Cigars: A Guide

by Nicholas Foulkes

Exploring not just the extraordinary story of tobacco and cigars but also a history that has been instrumental in the foundations of societies and cultures, Cigars will take you on an astonishing journey through landscapes, scents, and an incredible roll call of the great, the good and the not-so good. The cigar has provided solace and a chance for worldly contemplation to generations of thinkers, businessmen, writers, entrepreneurs, and connoisseurs. In this elegiac offering to the pinnacles of hand-rolled tobacco, world-renowned expert Nicholas Foulkes guides you through the myths, legends, nuances, and delicious realities of the smoke-savoring universe, serving as an introduction for the neophyte and a reference for the connoisseur.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[Adam Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully produced book of the highest quality which is both a history and a compendium of cigars. The writer is erudite and witty and all major Havana and other new world cigars are reviewed. The history, skill and dedication of cigar production is described in detail and it is a refreshing look at the production of something which is described as more than one of life's consolations rather a promise of a piece of heaven on earth. It brings home the current absurdity of today's anti-smoking hysteria with its disproportionate, sledgehammer view of blanket restriction versus sublime enjoyment.

[Olafs Bērziņš · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a topic I am new to. I don't smoke. I have never even touched or smelled a cigar. Yet. Has this book sparked an interest? Yes. I am sure that in the coming weeks (or even days) I will go to a cigar shop (Davidoff's?) in Brussels and buy my first cigar. After all, if you type in the search box here "cigars" you'll find many books bearing the word. And no, not a single person I personally know currently smokes cigars. Thus I may be the first. Nicholas speaks of cigars as Raimonds Tomsons speaks about wine; they supposedly have rich flavors that equal great wines. Do they really? I would say there is only one way to find out. I recommend this book even if you are only slightly interested in this topic. Worth the time.

[Omid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book filled with the unique humor of Nick Foulkes, definitely not an academic guide on the topic, but it will teach you a thing or two while keeping you entertained.