Ricky Rodriguez: A Cigar Maestro and His Masterpiece, the Red
The Story:
The seed for West Tampa Tobacco Company was planted in 1953, when Rick Rodriguez’s grandparents, both highly respected master cigar rollers, heeded the call of the U.S. They left behind the glamour of Havana for U.S. shores, seeking to capitalize on the booming cigar business of West Tampa, Florida.
The Rodríguezes made the U.S. their home and worked hard to provide for their family, never giving up on their craft, even when times were tough.
Their love of tobacco skipped a generation, gathering momentum when it was awakened in their beloved grandson Rick. Growing up in West Tampa, in the shadow of the once-bustling cigar factories, taught Rick the value of hard work and instilled in him grit and determination.
His grandparent’s stories of Havana and Cuban cigars in their heyday were never far from Rick’s mind. So, when the opportunity to work in the cigar business knocked, Rick was quick to answer. He soon found himself studying at the right hand of industry legends, most notably Benji Menendez who freely transferred his knowledge to Rick. Decades later, Rick has been recognized as a cigar master in his own right.
Always striving for more, Rick has taken a bold step to establish West Tampa Tobacco Company, to simply offer the finest handcrafted cigars, created with hard work,
gratitude and a profound respect for tradition.
The Red: A Cigar of Distinction
Among Rodriguez’s creations, the Red cigar stands out as a testament to his artistry. This full-bodied smoke offers a rich and complex flavor profile that tantalizes the palate. The expertly blended tobaccos deliver a bold core of chocolate, hickory, leather, coffee and a nice white pepper.
The Details Of Red Robusto That Was Smoked :
Robusto: 5 Length
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres / Binder: Nicaraguan Condega / Filler: Condega Viso, Esteli Viso, Esteli Ligero
A well constructed cigar with a steady burn that held a beautiful ash wish it could of been longer but the ash did drop after the picture was taken. Although West Tampa Tobacco Co. say its a full bodied cigar its a very mild cigar to what i smoke but it full on flavor with the notes that you get from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
The West Tampa Tobacco Company Experience
Beyond the Red, the West Tampa Tobacco Company offers a diverse range of premium cigars, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail. The company’s commitment to quality and tradition is evident in every puff.
A Cigar Lover’s Paradise
I can definitely say that West Tampa Tobacco Co. Red is must have in your humidor for sure i have really fallen in love with the cigars that come out of West Tampa Tobacco Co. and have great admiration for Ricky The Chef Rodriguez. The Cigar Loons really enjoyed our time when we got to sit down with Ricky on the podcast 6 months ago and learn about Ricky’s path into cigars and then coming to open West Tampa Tobacco Co.
The Cigar Loons Podcast also voted West Tampa Tobacco Co. Red as Number 1 in Top 12 Boutique Cigars 2024 list that the group put together and were joined by Ricky by a recorded video of him accepting the award.
Go and grab yourself a West Tampa Tobacco Co. cigar from the White, Black and Red.
Written by Rocky_cigar_n_pipe-review on Instagram
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