West Tampa Tobacco Co. White Toro (6 x 52)

(No video review)

(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 obviously lighter in color compared to the Black. It has an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were brown sugar, citrus peel, light citrus, and leather. There was black pepper rated at 6.

At the first third the cigar had increased black pepper. The notes were brown sugar, light citrus peel, toffee, light leather, and some earthiness. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish was citrus, toffee, and light leather with good lingering black pepper. I rated the first third 92.

Moving through the second third there was a marked increase in earthiness. There was light brown sugar, light toffee, no citrus or citrus peel, and leather. The finish was leather with good lingering black pepper. The cigar is still medium bodied. The increased earthiness really hurt the notes in the cigar. I rated the second third 89.

The final third had the cigar improving. There was decreased earthiness, some citrus, brown sugar, light toffee, very light citrus peel, and leather. The finish was toffee and leather with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar made a nice bounce back. I rated the final third 91. Not a bad cigar but I thought the Black was a little better.

Overall Score: 90.67