West Tampa Create Your Own Sampler

West Tampa Create Your Own Sampler

The West Tampa Create Your Own Sampler showcases Rick Rodriguez’s triumphant return to independent cigar making, where 25 years of blending expertise at General Cigar converges with Tampa’s rich tobacco heritage in a portfolio that honors tradition while embracing modern innovation. Since founding West Tampa Tobacco Company in 2022 with partner Gus Martinez, Rodriguez has crafted distinctive blends at Nicaragua’s Garmendia Cigar Co. factory, creating cigars that celebrate both his Cuban family roots and the historic West Tampa neighborhood where immigrant cigar makers built America’s premium tobacco industry.

Key Features

• Complete customization across West Tampa’s core portfolio including White, Black, Red, and limited editions
• Production at Garmendia Cigar Co. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua
• Master blending by Rick Rodriguez with 25+ years industry experience
• Diverse wrapper selection from Ecuador Habano to Mexican San Andrés
• All-Nicaraguan tobacco sourced from premier regions including Ometepe volcanic island
• Strength profiles from medium White to full-bodied Black and Red
• Special releases including Circle of Life and limited Attic and Boliche Blvd editions

Each line within West Tampa’s portfolio represents Rodriguez’s distinct vision for modern premium cigars. The White delivers medium-bodied sophistication with its pink-hued Ecuador Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan tobaccos from Pueblo Nuevo, Ometepe, and Jalapa, creating creamy notes of cedar, sweet cream, and nutmeg. The Black pushes intensity with dark Ecuador Habano maduro from high primings, featuring an Ometepe Habano binder and Estelí-Condega fillers that produce rich dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and black pepper complexity. The Red showcases Rodriguez’s personal preferences with Mexican San Andrés wrapper over all-Nicaraguan components, delivering what he describes as the full flavor profile West Tampa fans expect.

Production excellence at Garmendia Cigars Co. ensures consistent quality across all releases. This boutique factory in Estelí provides Rodriguez complete control over blending and production, allowing him to create cigars that reflect both his extensive experience and personal vision. The upcoming Circle of Life, produced at Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s Casa Carrillo factory in the Dominican Republic, represents a reunion with his former mentor and features Ecuador Habano Oscuro wrapper with multi-regional Nicaraguan and Dominican Corojo ’99 fillers. Limited editions like the Attic, featuring Mexican San Andrés over Condega and Estelí tobaccos, and the forthcoming Boliche Blvd named after Tampa’s famous Columbus Drive, showcase Rodriguez’s storytelling through tobacco.

Customer reviews consistently praise the sampler’s ability to showcase West Tampa’s range, from the approachable White’s creamy smoothness to the Black’s bold intensity. The Red particularly resonates with those who enjoyed the limited Attic release, offering similar flavor profiles in regular production. The smaller robusto format appears to perform exceptionally well, with reviewers noting concentrated flavors and excellent construction straight from the box. The ability to mix different strength levels and wrapper varieties provides comprehensive exploration of Rodriguez’s blending style, whether seeking morning-appropriate medium profiles or evening full-bodied experiences.

Specifications

Summary

• Box Count: Customizable sampler quantity
• Region: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium to Full
• Binder: Nicaraguan (varies by blend)
• Wrapper: Ecuador Habano, Mexican San Andrés (varies)
• Filler: Nicaragua (multi-regional)

What makes West Tampa significant in Rick Rodriguez’s career?

After 25 years blending for CAO and General Cigar, West Tampa represents Rodriguez’s independence and ability to create exactly what he envisions. Named for Tampa’s historic cigar district where Cuban immigrants established America’s premium tobacco industry, the brand honors both his family heritage dating to 1950s Cuba and the city’s tobacco legacy.

Which West Tampa lines should I prioritize in my sampler?

Include the White for creamy medium-bodied elegance featuring Ometepe tobacco, the Black for full-bodied intensity with Ecuador Habano maduro, and the Red to experience Rodriguez’s personal preference with Mexican San Andrés. Add a limited edition if available to explore his creative storytelling through tobacco.

How does the Red differ from White and Black?

While White and Black represent what Rodriguez believes consumers want, the Red showcases what he personally enjoys smoking. The Mexican San Andrés wrapper over all-Nicaraguan tobacco creates a full-bodied profile with enhanced flavor that Rodriguez describes as completing the West Tampa puzzle, offering classic yet balanced maduro characteristics.

What role does Ometepe tobacco play in these blends?

Ometepe island’s volcanic soil in Lake Nicaragua produces exceptionally rich, distinctive tobacco that appears in both White and Black blends. In the White, it contributes creamy sweetness, while in the Black’s binder, it adds earthy depth and complexity that distinguishes West Tampa from typical Nicaraguan puros.

Is the robusto format preferable for sampling?

Reviews consistently praise the robusto’s performance, noting concentrated flavors and excellent construction immediately upon arrival. The 5 x 50 format provides ideal smoking time for sampling multiple blends while the smaller ring gauge intensifies flavors, making it perfect for comparative tasting across the portfolio.

How does production at Garmendia affect quality?

Garmendia Cigar Co.’s boutique scale allows Rodriguez complete control over blending and production, ensuring each cigar meets his exacting standards. This intimate factory setting in Estelí provides flexibility for limited releases while maintaining consistency across regular production, creating the quality that earned Rodriguez his reputation.

What makes Circle of Life special when it releases?

Circle of Life reunites Rodriguez with mentor Ernesto Perez-Carrillo at Casa Carrillo factory, combining Ecuador Habano Oscuro wrapper with Nicaraguan and Dominican Corojo ’99 fillers. This collaboration bridges Rodriguez’s past at General Cigar with his West Tampa future, creating a unique Dominican-made expression of his typically Nicaraguan-focused portfolio.

How many cigars should I include in my West Tampa sampler?

Consider 4-6 selections for comprehensive exploration. Include all three core lines (White, Black, Red) to understand the range, add any available limited editions for special occasions, and consider multiple of your preferred strength level. This approach reveals Rodriguez’s blending philosophy while discovering personal favorites.