Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)
A little more than seven months after the originally announced May release date, West Tampa Tobacco Co. has started shipping Circle of Life, a new regular production line that is being produced by Casa Carrillo in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
The blend uses an Ecuadorian habano oscuro wrapper, an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and a filler that uses tobacco from Nicaragua’s Jalapa, Condega and Estelí regions, as well as some Dominican corojo 99. It is offered in three sizes:
Circle of Life Robusto (5 x 52) — $12.99 (Box of 20, $259.80)
Circle of Life Toro (6 x 54) — $13.99 (Box of 20, $279.80) REVIEWED TODAY
Circle of Life Gigante (6 x 60) — $14.99 (Box of 20, $299.80)
Rodriguez trained under Ernesto Perez-Carrillo during his time at General Cigar Co. and has often cited him as one of his key mentors and teachers. “Reuniting with Ernesto on Circle of Life was an opportunity to connect with my past and lay another brick in my future,” said Rodriguez in a press release.
This is also the first time that West Tampa Tobacco Co. has had cigars made by Casa Carrillo. While West Tampa Tobacco Co. produces its three core lines—White, Black, and Red—and made its first Attic Series limited edition at Garmendia Cigars Co. in Estelí, Nicaragua, it has used other factories. Its Boliche Blvd., a limited edition released in late 2023, was made at Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. in Estelí, a facility commonly referred to as NACSA.
Circle of Life will be available both in the U.S. and the international markets in which West Tampa Tobacco Co. has distribution.
The cigar is dark and well made. It has a nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were peach, caramel-like brown sugar, and black coffee, which you could almost call espresso. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2 to 8. Good start.
At the first third (21 minutes) there is a lot of brown sugar and black coffee. The peach notes are there to add extra sweetness but they're secondary. The mix works very well. The cigar is medium bodied but it feels like it will move up. The finish is peach with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is very good. I rated the first third 95.
As I moved through the second third (50 minutes) not much has changed. In fact, the only thing that has changed is the strength, which is now medium to full and I expect it to reach full in the final third. The finish is unchanged. I held the score of 95.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 18 minutes. The black coffee decided to rocket up in the final third. There is still brown sugar with it but the peach notes are pretty much an afterthought. The cigar is full bodied. Very full bodied. The finish is black coffee and brown sugar with very good lingering black pepper. The loss of peach notes hurt the cigar. The black coffee and brown sugar are nice but not as nice as the first and second third. I rated the final third 93. This is a good, solid cigar.
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