West Tampa Tobacco Co. was founded in 2022 by industry veterans Rick Rodriguez (master blender and co-owner) and Gus Martinez (president and co-owner), both formerly of General Cigar. The brand pays homage to West Tampa, Florida, where Rodriguez’s grandparents settled after emigrating from Cuba in the 1950s as cigar rollers, and draws on the area’s historic cigar-making heritage.
The company launched with the White and Black core lines in 2022, followed by the limited Attic Series. West Tampa Red, the third regular-production line, was announced in early 2023 and began shipping in May 2023. It uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper with a Nicaraguan Condega binder and fillers from Condega and Estelí, produced at Garmendia Cigars Co. in Estelí, Nicaragua. Originally offered in Robusto (5 × 50), Toro (6 × 52), and Gigante (6 × 60), it later expanded to include a Lancero. Red was positioned as the fuller-bodied expression in the core lineup, completing a range that spans mild to fuller profiles.
Stogie At A Glance
Review
First Third
Nutty leather notes come out on the light, along with some dark chocolate and a slight sweetness. There is earthy pepper through the retrohale. Halfway through the first third, big leather notes develop with a slight sweetness on the finish. Great draw and a super even burn line. Leather and baking spices are the main notes in the first third, and the slight sweetness comes out alongside the leather and earthy notes. Roasted coffee notes show up on the finish. Right at the end of the first third, a creamy note starts to come through.
Second Third
The roasted coffee notes come out more prominently alongside the leather, and a woody note emerges as well. The sweetness builds with a chocolate note, the wood turns into a cedar note, and the creamy notes ramp up from their introduction in the first third. It’s interesting that the second third is almost lighter and sweeter than the initial blast of earthy leather. Cedar, baking spices, and a slight creamy, nutty note come out near the end of the second third. There is still a slightly creamy roasted coffee note on the finish.
Final Third
A bready, toasted bread note comes through to start the final third, still with the creamy note and a slight roasted coffee note from earlier. There is a slight nutty leather note on the finish. Nutty leather notes make up the bulk of the final third, with some cream and pepper on the finish. The aroma on this cigar is very enjoyable. Leather and pepper pick up in the final third, with lots of pepper on the retrohale. Light creamy notes remain on the finish, along with red pepper notes. A citrus peel note comes out near the end of the cigar, with creamy notes and red pepper still on the finish.
Score
89/100