West Tampa Devil Crab

In Florida, you can enjoy crab croquettes almost anywhere. Crab croquettes, or Devil Crab, symbolises the very essence of Tampa's vibrant culinary history. It was created to reflect the gastronomic diversity of the Spanish, Cuban and Italian immigrant communities that settled here. These communities laid the foundations for Tampa's thriving cigar industry.

Rick Rodriguez, one of the leading master blenders in the cigar world, wanted to pay tribute to Florida and its symbols with the creation of this cigar. Devil Crab. The West Tampa Tobacco Company was founded in 1953 by his grandparents, two master cigar rollers originally from Havana, who came to Tampa from Cuba to perpetuate their skills.

This is how the elongated shape of the kibble Devil Crab was the inspiration for the Figurado vitola on this cigar.

Tasting note

Opt for a straight cut for this cigar. The tight cut of the figurado format will automatically start on a tight draw, which will open as soon as the thinnest part is consumed. This is the start of a beautiful journey to Florida.

The start of this cigar is unmistakably spicy. Not peppery, but spicy (bird pepper type). The spiciness is persistent, giving the cigar a pleasantly long finish that excites the taste buds.

The taste then softens, giving way to aromas of chocolate beans (cocoa grits), with a well-controlled hint of bitterness. A full, steady smoke envelops the cigar.

The construction is perfect, the ash very dense and the «chunky» format makes it look even more compact and dense. It's a pleasure to hold.

Pairing

The answer is in the question 🙂 Spicy crab croquettes will be his best friend. We tried it the first time with a spicy beef tartare (and our friend Giuseppe Spiga, who added some juicy anecdotes): all kinds of spicy dishes are perfect for it.

Momentum

Invite a few friends round, open a bottle of red and enjoy a good cigar party. It's a cigar for sharing, that tells a story... and makes you want to tell more.