West Tampa Tobacco Co. is the boutique brand co-founded by master blender Rick Rodriguez (with family, including daughter Sara in the public story), launched after Rick's nearly three-decade run as CAO's blender and brand ambassador under General Cigar / STG. Named for Tampa's historic cigar district and Rick's family rolling heritage, West Tampa focuses on bold, modern Nicaraguan-forward blends (White, Red, and Attic Series / limiteds among the lines collectors chase) rather than mild Connecticut catalog filler.
Production is handmade in Nicaragua at boutique-oriented capacity; graph and trade coverage commonly place core work at Garmendia and related Estelí partners, distinct from CAO's corporate STG floors. The brand is independent of General Cigar: Rick left the corporate system to build something family-run, which is why West Tampa appears as a separate map node from CAO even though the blender history connects them.
SEO: "West Tampa Tobacco," "West Tampa Red," "Rick Rodriguez West Tampa," "West Tampa factory." Cross-link Rick Rodriguez, CAO (history), and Garmendia when present.