West Tampa Devil Crab

In Florida, you can find crab cakes almost everywhere. The crab croquette, 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 there. These communities also laid the foundations for Tampa’s thriving cigar industry.

Rick Rodriguez, a leading master blender in the cigar world, sought to pay tribute to Florida and its symbols through the creation of the Devil Crab cigar. The West Tampa Tobacco Company was founded in 1953 by his grandparents, two master cigar rollers originally from Havana, who came from Cuba to Tampa to carry on their craft. It was thus the elongated shape of the Devil Crab croquette that served as the inspiration for this cigar’s Figurado vitola.

Nicaragua

12.7

60 – 90 minutes

Figurado

Chilli pepper

Tasting menu

Opt for a straight cut for this cigar. The tight gauge of the Figurado format will automatically result in a tight draw, which will open up once the thinnest part has been smoked. This marks the start of a wonderful journey to Florida.

The opening notes of this cigar are sharp and unmistakable. Not peppery, but distinctly spicy (like bird’s eye chilli). The spiciness lingers, leaving a very pleasant aftertaste that tantalises the taste buds.

The flavour then mellows, giving way to notes of cocoa nibs, with a well-controlled hint of bitterness. A rich, steady smoke envelops the cigar. The construction is flawless, the ash is very dense, and the ‘stocky’ shape gives it an even more compact and dense appearance. It feels very pleasant to hold.

Pairing

The answer lies in the question. Spicy crab cakes will be its best friend. We first tasted it with a well-seasoned beef tartare (and our friend Giuseppe Spiga, who enlivened the meal with his entertaining anecdotes): it pairs perfectly with all kinds of spicy dishes.

Momentum

Invite some friends round, crack open a good bottle of red and organise a proper feast. It’s a cigar to share, one that tells a story… and makes you want to tell your own.

A cigar-related anecdote

Devil Crab crab cakes served as the inspiration for the Figurado shape of this cigar.

About West Tampa

“As long as God allows me to breathe, I will make cigars. I don’t know how to do anything else; this is what I believe in and what drives me forward. Rick Rodriguez”

The origins of West Tampa Tobacco Company date back to 1953, when Rick Rodriguez’s grandparents, both highly respected master cigar rollers, answered the call of the United States. They left the splendour of Havana to set foot on American soil, with the ambition of capitalising on the booming cigar industry in West Tampa, Florida.

The Rodríguez family made the United States their new home and worked hard to provide for their family, never abandoning their craft, even in difficult times.

Their passion for tobacco was passed down a generation, before being reignited with vigour in their beloved grandson, Rick. Growing up in West Tampa, in the shadow of the once-thriving cigar factories, Rick learnt the value of hard work and developed unshakeable determination and great perseverance.

His grandparents’ stories of Havana and the golden age of Cuban cigars never truly left Rick’s mind. So, when the opportunity to pursue a career in the cigar industry arose, he seized it without hesitation. He soon found himself learning alongside the industry’s leading figures, notably Benji Menendez, who generously passed on his expertise. Decades later, Rick is in turn recognised as a master cigar maker.

Always striving for excellence, Rick took a bold step by founding West Tampa Tobacco Company, with a simple ambition: to offer the finest hand-rolled cigars, crafted with passion, hard work, gratitude and a deep respect for tradition.