other brands.
Enjoy the West Tampa approach?
Explore brands with similar characteristics, regional connections, blending philosophies, or cigar profiles.
Discover More Brands
