The Ultimate Cigar Book

by Richard Carleton Hacker

First published in 1993, The Ultimate Cigar Book has become a classic in its field, and is generally credited with having helped launch the current cigar smoking craze. It has been reprinted numerous times in the United States, and is now sold worldwide. No other book contains as much detailed and factual information on virtually every facet of cigar making and cigar smoking. And now this trendsetting been has been revised in this fourth edition for the aficionado of the future!Forget 1492. This book starts out in B. C. (Before Columbus) and transports the cigar enthusiast on a fun and fact-filled adventure into virtually every realm of today’s popular and growing cigar smoking pastime. Written by one of the most knowledgeable and internationally-celebrated pipe and cigar authors of our time, Richard Carleton Hacker’s well-known wit and wisdom will keep the reader enthralled with every turn of the page, as he takes you on an information-packed would tour of cigars. Starting off with a history of cigar smoking, the author then shows us how cigars are made today (handmade, handrolled, and machine made), divulges the secrets of finding the “perfect” cigar, and discusses the ritual of smoking and how to properly care for and store our cigars. From there the book lists a number of innovative cigar accessories, suggests which beers, wines, whiskeys, brandies, and cognacs go with what cigars, enlightens us with a chapter on cigar smoking celebrities, and concludes with the world’s first International Compendium of virtually every cigar brand known today, complete with histories and observations on taste, according to the author’s HPH (Highly Prejudiced Hacker-Scale) ratings. If that was not enough, there is even a dictionary of CigarSpeak!The Ultimate Cigar Book is the most comprehensive, factual, and up-to-date book for the cigar smoker or for those who just want to learn more about the fascinating and popular world of cigar smoking.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Amazon

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Scipio Africanus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on cigars Ive read, from how they are made to what to pair them with. Also has a breakdown of all the major producers in the back.

[Truman Denisovitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit too textbooky for my taste

History & Making of the Cigar topics were well-covered, but I found that the Spirits & Cigars pairing section to be a bit underwhelming. Whilst impressive to know that a 2004 Bollinger Brut will go well with a Montecristo No.2, it would present more utility to look at pairings more generally.

I'd be much more interested in why the flavour profile of champagne vs. cognac vs. coffee pairs particularly well with a certain type of cigar - as opposed to specific house/vintage pairings. Especially as many divans are not furnished with a well-stocked liquor cabinet

Nevertheless a useful encyclopaedic resource which I will certainly revisit as I smoke new brands and look for greater context

[Ben De Bono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a spectacular resource! I learned so much - especially in the second chapter where Hacker traces a cigar from seed to the final product. This is a first class resource through and through!

[Joe Pavlansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the number one resource book on cigars. Aficionados, enthusiasts, and beginners alike will find this book fascinating and informative.

[Dave Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great resource about cigars. Excellent

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally didn't like the author's writing style. He seemed to repeat himself a few times, and kept using repetitive phrases and puns, while also digressing into political points. Many of the photos in the book were taken by the author and lacked the professionalism that this book should have upheld. Additionally, towards the end of the book I was really curious to learn how to pair cigars to spirits, and found this section lacking in explaining how to pair the two like an expert and just stated the author's experience of what cigars pair well with what kind of Whisky, cognac, or armagnac and you should try these cognacs with a few selected cigars. I was looking for the process behind the selection and not just a suggested pairing based on someone else's palate. Furthermore reading the author's take on Scotch whiskies seamed to indicate all Scotches are peated which is not the case. I would highly suggest the author reading Whisk(e)y distilled by Heather Greene, and taking notes on differences between the whiskies. The author also indicated Cognac was made from Brandy, which I believe is incorrect instead Cognac is a brandy but made in Cognac, France. With that said the author seems to know a lot of cigars, and lacks an understanding of spirits, but is aware of the spirits and generally how they are made.

Putting my criticisms to the side, I felt like I learned a lot about cigars from this book. I learned a lot about the process in making cigars and that cigars need to age in ageing rooms for years before coming on the market. I also learned a lot about the etiquette of cigars and cigar smoking. I will maintain this book as a reference, it had a great glossary at the end. Though I do wish it had an appendix. The book was an easy read, perhaps too easy. The author's writing style seemed very simplistic, repetitive from time to time, and colloquial. However the upside to that is how quickly I was able to finish the Ultimate Cigar Book, in comparison to heather Greene's Whisk(e)y distilled. I find her book packed with information that takes a lot to process and maybe reading it multiple times, yet her book is half the size of The ultimate Cigar book. I do prefer her writing style to Mr. Hacker's writing style which seemed overly informal, and yet he had eccentric professor-esque tone to him.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about cigars, the history of cigars, and how they are made, but less so for someone who is seeking to become a connoisseur or aficionado of cigars and wanting to learn more about the flavours and pairings. With that said, I must say the author did include a good comparison of Davidoff cigars, which I am still planning to try on a nice warm day.

[Diceson Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally sat down and finished this book. I will start by saying, yes it’s a great read. Anyone that has held a cigar before should enjoying reading this book. I must say that almost anyone that enjoys a cigar and have an opportunity to explore the foundations of cigar production could write this book. It is filled with the author’s opinion, which there is nothing wrong with that, just would not call it, The Ultimate Cigar Book. He shared many great things a novice cigar smoker would pick up in the readings. Almost all cigar smokers could write the same book with ease. The information section of different cigars is ever expanding as he mentioned, it leaves it open ended to have future additions to the book. I gave it five stars, so don’t get me wrong, worth the read. RCH Cigar Book is a great read.

