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Mere days after formally retiring from STG/General Cigar Company, Rick Rodriguez exposed the development of his own undertaking, West Tampa Tobacco Company, where he will work as Master Blender/Co-Founder.
After almost 25 years at one of the world’s largest manufacturers of premium hand-rolled cigars, Rick has actually left an enduring impression on a few of the industry’s most successful brands. The apparent concern is what work he feels he has yet to do.
“I feel as though I am the luckiest guy on earth. I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the industries most respected cigar masters, such as Benji Menendez, Daniel Nunez and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, and as a result I have had opportunities that few have been given. I felt as though it was my time to turn the page and chart my own course by continuing to pursue my passion, with people I respect, for those that I love.”
Rick continued, “along these lines I have chosen as my partner someone that I respect and trust, Gus Martinez.” Gus, a former coworker, will function as President/Co-Founder of West Tampa Tobacco Company.
West Tampa Tobacco Company will be christened with the launch of 2 blends bearing the business’s name, White & Black. Both full-time stogies will be produced at Garmendia Cigar Company in Estelí, Nicaragua.
At a glance, West Tampa Tobacco Company’s inaugural White launch provides a crisp and neat look, sealed with a guarantee from Rick. Both the item and the stogie product packaging are a banquet for your senses. Conventional, yet modern, the cover shares the story of Rick’s family and the journey that he has actually required to bring you West Tampa Tobacco Company. The band, vibrant and substantial, surrounds a beautiful Habano Light Pink wrapper. Loaded with a Nicaraguan filler, West Tampa White offers and pleases the pallet body that compliments its silky and plentiful profile.
Flipping the coin on West Tampa White, West Tampa Black shares the very same canvas, package, and band that needs to be enjoyed. The source of this stogie’s appeal depends upon the Dark Habano wrapper. Aged to excellence, West Tampa Black more than supplies on intricacy. Filled with Condega Viso, and well-known Estelí Ligero, this stogie offers body that will please both the experienced and brand-new cigar smoker.
Shipments of West Tampa Tobacco Company will begin in late May/early June and will be used both in the United States and pick global markets, where Stijn Elbersen will lead worldwide development. Extra blends/brands are prepared for release at this year’s PCA show in Las Vegas.
Both West Tampa Tobacco Company White & Black will be offered in three sizes, 20 cigars/box and line priced:
Robusto (5 × 50) USD 8.99 SRP
Toro(6 × 52) USD 9.99 SRP
Gigante(6 × 60) USD 10.99 SRP
H/T Cigar Journal
