Team Cigar Review: West Tampa Tobacco Circle of Life Toro

Cigar Name: Circle of Life

Brand: West Tampa Tobacco

Vitola: Toro 6x54

Origin: Casa Carrillo, Santiago, Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro

Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Filler: Nicaragua (Condega, Estelí, Jalapa) plus Dominican Corojo ’99

Price: $13,99

Date Smoked: June 8th, 2025

Smoking Time: 95 minutes

Reviewer: Marty C

1. Taste 

Marty

Flavor Profile: 

• First Third: Starts off with a light pepper on the tip of the tongue with a mix of cinnamon and chocolate which reminds me of a spicy hot chocolate.Retrohale is a very nice spice, not too over powering.

• Second Third: As we enter the second third spice maintains its level and coffee joins the mix along with cashews and molasses. This would be an enjoyable cookie. 

• Final Third: Coffee comes to the forefront for the final third. The sweetness is fading. The profile remains enjoyable with a consistent spice. I  set the cigar down with ¾ of an inch remaining. An enjoyable smoke!!

Complexity: This is a well balanced flavor profile. Flavor is a complex mix of spice, chocolate, nuts, molasses and coffee.

Strength: Medium to full body and medium strength 

Aftertaste: A pleasant taste profile with a mild spice maintained on the tongue.

Notes: The cigar evolved throughout mirroring the name Circle of Life

Score: 34/40

Mike

Flavor Profile: 

• Cold Draw: Leathery, oak, wood, and earthiness

• First Third: Black pepper, nuts, earthiness, dry hay, and chocolate. The earthiness was very pleasant with some creaminess.  The retro had some black pepper but not overpowering and then transitioned to a creaminess.  This was a very nice start to a cigar. 

• Second Third:  The creaminess remains and now coming into play is the chocolate and peanut nuts show up.   The pepper is still there with some light fig notes on the retrohale. 

• Final Third:  The earthiness returns here on the final third.   The chocolate is there and the peanuts are taking the back seat, but the earthiness is still the dominate flavor..   The pepper is a bit more aggressive, more like red pepper on the retro.  

• Complexity: Not overly complex but definitely and interesting smoke.  The start of this cigar had me taking several puffs right away trying to identify the flavor notes, but once I did it was very apparent.  As it progressed to the 2nd and final its lost some of the complexity.   However I really enjoyed this cigar.  .

Strength: Medium and medium-full strength 

Aftertaste:  The earthiness is the dominate flavor note

Notes: I paired this with Respado and it was a very good pairing.   The drink helped elevate the earthiness.

Score: 32/40

2. Construction 

Marty

Quality: Wrapper is mostly smooth with with good construction. It is a  sturdy wrapper cigar that held up nicely the entire smoking experience.

Feel: Feel is firm roll with no soft spots

Cut:  I used a straight cut.The triple cap cuts smoothly and stays intact.

Score: 19/20

Mike

Quality: Wrapper is dark brownish with a rough sand paper feel. 

Feel: No soft spots, but firm. 

Cut: Straight cut

Score: 19/20

3. Draw

Marty

Resistance: Draw is just right

Smoke Volume:  Moderate smoke output 

Consistency: Draw remained perfect throughout.

Notes: I wish every cigar had this draw!

Score: 20/20

Mike

Resistance: The draw was very good..    

Smoke Volume:  Excellent smoke output 

Consistency: Draw never changed throughout.

Notes:  Very good and enjoyable.  .

Score: 19/20

4. Appearance 

Marty

Visual Appeal:  Wrapper is medium to dark brown with minimal veins and minor bumps but a sturdy look

Band Design: Band is medium large matt black with gold foil printing on the upper half of the band. The. WTT logo is surrounded by a paint brushed circle  that doesnt quite complete itself in a C shape with lettering of the name Circle of Life underneath. A train track like line extends from both sides of the circle across the band. There is also a gold

footband with a subtle raised wavy line pattern. The wavy lines are repeated in the lower half of the main band in black.

Overall Presentation:  The cigar looks elegant and the subtle pieces of the painted C shaped circle and the wavy lines show that a great deal of attention was paid to the design.

Notes: The band came off nicely with little effort and no tearing.

Score: 9/10

Mike

Visual Appeal:  Dark dark brown wrapper that makes you think of dark chocolate.   

Band Design: (If applicable—style, placement, ease of removal?) There are two bands and a foot band that is just gold.  The top band is black or dark so much that it blends into the cigar you have to look hard to find “Circle of Life” but its there.. 

Overall Presentation:  The cigar grabs your attention and makes you wonder..  

Notes:  If you put the name of the cigar on the band make sure it sticks out.

Score: 8/10

5. Burn 

Marty

Evenness: Burn started out straight but required several touchups as one side or the other needed help to keep up despite continually rotating the cigar as it burned.

Ash: Ash is whitish gray and held on it one inch increments

Relights: Several minor touchups throughout

Burn Time:95 minutes

Notes: 

Score: 8/10

Mike

Evenness: Burn was very good, consistent, and required no touch ups.  

Ash: Ash was good.   Didn’t drop off until about 2 inches. 

Relights: None

Burn Time:87 minutes

Notes:

Score: 10/10

Overall Experience

Marty

Summary: This cigar was previewed at the 2024 PCA Convention, originally slated for May 2024 but delayed due to production issues with boxes, finally shipping in January 2025. The cigar reflects Rodriguez’s journey in the cigar industry, mentored by Perez-Carrillo at General Cigar Co. The name “Circle of Life” symbolizes passing knowledge to new generations, including Rodriguez’s daughter, Sara.

The cigar matches the name and provides and enjoyable journey. Well constructed with a complex flavor that evolves throughout. This is the second time I smoked this cigar, the first time being in March of this year during our podcast live stream. The second cigar was the more enjoyable of the two indicating the may have benefitted from the extra 3 months of rest in the humidor.

Pairing Suggestions: Would pair well with a coffee, cola, rootbeer or bourbon

Would You Smoke Again?: Definitely would pick up a five pack

Total Score: 90/100

Final Thoughts: The West Tampa Tobacco Circle of Life provides an enjoyable smoking experience with an evolving and complex flavor profile including spice, chocolate, nuts, molasses, and coffee. It is well-constructed and matches its name by offering a flavorful journey, reflecting Rick Rodruquez’s  journey in the cigar industry. 

Mike

Summary: The next release from West Tampa is a solid cigar.    There is some good complexity and very enjoyable.  

Pairing Suggestions: Respado, diet pop, or iced tea.   

Would You Smoke Again?: Yes, if I see them out in the wild I will pick up a few.

Total Score: 88/100

Final Thoughts: This is a good cigar.   If you are looking for a cigar with some good earth notes or just something that will keep you thinking this is the one for you.

Combined Score: 89