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The Ultimate Cigar Book: The Ultimate Gift for Cigar Lovers

By Amanda DePerro Published August 6, 2021

The night is winding down. Your belly is full of four or five courses of gourmet cuisine, your neck begs to be released from your tie’s grip, and the cool, evening air beckons. Now’s the time to grab a few comrades, a bottle of single malt, and a box of fine cigars.

Whether you’re enjoying a black-tie affair, poker night with the boys, or the birth of a child, a cigar is a trusty companion. If someone you know considers himself a cigar aficionado, or else would like to become one, then we have the perfect gift: The Ultimate Cigar Book by Richard Carleton Hacker.

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Related: How to Smoke a Cigar Like You Know What You’re Doing

The first edition was published in 1993, and helped solidify Hacker as one of the chief authorities on the subject. The newly released 4th edition, puffed to 400 pages, truly lives up to the title. In it, you’ll find a comprehensive history of cigars, quotes from famous smokers, spirit pairing suggestions, cigar smoking etiquette, and much, much more.

RCH with Roosevelt and Churchill in London — Mr. Hacker kicks it with two legendary smokers: Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill Image used with permission by copyright holder

I had the pleasure of reading a lengthy excerpt, and was struck by the compelling prose. The history, culture, and technique of cigar smoking are themselves fascinating, and made especially engrossing by Hacker’s personal anecdotes and wit. Below, for example, is an excerpt detailing how to properly light a cigar.

All too often a smoker fails to rotate his cigar while puffing, thus lighting only half the cigar and consequently, providing only half the enjoyment. He then smokes away in pathetic oblivion, like a man who has forgotten to zip up his fly and is wondering what everyone is staring at.

Hacker’s paragraphs billow with knowledge as a fine cigar billows with sweet-smelling smoke. As he lays out each step of the cigar-smoking process — from cutting the head to disposing of the smoldering, thoroughly enjoyed cigar — he presents several options before humbly submitting his personal preference. While there are plenty of advanced tips for the seasoned smoker, the cigar novice will find the book easy — and enjoyable — to navigate.

The Ultimate Cigar Book: 4th Edition

400 pages

~~$24.99~~ $14.65 on Amazon

Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual

Amanda DePerro is a Midwest-based freelance writer and journalist who loves video games, gardening, and true crime. She is a…

Topics

Cigars

Culture

My time at the bash: I attended Tampa Cigar Bash 2024 at Seminole Hard Rock

The subtle art of kicking back, lighting a stogie, and having a good time.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa, Florida is in kind of a weird spot. It's nestled between the major highway -- I4 -- and the East Lake Park area, but also almost directly across from the Florida State Fairgrounds and the Amphitheatre -- now called the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, which is the local go-to spot for big concerts and live events.

It's not necessarily in a beautiful area, but the property itself is beautiful, and they've done a great job keeping up with it. Of course, there's gambling, lots of entertainment, shops, and good restaurants. The Hard Rock is also a major spot for big events, even concerts. But one annual event in particular that I'm fond of is the Tampa Cigar Bash hosted by Casa de Montecristo. Having attended two years in a row, this year being my second, it's always a blast and if you love cigars, in any capacity, it's a great place to be.

Culture

Where are Montecristo cigars made? Are they Cuban or not?

Montecristo cigars aren't necessarily made in the obvious location.

Montecristo Crafted by AJ Fernandez box close up cropped

Montecristo is a very large, very well-known brand of cigars, possibly even one of the most famous to exist. You've likely heard of the brand and if you haven't, well, you should know them. Founded over 80 years ago in 1935, the brand takes its namesake from Alexander Dumas père's famous novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. But what many people don't know is that there are essentially two places this brand's cigars are made, one of which is in Cuba.
Where are Montecristo cigars made?

The original producer of Montecristo cigars, and still active to this day is the Habanos S.A. national tobacco branch in Cuba -- initially known as Cubatabaco. However, Altadis also produces Montecristo cigars in La Romana, Dominican Republic. So, yes, there are authentic Cuban Montecristos, but also, a majority of its tobacco is grown and produced in the Dominican Republic.

Culture

When were cigars invented? Everything to know about the history of cigars and tobacco

Nondescript cigar bundles for when were cigars invented.

Picture this. You're sailing the high seas when you come upon an alien land. After exploring the shore, you meet locals who are smoking some rather suspect leaves. The aroma and the smells they give off are enticing. Delicious, toasty scents reminiscent of a dessert or well-cooked meal. You've just encountered some of the earliest cigars ever created.

That's sort of how it went down. Forgive me, for I am not a historian. Therefore, I do not claim anything I'm sharing here to be a proven fact outside of the references I've used. However, I figured it would be a neat and interesting idea to explore the true history of cigars and tobacco.