Book Review - An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars

[RobustBrad]

An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars
By: Min Ron Nee and Adriano Martinez Ruis (Honorary Consultant)

An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars (further referenced as "Havana Bible") delivers an entertaining, picture filled, facts out the wazoo account and perspective of the Cuban cigar industry of the post-revolution time period. This book is an excellent resource from the new cigar smoker to the aficionado of over 50 years. In reviewing this book, the principal criteria included content, organization and reference sources. While some of the material is now outdated and is missing some of the more recent productions this will be corrected in a later edition thought to be coming out around 2011.

Although Min Ron NEE is kind of a mythical figure, as through my research there is little information to be had about him other than the legend of how vast his Cuban cigar collection is, the co-author Adriano Martinez Ruis (further referenced as Mr. Ruis) highlights Min Ron NEE with the following taken from his forward:

"Min Ron NEE is among one of the most knowledgeable Habano connoisseurs in Hong King, His personal collection of Habanos can only be described as astounding.

What really makes Min Ron NEE's knowledge and collection expetional is that he collects, studies, and smokes every Habano availible, from vintage cigars, difficult to find current production, to the most modest machine-made everyday cigar."

Mr. Ruis has worked in the Cuban cigar industry for more than two decades. For the last 15 years of that period, he was the adviser to the Presidents of Cubatabaco and Habanos S.A.

The Havana Bible is organized from Numerical, A-Z allowing the reader to easily search for any cigar or terms. The book consists of 491 pages of precise information and color pictures starting with 109 ("Nro.109") and ending with Vitolas.

Within the Havana Bible is a list of every Cuban cigar known in the post-revolution history along with cigar terminology and other usefull information such as the Aging methods of Cuban cigars with interesting notes scattered through the book like the following:

"Why do fresh cigars taste better in Cuba?
Freshly rolled cigars in Cuba taste very good, but when you bring them home they taste bad. One of the plausible reason is that the tobacco for rolling the cigars or the freshly rolled cigars are stored in the open rather than inside a box. Good ventilation and a high temperature remove the ammonia in no time. Cuba has the natural temperature and humidity to allow storing cigars in the open."

Every cigar brand is broken down in each individual production. For example the Cohiba section is over twenty two pages long and includes meticulous details. Each brand is highlighted by its pre-revolutionary history, post revolution history, brand history, and characteristics of the brand. Lets take the Cohiba Siglo VI as an example. It list the following:

• Ring Gauge, Lenght, Factory Name, Vitola number, Shape, Packaging (in this case it's a slide lid box)
• 

The Havan Bible is a collection of post-revolution Havana Cigars accented by indepth information and history. The books use of color photos and vivid insights help make the industry come to light more significantly. The authors enthusiasm and knowledge is obvious throughout the book.

I hope all of you that own this book or purchase it in the future will get as much satisfaction and knowlege as I have obtained in the four years of owning it.

Cheers,
Brad

[LGHT]

I picked up the one of the first releases of the book several years ago and love it. Although there has been quit a bit of documentation on the books "errors" it's still a great read. I believe they did a second edition due to the demand which has all the errors corrected. By far the one and only cuban sikar book to buy.

[roughrider]

Everyone raves about this book. Thanks for the review Brad.

[JCK]

what's great about the images in this book as well is that the photos are actual size. Easy to do a size comparison of something you want to check out it's dimensions. There is also an excellent section on cigar maturation with some of Min Ron Nee's thoughts on the subject.

[madurolover]

I just want 5 minutes alone in Min Ron Nee's humidor!

[JCK]

I've seen photos of his aging areas. He's got a complete room filled with barely any walking space for his dress boxes and rare humidors, and another room dedicated to his cabinets. It's no joke.