West Tampa Tobacco Co. has begun shipping its third and newest core line, called Red.

The blend starts by borrowing the same Mexican San Andrés wrapper that was used on the company’s first Attic Series release. The binder and filler come from Nicaragua, but they are different varietals than those used in the Attic Series. The cigars are produced at Garmendia Cigars Co. in Estelí, Nicaragua.

The line is being released in three vitolas:

  • West Tampa Tobacco Co. Red Robusto (5 x 50) — $8.99 (Box of 20, $179.80)
  • West Tampa Tobacco Co. Red Toro (6 x 52) — $9.99 (Box of 20, $199.80)
  • West Tampa Tobacco Co. Red Gigante (6 x 60) — $10.99 (Box of 20, $219.80)

“West Tampa Red gave me the opportunity to sit down with the factory and really focus on creating a blend that I enjoy,” said Rick Rodriguez, master blender and co-owner of West Tampa Tobacco Co., via a press release when the cigar was announced. “Normally when I blend cigars, I don’t blend for what I like, I blend cigars for what my fans enjoy. Red will be a reflection of what I believe is the next piece to lay in the West Tampa puzzle, a full-bodied cigar that delivers the full flavor consumers have come to enjoy from West Tampa.”

The West Tampa Tobacco Co. Red is available both in the U.S. as well as in international markets, with West Tampa Tobacco Co. currently available in 29 countries around the world.

“West Tampa Tobacco Co. continues to focus on serving the global cigar community, said Gus Martinez, president & co-owner of West Tampa Tobacco Co., via a press release. “It is important that we take a global approach when blending our cigars and ensuring our cigars are available to all markets.”

Images courtesy of West Tampa Tobacco Co.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.