The 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show was the second one for West Tampa Cigar Company. This venture started a little over a year ago and is a company owned by General Cigar Company alumni Rick Rodriguez and Gus Martinez. The eve of the Trade Show saw West Tampa announce another General Cigar alumni, […]
Back in May, at the FatAsh Cigar and Lounge’s My Old Kentucky Herf event, Luciano Meirelles and Rick Rodriguez quietly sold out a limited edition collaboration they worked on called The Maker. Today, the duo announced an additional 100 boxes of The Maker will be will made available. The collaboration will be distributed and sold […]
West Tampa Tobacco Company has announced that Rami Dakko has been named its Director of North American Sales. After working in the retail sector, Rami joined General Cigar Company as a Territory Sales Manager. West Tampa Tobacco Company co-founders Rick Rodriguez and Gus Martinez were also General Cigar Company employees at one time. “To support […]
West Tampa Tobacco Company has announced it has shipped its third regular production, the West Tampa Tobacco Red. The company says it has not only begun to ship to U.S retailers, but to its retailers worldwide. “West Tampa Tobacco Co. continues to focus on serving the global cigar community. It is important that we take […]
Today we take a look at the second of the inaugural releases by West Tampa Tobacco Company, the West Tampa Tobacco Co. Black. West Tampa Tobacco Company was formed by two former alumni of General Cigar Company, Rick Rodriguez and Gus Martinez. Rodriguez is best known for spending over a decade as the blender/ambassador for […]
In 2022, Rick Rodriguez, known for his long tenure at General Cigar Company and over a decade as the blender/ambassador for the CAO brand, would launch West Tampa Tobacco Company. This is a venture that Rodriguez is working on with another former General Cigar alumni, Gus Martinez. The name West Tampa Tobacco Co. pays homage […]
West Tampa Tobacco Company has announced a third regular production line its portfolio called Red. It joins the West Tampa Tobacco Company White and Black lines as core offerings, but in the case of the Red line, it is meant to provide a full-bodied, full-flavored offering. The West Tampa Tobacco Company Red features a San […]
West Tampa Tobacco Co. has named Stijn Elbersen its Global Sales and Marketing Director. Elbersen also is the owner of Small Batch Traders, a company based in the Netherlands that handles international distribution for West Tampa Tobacco Co. and other premium cigar manufacturers Elbersen started his career in premium tobacco at Habaos S.A., and worked […]
West Tampa Tobacco Company has launched a new micro blend line known as the Attic Series. This series is an ongoing project that will take you into the mind of co-owner Rick Rodriguez. Through these cigars, Rodriguez will share many of his personal stories involving his career, family and upbringing through cigar blends. The idea […]
Each week, I have the opportunity to produce the news segment for KMA Talk Radio. On the Cigar Coop “blog,” we post replays of the shows the week following the date the show is aired. On July 2, 2022, Rick Rodriguez co-owner of West Tampa Tobacco Co. was the special guest. Catch the full show […]
