Devil Crab Night
Many of you took part in our exceptional Devil Crab Night. A huge thank you to all participants.
Your opinion counts (a lot)
We'd love to hear what you thought of the event, so drop us a line and let us know what you enjoyed!
Photographs of the evening
You wish to print a souvenir of your evening? We'd love to hear from you! The photos below are compressed, send them to us an email to get the HD version for printing!
What did we discuss with Rick Rodriguez?
🔑 Key figures:West Tampa was created in May 2022, with marketing beginning in June 2022.
The brand will be 4 years old in May 2026.Rick Rodriguez worked for around 24 years at CAO before founding West Tampa.West Tampa was ranked in the top 25 best cigars of 2025 by Cigar Aficionado.
The «Circle of Life» trilogy includes productions in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. Rick smokes around 3 to 4 cigars a day.
📋 Detailed subjects :
1️⃣ 🔥 Journey and creation of West TampaRick Rodriguez, after 24 years at CAO, left the company in 2021 to found West Tampa with his daughter Sarah and Gus Martinez.The brand was officially launched in May 2022, with sales starting in June 2022.West Tampa's development took the industry by surprise, with rapid growth recognised by magazines such as Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Journal.Sarah Rodriguez, Rick's daughter, became an important figure in the brand, appearing on the cover of prestigious magazines shortly after the launch.
2️⃣ 🎨 Role of the master blenderRick describes himself as a «master blender» or «chef» who creates harmonious blends from the finest tobaccos.His job is to find the perfect balance between the tobacco leaves, playing with flavour and strength to tell a story through each cigar.He uses culinary analogies to explain his craft, comparing the creation of a cigar to the preparation of a fine meal.
3️⃣ 💼 West Tampa cigar rangesThe main ranges are White (mild, aimed at the European market), Black (strong, aimed at the American market), Red and Addict.The Addict cigar was initially a test for the Red range, with the same blend but different packaging, which influences taste perception.The difference between White and Black lies in a different tobacco leaf in the filler, highlighting either the wrapper (White) or the filler (Black).West Tampa plans to launch a second instalment of the «Circle of Life» trilogy in 2027, based on Honduran tobacco.
4️⃣ 🌍 International experience and the «Circle of Life» trilogy «Rick worked in factories in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, learning the different methods of fermentation and rolling.this experience inspired the »Circle of Life« trilogy, each opus representing a different producing country.the collaboration with Ernesto, considered the »Godfather of New World Cigars", has strengthened the quality and recognition of the products.
5️⃣ 👩🦰 The place of women in the cigar industryRick points out that although the industry is predominantly male, there are more women who smoke cigars than men.West Tampa specifically targets women in its marketing strategy, without creating any specifically «feminine» or sweet cigars, as it considers that women smoke like men.He mentions respect for pioneers like Maria Selva, the first woman to launch a cigar label in 1995.
6️⃣ 🏭 Visits and factory openingsRick invites fans to visit factories in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Honduras, where workers take pride in their work.He offers to organise visits and show people behind the scenes of production.
7️⃣ 🎯 Passion and authenticityRick insists that his motivation is passion for cigars, not money.He values the quality, taste and story behind each cigar.He smokes around 3 to 4 cigars a day, often choosing new releases, but remains attached to certain models like the CAO Pilon.
🤝 Conclusion :This meeting provided an insight into the exceptional career of Rick Rodriguez, who has combined family tradition and innovation to create a world-renowned cigar brand in record time. Passion and technical expertise are at the heart of his approach, as is the importance placed on the balance of flavours and the smoker's experience. West Tampa also stands out for its openness to women and its desire to pass on a strong family heritage. Finally, Rick remains accessible and committed, ready to share his knowledge and welcome enthusiasts to his factories.
🎯 Zooming in on the most important point: West Tampa's rapid development and product strategy
Dazzling growth West Tampa, founded in 2022, has experienced exceptional growth in less than 4 years, which is unprecedented in the cigar industry. This progress has been hailed by prestigious magazines such as Cigar Aficionado (top 25 in 2025) and Cigar Journal (ranking 11 in the United States).
Differentiated product strategy : The brand offers several ranges with very similar blends but distinct taste profiles, achieved by subtle variations in the composition of the leaves (e.g. White vs Black).
Packaging and perception The example of the Addict cigar, identical to the Red in terms of blend but different in packaging, shows the importance of image in the perception of taste.
Circle of Life« trilogy» This series illustrates the wealth of terroirs and production methods in different producer countries, reinforcing the authenticity and diversity of the products.
Focus on quality and passion Rick emphasises that success comes not just from fame or connections, but above all from the irreproachable quality of the cigars, the fruit of passionate and rigorous work.
Opening up and sharing The brand values transparency and welcoming cigar lovers to its factories, reflecting its desire to create a community around cigars.
