West Tampa Tobacco Co. is a Tampa-based cigar company launched in 2022 by Rick Rodriguez, a longtime General Cigar and CAO blender, and fellow General Cigar alumnus Gus Martinez. Its core White, Black and Red lines are made at the Garmendia Cigar Co. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua; some limited and newer lines come from other factories, such as Circle of Life, made by Casa Carrillo in the Dominican Republic. The core range runs from medium to full body. White pairs an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with Nicaraguan filler, with typical notes of bread, black and white pepper, a creamy undertone and some earthiness; halfwheel found it medium in body but mild in strength. Black uses a darker, higher-priming Habano wrapper for a fuller body and stronger flavour, and Rodriguez describes Red (2023) as full-bodied. Start with the West Tampa Tobacco Co. category page.
West Tampa Tobacco Co.
West Tampa Tobacco Co. is a boutique cigar brand founded in 2022 by master blender Rick Rodriguez and industry veteran Gus Martinez, created to honor West Tampa’s rich Cuban cigar heritage with modern, premium handmade cigars.
Crafted mainly in Nicaragua using carefully selected tobaccos, core lines like West Tampa White, Black, and Red—as well as limited editions like Devil Crab and Dark Time—offer everything from creamy medium-bodied profiles to bold, full-flavored blends packed with spice, cocoa, and earth.
Shop West Tampa Tobacco Co. cigars at Oxford Cigar Company to enjoy expertly blended, story-driven cigars that combine old-world tradition with contemporary flavor and outstanding construction.
Frequently asked questions about West Tampa Tobacco Co.
Who makes West Tampa Tobacco Co. cigars and where are they made?
West Tampa Tobacco Co. is a Tampa-based company started in 2022 by Rick Rodriguez, who spent nearly 25 years at General Cigar, where he was a blender and CAO brand ambassador, and Gus Martinez, another General Cigar alumnus who serves as president. Rodriguez's Cuban grandparents were cigar rollers who settled in West Tampa in the 1950s. The core White, Black and Red lines are made at the Garmendia Cigar Co. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Some limited and newer lines come from other factories: halfwheel reports that Circle of Life is made by Casa Carrillo in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and that the Boliche Blvd. and Dark Time limited editions were made at Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA) in Estelí.
How strong are West Tampa cigars?
Strength and body differ by line. halfwheel found West Tampa White medium in body but mild in strength. West Tampa Black is the fuller-bodied of the two original blends, and halfwheel says its higher-priming wrapper gives it a stronger flavour. West Tampa Red, added in 2023, is described by Rick Rodriguez as full-bodied.
What is the difference between West Tampa White, Black and Red?
halfwheel calls White and Black fairly similar blends; the main difference is the wrapper. Both use an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, but Black's comes from a higher priming, which gives it a darker colour, a stronger flavour and a fuller body. Cigar Aficionado also reports stronger filler in Black, including Condega leaf and Estelí ligero. White has typical notes of bread, black and white pepper, a creamy undertone and some earthiness. Red, added in 2023, uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler and is described as full-bodied.
Where can I buy West Tampa Tobacco Co. cigars?
Oxford Cigar Company lists West Tampa Tobacco Co. on its category page when in stock: https://oxfordcigarcompany.com/west-tampa-tobacco-co/. Free US shipping on orders $50+.