Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)
Rick Rodriguez’s absence from the cigar industry won’t be a long one, if really one at all, as he has announced the launch of West Tampa Tobacco Co., which will reportedly have its first cigars on store shelves in the coming weeks.
Making the announcement via Cigar Aficionado, Rodriguez said that the company will launch with two cigars called Black and White, which are expected out by the end of May or early June. The White uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder and filler, while the Black also uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper but from a higher priming to give it a darker color and stronger flavor. Underneath that is a Nicaraguan binder from the volcanic island of Ometepe, while the fillers come from Nicaragua’s Condega and Estelí regions.
Both cigars are made at the Garmendia Cigar Co. factory in Estelí and will be offered in three sizes:
West Tampa Tobacco Co. Black/White Robusto (5 x 50) — $8.99 (Box of 20, $179.80)
West Tampa Tobacco Co. Black/White Toro (6 x 52) — $9.99 (Box of 20, $199.80) REVIEWED TODAY
West Tampa Tobacco Co. Black/White Gigante (6 x 60) — $10.99 (Box of 20, $219.80)
Rodriguez is best known for his time with General Cigar Co., where he was best known for his roles of blender and ambassador for the CAO brand. He left the company at the end of April, and has partnered with a fellow former employee of General Cigar Co., Gus Martinez, who will serve as the new company’s president.
The cigar is quite dark and looks much like a maduro. It has an above average feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were pear, brown sugar, some citrus peel, and a chocolate fudge type flavor. There was black pepper rated at 7. Interesting start with pear as the lead flavor.
At the first third (30 minutes) I had pear, citrus peel, light brown sugar, chocolate fudge, dry nutmeg, and black coffee. The chocolate fudge is now more of a dark chocolate with little sweetness. The fudge and black coffee are standing out a little more than the sweeter notes. The finish is a little pear and citrus peel with good lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied. I rated the first third 92.
Moving through the second third (1 hour 10 minutes) the black coffee made a move up. It's a little more prominent than the dark chocolate fudge. The pear and brown sugar notes are decreased. The nutmeg is a non-issue at this point. The finish is quite a bit of black coffee and a touch of citrus peel with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The cigar is drifting darker. I rated the second third 91.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 30 minutes. The cigar sort of bounced back. The pear and brown sugar increased a little. They are not overly sweet but the did make an increase from the second third. The nutmeg was gone. There was still plenty of dark chocolate (not fudge like anymore) and black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish has remnants of pear and plenty of black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is rather dark. But the cigar has some sweetness and I like the dark chocolate notes. I rated the final third 92. Good start by Rick and his new company.
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