You’ve already had an extraordinary career in the cigar industry. For those that don’t know, how would you explain your story to where you are now?
After working with General Cigar for 24 years and being the blender for CAO for the last 13 years, I had an opportunity to partner up with one of my one of my best friends in the industry Gus Martinez. Also, it had always been my dream to work with my daughter Sara and I knew that was not going to be possible where I was at, so when she approached me and said she wanted to be a part of West Tampa that dream became a reality.
How did you select the Garmendia factory in Nicaragua to produce your debut blends for West Tampa Tobacco?
While I had the opportunity to work with many great factories, I felt that it was important that I began this journey with someone who was just like West Tampa, someone who shared our values, believed in what we were doing and was a company that also was small, but with big dreams. We found that at Garmendia Cigar Company and their ownership.
While there are benefits with working with big companies, being small we were afraid we would just be another number. Whereas at the end of the day not only has the team at Garmendia worked hand and hand with us from the beginning, they have delivered exactly the cigars that I wanted to offer to our consumers. We are excited to be working with Garmendia and expect our relationship to continue to grow over the years.
What opportunities are you most excited about as you forge your own path as a cigar brand?
The same reason we’re all excited, we have an opportunity to share our love and educate people about this beautiful industry / company. I believe we have the opportunity to connect with our consumers by sharing the art of cigar blending from the tobacco to the cigar and ultimately to how cigars can connect our consumers with their families & friends. We are humbled that West Tampa Tobacco Company can help make those connections.
Is there something unique about CAO as an organization that continues to give the boutique industry so much talent like yourself and Jon Huber?
CAO gave Jon and I a great foundation to build from. Virtually a blank sheet to work off. Not many companies give you the opportunity or have the ability to introduce new tobacco from around the world. I know Jon would say the same thing. We owe the Ozgener’s a huge thank you for the opportunities that they gave both of us and our families to build our careers from.
Would you mind sharing with us one or two of your favorite memories with Benji Melendez?
One of my favorite memories with Benji was when he and I were in Hershey, PA. He and I had some time to kill so we thought it would be fun to visit the park there. When we got there, they told us it was the last day before they close down for the winter, so the place was virtually empty. I think Benji and I were the only people there.
The workers were all looking at me and saying, “Oh my god such a sweet man to spend the day with his grandfather.” Benji and I went on one of the rides and at the end they took a photograph of us. There was nobody in the seats in front of us or behind us. It was just Benji and I. As simple and common as a picture like that was it made me realize that not only was I fortunate to have learned all I know about cigars from Benji, but he had become someone who I saw as the Father I wish I had.
Fast forward a few years and I was asked to speak on the behalf of the company when Benji retired. I was only able to get a few words into my speech when I broke down because of how much this man had given of himself and his family to our industry, to me and to my family.
What is your process when creating a new cigar blend?
Simply listen! I don’t blend cigars for myself, I blend cigars for my fans. To succeed it is so important to listen to what they say about what they are smoking. You can learn so much by just listening, something that Benji always reinforced to me. Your job is much easier when you let your customers tell you what they want rather than you thinking you know what they want.
How would you describe your cigars to someone that’s never smoked one of your projects before? Any favorite pairings?
I wanted to introduce two heads of the West Tampa coin. On one side you have West Tampa White, rich and creamy with notes of citrus, delivering a nice mild to medium body. On the flip side of the coin, we have West Tampa Black. With a medium+ body Black delivers darker, richer flavor notes of pepper and spice. My hope is that you will start your day and finish your day smoking a West Tampa.
That leads me to pairing, you can never go wrong pairing either one of these cigars with a Bud Light !
What are three things that most people don’t know about you?
- I love to take chances
- I don’t enjoy smoking a cigar alone
- I had a devastating stroke in 2007
What can your fans look forward to in the next 12-24 months?
The next 12-24 months are going to be busy for West Tampa. Right around the corner we will be introducing the first cigar of a limited-edition, small batch called the Attic Series.
I am also finalizing blends for our ’23 launches. These will be introduced throughout the year with a few big surprises in store for both TPE and PCA next year. Be sure to check us out. I am also working with several of my friends in the industry on some potential partnerships.
Finally, the biggest question I have been getting is, “when are you getting back on the road?” I have 10 events scheduled for the back half of ’22 with over 50+ already being scheduled for ’23. I can’t wait to get back on the road and share with my fans West Tampa, listen to their feedback, and give back to the industry, retailers, and consumers that have supported me over the past 24 years. The future looks bright!
Comments
RR