West Tampa Circle Of Life Ships Next Week
West Tampa Tobacco Co.’s newest regular-production line, Circle of Life is finally shipping to retailers starting next week. The line was scheduled to launch last May but was delayed due to complications regarding box production.
The creation of the line is a bit of a reunion for West Tampa co-founder Rick Rodriguez. West Tampa’s core brands (the Red, White and Black lines), are produced in Nicaragua, but for Circle of Life Rodriguez turned to his former mentor Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and his Casa Carrillo factory in the Dominican Republic. The two previously worked together during their time at General Cigar Co.
When the cigars were previewed at last year’s PCA trade show, tobacco details were undisclosed, but that has since changed. West Tampa tells Cigar Aficionado the blend consists of an Ecuador Habano oscuro cover leaf atop an Ecuador Sumatra binder. The fillers are from three regions in Nicaragua: Jalapa, Condega and Estelí. There’s some Dominican Corojo ’99 in the filler as well.
Circle of Life starts shipping on January 6, and will be offered in three sizes: Robusto, measuring 5 inches by 52 ring gauge ($12.99); Toro, 6 by 54 ($13.99); and Gigante, 6 by 60 ($14.99). All sizes come in boxes of 20.
