No sooner had West Tampa Tobacco Co. made its big debut on the scene, and it was already scoring a spot in the Cigar Aficionado "Top 25." Not that this matters to all of you, or that this fact holds any sway on this review, but it is a fact that is worth noting.

What's also worth noting is that the robusto of the West Tampa Tobacco Co. Red that we stock at Klaro is the vitola that CA ranked #25 for 2023. It also continues to sell extremely well for us, and we have been reordering it like crazy ever since securing stock and interviewing company founder Rock Rodriguez at PCA 2024.

However, something that has not happened is an official Klaro review. Which in true off-the-cuff fashion, finally took place on a forested mountainside in rural Japan on an overcast, late autumn afternoon. 

[Buy 5-Pack]

Unlit Impressions 

Nothing like a light San Andrés wrapper to brighten up even the gloomiest of days. Ruddy red, with tooth and bloom starting to show, this well-wrapped outer leaf comes tightly fitted and properly capped. It also smells a lot like leather and sourwood honey, which despite its name, isn't very sour whatsoever. Instead, it is more of a caramel, anise, maple, and spice sort of honey smell, which with all that cedar wafting around really rocks the senses. 

Sitting on the far end of that nautical-inspired, matte maroon band is a foot that evokes thoughts of candied ginger, citrus peels, and the sweet smell of Spanish cedar. There is a little bit of earth and a touch of cocoa to be smelled inside, but this blend seems more vivid than dark to me every time I sniff a stick.

All told this is a good-looking little robusto with an impressive build, a big-ass band, and a firm feel. It also is a total cedar bomb in the cold draw department, which makes this blend one of my current faves for gnawing on. 

Initial Smoke 

Familiar black pepper and leather light the palate up with a flurry of jabs before the cigar starts to simmer down and set to forming its primary flavor profiles. These are faint at first, but build quickly once the ash starts to form. Dried coconut, sweet cream, and a smooth cedar aftertaste soon follow, and are absolutely dynamite.

1st Half   

With barbecue hardwoods hitting home, along with sweet, toasted vanilla bean notes, the coconut, and cream continue to collide with cedar and mixed baking spice. Cinnamon serves as the spiciest flavor profile, with the faintest pinch of black pepper heat hovering in the background. 

Retrohales are creamy, smooth, and less spice-oriented than one might expect, and the lingering aftertaste of the smoke is very enjoyable. As the second third starts, milk chocolate and a roasted hazelnut note augment the overall cigar flavor profile. Deeper, darker, creamier, and chewier, smoke becomes medium-full at this point, as too does flavor and finish. The latter of which is quite long and still loaded with baking spice notes and cedar. 

2nd Half 

Moments after the center of the barrel combusts, a creamy custard taste touches off a new round of flavors. Nutty, milky, caramel-coated, and increasingly creamy, this pudding-like taste tastes extremely good but does not stick around for very long. What does linger is that cinnamon-strength horchata spice intensity upon retrohale, which may not make your eyes water, but is not to be ignored.  

Back downstairs on the taste bud coated trampoline that is your tongue, comes more tree nut notes and the return of that coconut concoction from earlier. Darker and more soil strong, the spicy sensation of peppercorns and perhaps a dried red chili pepper flake or two touch the tongue and cause a tingle. Chocolate is still milky and mild, and smooths these spice notes out just enough that the cinnamon can be tasted. 

Parting Puffs 

Toasted marshmallows over the charred remains of a hardwood-fed campfire complete the smoking cycle. More hot cocoa tastes and creamy horchata, the last sips of coconut milk, and a peppery retrohale are both enjoyable and distinctly their own in parting puffs. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Another outstanding cigar with nary a construction or burn issue is to be found in a single stick smoked. The ash is a particularly impressive touchpoint, with a textbook cone being exposed after each discard of the ash and zero heat to be felt even up close to that burn line. A great draw, followed by the perfect amount of medium-bodied smoke secures even more stars for this blend. 

Final Thoughts  

While the physical act of smoking the Red from West Tampa Tobacco Co. is just as smooth and fret-free as humanly imaginable, figuring out what to pair this particular blend with requires some creativity. For as tasty and aromatic as it is, it's also a bit all over the place, and therefore a touch tough to pair if you aren't reaching for a dark liquor.

Random, and completely unwelcomed astringent off-flavors also popped up in two of the three cigars. Bitterly medicinal, and borderline metallic-tasting on the backend, these rogue waves of unwanted weirdness were what deducted the most points from this blend during my overall assessment. 

Still, these acidic tastes were short-lived and sporadic, and despite the cigar blend being a bit of a mix-breed of flavors, it returned a very good smoking session each time. Not only were the uniquely arranged flavors found within consistently delivered at the ideal time every time, but they were also delicious and melded well with the other tastes detected prior and thereafter. Considering that the burn and draw on every cigar smoked was outstanding in almost every imaginable way, I am left with more praise than problems with this blend and can see myself smoking and handing out this stick any given day.

Flavor, Aroma & Transitions

Depth & Complexity

Construction, Burn & Physical Appeal

Backstory & Branding

Overall Balance & Repeatability

Stogie Specs

Cigar	West Tampa Tobacco Co. "Red"
Wrapper	San Andrés (Mexico)
Binder	Nicaragua
Filler	Nicaragua
Factory	Nicaragua
Size	50 x 5 "Robusto"
Strength	Medium-Full
Pairing Drink	Homemade Pink Pineapple Yuzu Citrus Soda
Rating	4.3/5