[SOVEYM · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very informative book if you can appreciate the pleasure of smoking a good cigar. Hacker takes you from the planting and growing of the tobacco leaf to lighting up a premium cigar and everything in between. The history is here, all the regions are here and all the major players and growers are here in this book. One of my favorites in the book is the HPH (Highly Prejudiced HackerScale). A system of measuring cigar strength (not quality) on a scale of 1 to 3, with #1 being the mildest and #3 being the strongest that Richard Carleton Hacker created himself. This guy knows his cigars and the history behind pretty much all cigars. He is well traveled and has smoked a cigar literally in all parts of the world. A pretty thorough look into the world of cigars.

[Hammer Shalawylo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone interested in learning about cigars. You do not need a lot of prior knowledge to read this book, although smoking a stogie once or twice will help you appreciate all the practical advice given.

The author mixes wit and sarcasm throughout, making it not only an informative, but also an enjoyable read. He covers the history of cigars (including explaining the Cuban debacle) as well as walks you through how a cigar is made, the different kinds, and how each aspect impacts the overall experience.

The back half of the book is dedicated to very practical guidance on how to select, store, cut, smoke, dispose, and even pair your cigars with other things (whiskey, etc) for enjoyment.

I’ll be referencing this book in the future. The title suits it well.

[Willie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible Intro to the World of Cigars

I recently started smoking cigars. A good friend took me to a Cigar lounge. The fellowship of the people at the lounge, and the relaxation I get from them has been priceless. I came across this book, and got an incredible history of Cigars for the last 500 years in the New World. Now I can understand the shapes, sizes, flavor ranges, and all the different families behind all the best brands. Highly recommend reading this book.

[Barry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative reading. A little redundant in some areas. The history section jumps around some. Would be better formatted strictly by date and what happened during that time.
I plan to reread with a highlighter and post a notes.
Very good reading for a new smoker or some what seasoned smoker. Most LOD timers know most of what is in the book.
I do however recommend reading it.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who enjoys the pleasure of a good cigar and is fascinated by the innerworkings of how they are made and the culture surrounding them, this is the book for you. It is an excellent and comprehensive reference guide to everything to know about cigars. I would highly recommend it and something to definitely keep near your humidor and bundle of Cohibas.

[Frank Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love cigars or just want to understand them and the history behind the, this is an absolute must read. Witty, well researched and wonderfully written it is part history, part how-to, part encyclopedia. If you love cigars, it’s a “required” addition to your library.

[E Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book outlining the history of cigars, with lots of interesting information on what to look for in taste, texture, etc. It ends with a list of all companies making cigars worldwide (in 2015, I think) Only for the discerning cigar smoker.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book about every aspect of cigars - from the growing of cigar tobacco to the history of brands. Richard Carleton Hacker has an easy to read and follow writing style with just enough humor to draw a smile. This book is truly the "bible" of cigars.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a casual cigar smoker or aspiring cigar connoisseur, this is a great book. Now that I completed reading it, it will remain close by as a great reference book.

[John Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive

This is a beast of a book! Covers everything from how the cigars are made who the cigars are made by and accessories for cigar smoking.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hacker comes off as an incredible blowhard but I guess that's to be somewhat expected. In terms of information, it's an incredible resource--which Hacker will literally remind you of throughout.

[travisburne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information but a long read.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would like to have seen more choices in Bourbon and Whiskey, Whisky, besides the big name US companies. Not a fan of Jack or Jim.

[Ravanagh Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on cigar-making, but not enough info on the characteristics of the various brands; and almost none on my favourite cheap, Dutch stogies.

[Jonathan Metzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing, must have book if your into cigars. The author has a wealth of knowledge on cigars and shares it in this book!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best book you could expect on cigar history and the culture around it. It gets a bit opinionated in the last quarter

[Brice Palm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a required reading for anyone who has an interest in cigars or works with cigar business on any level.

[John Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the go-to resource for all cigar aficionados. If you're geeky about cigars, this is a must-read.

[Richard Canale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who enjoys cigars. Informative, fun and a handy reference book to keep.

[Anthony Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and informative book about the history of cigars, the industry in general, and a great resource overall. Keep in mind it did release in 2015, the industry is pretty volatile with new companies coming out and some going away.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really insightful into brands and their qualities. Greatly helped me find and to be able to figure out what I would like to buy when I walk into a cigar shop. I was pleasantly amazed at the depth in which Hacker went into the tobacco types and origins, as well as their histories. My only real complaint is that as the book progresses, Hacker becomes more self indulgent in praising himself and giving himself credibility. humility is not something that he writes with. His arrogance does make for some humorous moments when it is not getting in the way of what the focus of the book is about. Nonetheless, it is still an incredible book with so much detail in it that it actually still is a fast read.

[Eric Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a huge appreciation for the amount that goes into producing each cigar. You have to picking the right combination of leaves, age those leaves the right way, and have someone roll it into a variety of shapes, and in a way that makes the cigar burn evenly, and draw smoothly.

I'm not a very sophisticated cigar smoker (good stick / bad stick is about the extent of my opinion), and I doubt I ever will be, but I think I'll appreciate every cigar I smoke quite a bit more because of this book.

[L.J. Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

Great book. All you want to know about cigars is here. And as a bonus, you can learn about cognac, whiskey and more.