The 4th Edition of the
Ultimate Cigar Book
by Richard Carleton Hacker
The first version of Richard Carleton Hackers
all encompassing ‘Ultimate Cigar Book’ was
published in 1993 and 22 years later there is a
completely updated Fourth Edition, well so much
has changed in that time..
Although written from an American perspective
Richard has travelled to all of the major cigar
smoking countries including Cuba. Keeping track
of the huge changes in the US cigar trade must be a
massive task given the number of new brands and
brand extensions. Understanding the subtleties of
the growing processing and blending is also a huge
job; some might call it a vocation.
The book starts where all cigar history starts, with
Columbus landing in Cuba in 1492. But this is
no drudge of a history text book. It tracks lightly
through the elements of history touched by Cigars.
So many of the wonderful stories of the cigar
world are included and dealt with in a light style
which helps the pages turn rapidly and smoothly.
For a British readership so steeped in the
history of Cuba there is a fascinating insight
into the expansion of Middle American tobacco
production, despite political upheavals and
the ever growing demand for cigars in the US.
Through all of the history and politics Richard
treads a very easy path with a complete lack of
jingoism, focussing only on the cigars, exactly as it
should be.
Having travelled so widely the book explores all
the tobacco growing areas of the world and shows
a huge depth of understanding and experience of
the challenges and differentiation between the
areas.
For the British taste, used to Cuban cigars for so
long, this is an excellent book to allow the real
serious cigar smoker to understand and explore
the different areas of tobacco production. The
leaves that are used and the way they each differ
and the elements they bring to a cigar and to a
blend. It’s a little like opening up your mind to
wine from Australia, Italy or Chile when you have
only ever drunk French Claret and Chablis.
Cigar production is covered in minute detail with
specific references to some of the historic practices
which in some cases have been replaced by more
modern and faster methods. Nothing is missing;
well this does claim to be the Ultimate Cigar Book.
Sizes, shapes and their historic development are
covered in depth. The author has even created his
own system to help the reader understand the
strength and characteristics of the various leaves
from different production areas.
Having made your cigar, the book moves on to
the very serious business of smoking it. When it
comes to lighting your cigar British readers will be
delighted to see many of the better known London
sites used as reference points for the ‘correct form’
for lighting cigars.
If you want to age your fine cigars that is covered
too, as well as all the cigar toys and accessories
before moving on to the best things to drink with
a cigar.
At the close of the book it’s on to lists: The
manufacturers and brands, a perfect short and
again lightly written overview of all the popular
companies/brands including many us Brits will
never have seen here, and finally a dictionary of
‘Cigarspeak’ so you will now be able to discover the
real meaning and origins of words like Stogie.
All in all a real page turning book which you can
read from cover to cover and always come back to
for reference.
I know it’s early but put it on your Christmas
list – Available via Amazon
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