1950’s Tampa Needles Havana cigarillos

Joey Stogies

1 / 4

Length: 5 1/2"

Ring Guage: 29

Color: Colorado/Claro

Premeal: Orange Juice, Piece of Bread

Initiate: 1:38pm

Conclude: 2:07pm

Cold Smells: Hay, Sweet Tobacco

Cold Draw: Hay, Raisins

Temperaments Character: Pre- Embargo, Havana puro with long filler, handmade, Even burn, Great draw.

1st 3rd: Earthy, Subtle White Pepper, Cedar, Hay, Cream

2nd 3rd: Salt, Cedar, White Pepper, Hay, Earth

Last 3rd: Cedar, Cream, Hay, Toast, Earth

Length:

4 1/4

Ring Gauge:

Color:

Colorado/Claro

Pre Meal:

orange juice, white bread

Cold Smell:

light pepper, cellar, earth

Cold Draw:

barn, hay, raisins

Initiate:

7:28pm

Conclude:

7:49pm

1st Third:

Cinnamon, earthy, leather, sweet spice

Cold Draw:

Last Third Chocolate chips, cinnamon, leather, pepper kick

2nd Third

Light floral, cinnamon, pepper, marzipan

Thoughts & Experience

These Tampa Needles made their way out of the Antonio company of Tampa, AKA Antonio Santaella factory in the heart of Ybor City. Sometime just before 1955 as the company was sold to universal cigar corp. The A. Santaella company was easily one of the largest factories at the time dating back to 1904.

The Santaella family were Spanish immigrants from Seville, Andalusia. They relocated to Cuba in the 1870’s where Antonio honed in on his skills for the cigar game. In 1880 they moved to key west and continued mastering his craft. In 1891 established a partnership with Sol Hamburger out of New York, all while producing cigars out of Key West up until 1904 as they moved to Tampa and opened the A. Santaella Factory.

Here they produced massive names such as Optimo, Flor Mia, Alluro, El Capitan General, Centropolis, Best of the Best and many more. Some of the big-named customers of theirs which include Winston Churchill and Babe Ruth. For years during spring training, the great Bambino would come to Tampa and stock up on his favorite cigar, Best of the Best. He always made time for photos and autographs for the locals when he came to the factory.

The company also had other smaller factories in the area. They produced over 45 million cigars during their time in business. The building still stands till this day at 1906 N. Armenia Tampa Florida. In 2007 the upper floors were converted into lofts for the W. Tampa Center for the arts, the rest is used as a warehouse and furniture center. Throughout the building the Ellis-Van Pelt family displays cigar artifacts that came with the building when they had purchased.

Can you imagine being in Ybor city’s Prime cigar crushing years? Also, without having the embargo limitations and what cigar blends that manifested during such an era. It was quite the experience smoking this cigar and thoroughly enjoyed it while thinking how times were back then.

If I were you, would suggest taking a crack at one of these pre-embargo cigars as they are just impossible to find. Thank you VCS for such a rare opportunity at smoking this piece of history. Puff on my Dudes!