Sometimes, a cigar is more than just a companion during a relaxing interlude of quiet contemplation. Some of today’s best-loved smokes surely provide enjoyable breaks from the hustle and bustle of modern life, but they can also transcend far beyond the realm of mere smoking delight and reveal fascinating tales one puff at a time. Circle of Life by West Tampa Tobacco Co. (WTTC) is one such cigar that’s as much a storyteller as it is an amazing cigar.
Made for WTTC at Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo’s Casa Carrillo (formerly Tabacalera La Alianza) factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Circle of Life represents Rodriguez’s life journey in the premium cigar business, which began in 1995 with General Cigar and is still going strong nearly 30 years later as Rodriguez mentors his daughter Sara in the cigar industry. It tells the tale of older generations passing knowledge and passion to younger generations—a tale that is as old as creation itself.
“What is Circle of Life?” Rodriguez begins. “It’s everybody’s story. It’s a beautiful cycle that experiences a lot of bumps and rips and tears along the way but carries on and ultimately triumphs. For right now, it’s my circle, but it began with my grandparents, and eventually, it will be Sara’s circle. And as we share our story, we hope our fans will share their stories too.”
Circle of Life is a reunion between Rick Rodriguez, co-founder of WTTC, and his former colleague and mentor, Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo. Rodriguez and Pérez-Carrillo worked together for years at General Cigar Co. before Pérez-Carrillo, the legend behind the La Gloria Cubana cigar line, left to establish EPC Cigars with his family in 2009. Rodriguez followed suit in 2022, leaving General Cigar, where, as master blender and brand ambassador, he guided its La Gloria Cubana and C.A.O. brands for more than a decade before establishing WTCC with Sara and another former General Cigar colleague, Gus Martinez.
As narrated in tobacco, Circle of Life is a rich and complex cigar that’s as captivating as the story it tells. At first glance, the cigar seems both elegant and sturdy. A beautiful black band with gold trim and a second gold band surround the cigar’s medium-dark and toothy wrapper, which exhibits a slight sheen on its surface. Flawlessly constructed, the cigars’ appearance provides just a hint of the combined expertise of Rodriguez and Pérez-Carrillo.
Sampling two Circle of Life Toros, the average smoke time was 1 hour and 27 minutes. Both cigars presented an infinitely easy draw with copious amounts of tantalizing smoke and a grayish white, tight ash that easily held together beyond an inch long.
While the cold draw provided very little clue as to what the cigars would present, lighting and taking the first few puffs off them introduced a commanding presence of spice that mesmerized the senses and foretold a compelling and memorable smoking experience.
The prevalent spice on the first light gave way to slightly zesty and effervescent citrus notes with some floral hints during the first third, which left an overall clean and light sensation on the palate. As the cigar transitioned into the middle third, it picked up a little strength, comfortably settling into the medium-bodied range with notes of cocoa, leather, and oak. The leather and oak notes took precedence in the cigars’ last third with a fanfare return of the spice experienced during the first couple of puffs.
Immensely enjoyable, both the WTTC’s Circle of Life Toro cigars provided a mirror on a person’s life journey, starting off light, almost whimsical, before evolving into more substantial and heftier flavors and aromas in the middle and final thirds. One of the most striking aspects of these cigars was their impeccable balance. The light and effervescent notes engaged quite well with the heavier hints of cocoa, leather, and oak, and the spice consistently played a subtle bass line after the first few puffs. This balance speaks to the experience of not only Rodriguez and Pérez-Carrillo but also to the skilled buncheros and rolleras at Casa Carrillo.
A true masterpiece between teacher and student, every aspect of a Circle of Life cigar speaks to the passion and expertise of those who crafted it and is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone fortunate enough to smoke it.
WTTC’s Circle of Life cigars will also be available in the Robusto (5 x 52) and Gigante (6 x 60) vitolas. The cigars will ship to retailers later this year.
Circle of Life Toro
- Size: 6 x 54
- Blend: Undisclosed
- Manufactured: Dominican Republic
- MSRP: $279.80 per 20-count box or $13.99 per cigar
- Release Date: Later this year
- Smoking time: 1 hour, 27 minutes
– Samples courtesy of West Tampa Tobacco Co. Review by Stephen A. Ross.
This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 1, 2024. To receive a copy of this magazine you must be a current member of PCA. Join or renew today at premiumcigars.org/membership.