West Tampa Black

With deep roots in West Tampa and a legacy shaped by Havana’s golden age, Rick Rodriguez brings his family story full circle with West Tampa Tobacco Black cigar. This release marks a return to tradition... with a little edge. The Black line is one half of the company’s 2022 debut (being joined by the West Tampa White), built to reflect strength, heritage, and Rodriguez’s own evolution from apprentice to master.

Rolled at the Garmendia Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, the Black blend leans on a high-priming Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, being chosen for its intensity and oily character. Underneath, a binder from the volcanic soils of Ometepe adds earthy complexity, while Nicaraguan fillers from Condega and Estelí round things out with depth and structure. It’s a blend designed to hit with purpose while staying refined.

The profile is medium-to-full, starting with notes of espresso and charred wood, followed by layers of black pepper, mineral-rich earth, and touches of bittersweet cocoa. It’s not just a bold smoke—it’s a statement of where Rodriguez has been and where West Tampa Tobacco is headed.