An industry veteran and alumnus of General Cigar, Rick Rodriguez left General to strike out on his own and start the West Tampa Tobacco Co. in 2022. Since then, he and his partner, Gus Martinez, have been busy building the brand and getting the cigars into the hands of smokers. The name is a reference to the cigar-making city Rodriguez’s grandparents emigrated to, but his cigars aren’t made in Tampa. They’re made in Nicaragua at the Garmendia Cigar Co. factory. West Tampa Red is the company’s third and strongest release. A bold core of chocolate is apparent from first puff to last, also showing layers of hickory, nutmeg, leather and a mocha finish.

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