Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars

[Eric E]

7 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Yes, it certainly looks like it will be a masterwork, taking everything in the first two editions even further with all new photography and actual items not seen before. Here's the best info I could find on its status and delay; it was projected to be released in 2014 but the enormity of the work and attention to detail apparently was underestimated: https://lights-sirens-and-cigars.com/2014/10/14/the-mrn-2nd-edition-encyclopaedia-full-delay-details-and-follow-up/

Unfortunately, with over a dozen new releases of one sort or another every year there's really no good time to finalize it. By my count, there have been around 260 cigars released since the 2004 edition. What an enormous undertaking it must be to acquire and photograph every single regional release!

Wow, 260 new cigars. I've never even thought to add up all the releases since the ELs and RLs came about, plus the new, regular production cigars.  90% are probably a 50 rg or greater.  

[joeypots]

I've always had a contrarian veiw or the MRM IEOPRHC. The number of typographical errors and the fact that he repeats himself endlessly irked me. There are great pictures and some content that is good. But he too often states that five years minimum aging is required for a new cigar to be evaluated. My edition had no cigars listed past 2001so just about any cigar I will buy is well past the reference point of the book. MRN also writes more than a few times that this is my favorite cigar. I think the book is a fun read for a cigar enthusiast and not bad to have but I wouldn't spend much on it. 

BTW, who has a definition of coginers, or conigers, or what ever it is that he refers to that make a cigar age well?

[Cubatabaco]

Man, I consider myself lucky to grab one when they first came out. Actually, my ex-girlfriend got it for me for a birthday gift. I think she paid $125. However, I certainly won't be dropping the coin to get his new one. Albeit, it is a beautiful piece of furniture. I'll wait until it comes out in paperback...lol.

[Smallclub]

On 06/28/2016 at 2:09 AM, Ken Gargett said:

i remember that it was actually released about the time we made our first trip to cuba back in 2003. it was $75, from memory.

Yes, around 60€ in Europe in 2003.

[Smallclub]

8 minutes ago, cubatabaco said:

Albeit, it is a beautiful piece of furniture.

Until the day when you spill a cup of expresso, followed by a large cigar hash, on the white cover…

[Cubatabaco]

6 minutes ago, Smallclub said:

Until the day when you spill a cup of expresso, followed by a large cigar hash, on the white cover…

 

[Akela3rd]

I'll wait until it comes out in paperback...lol.

I'll hang on for the 99p Kindle deal. ?

[NSXCIGAR]

On 6/29/2016 at 8:02 AM, joeypots said:

I've always had a contrarian veiw or the MRM IEOPRHC. The number of typographical errors and the fact that he repeats himself endlessly irked me. There are great pictures and some content that is good. But he too often states that five years minimum aging is required for a new cigar to be evaluated. My edition had no cigars listed past 2001so just about any cigar I will buy is well past the reference point of the book. MRN also writes more than a few times that this is my favorite cigar. I think the book is a fun read for a cigar enthusiast and not bad to have but I wouldn't spend much on it. 

BTW, who has a definition of coginers, or conigers, or what ever it is that he refers to that make a cigar age well?

A few comments on these points:

-Almost all of the typos were corrected for the 2004 edition. I do come across a letter or two out of place occasionally but the 2004 ed. is pretty tight.

-I suppose he does repeat himself a bit, but there are a lot of commonalities among modern era CCs. I'd rather him be honest and/or consistent than cook up some creative passage just for the sake of it.

-As far as aging, things have changed greatly since the late 90s in terms of aging. The old Corojo & Criollo tobacco strains used for the better part of the 20th century did require much more aging to round out, generally speaking. The newer Habana 2000 and Criollo strains do not. Also, leaf curing methods have changed during that time. CCs are much more approachable young than they used to be. So his general aging guidelines, for the time, weren't far off base. Now, it's a different story entirely. A < 6 month old Monte or Bolivar is pretty much ready to rock and won't really improve much more after only 1-3 years. 

-OK, so the guy has multiple favorite cigars. I suppose he should have written "one of" my favorite cigars, but oh well, at At least he's bold enough and honest enough to say it at all.

So, yes, the book does have a fair degree of subjectivity and isn't exactly "clinical" or sterile" but the information in the book was unavailable anywhere else until recently. It's extremely comprehensive, and above all, accurate. In fact, I'm not aware that any piece of data, info or record has been challenged. That is impressive. In fact, almost all of CCW's info through 2004 is culled entirely from MRN. At the time, it was, and in many ways still is, an unmatched resource, and I think quite a bit more than just a fun read for a cigar enthusiast. It is a highly informative, complete, accurate and original resource that should be given credit as such.

[joeypots]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

A few comments on these points:

-Almost all of the typos were corrected for the 2004 edition. I do come across a letter or two out of place occasionally but the 2004 ed. is pretty tight.

-I suppose he does repeat himself a bit, but there are a lot of commonalities among modern era CCs. I'd rather him be honest and/or consistent than cook up some creative passage just for the sake of it.

-As far as aging, things have changed greatly since the late 90s in terms of aging. The old Corojo tobacco strains used for the better part of the 20th century did require much more aging to round out, generally speaking. The newer Habana 2000 and Criollo strains do not. Also, leaf curing methods have changed during that time. CCs are much more approachable young than they used to be. So his general aging guidelines, for the time, weren't far off base. Now, it's a different story entirely. A < 6 month old Monte or Bolivar is pretty much ready to rock and won't really improve much more after only 1-3 years. 

-OK, so the guy has multiple favorite cigars. I suppose he should have written "one of" my favorite cigars, but oh well, at At least he's bold enough and honest enough to say it at all.

So, yes, the book does have a fair degree of subjectivity and isn't exactly "clinical" or sterile" but the information in the book was unavailable anywhere else until recently. It's extremely comprehensive, and above all, accurate. In fact, I'm not aware that any piece of data, info or record has been challenged. That is impressive. In fact, almost all of CCW's info through 2004 is culled entirely from MRN. At the time, it was, and in many ways still is, an unmatched resource, and I think quite a bit more than just a fun read for a cigar enthusiast. It is a highly informative, complete, accurate and original resource that should be given credit as such.

I'm not saying the whole thing is bad, it's just out of date and my edition has enough flaws that it irked me. If you want to know about cigars that are from, ok, 2004, or earlier, have at it. And since he states that what makes Cuban cigars special are the changes they go through as they age, your statement:

Quote

A < 6 month old Monte or Bolivar is pretty much ready to rock and won't really improve much more after only 1-3 years. 

makes the book pretty much moot for anyone who is buying cigars now. So love the book if you want and read it and study it, I did. But as a reference now, it's not worth big dough.  At least to me it's not. and please, if you can, explain   coginers, or conigers. 

 

[luv2fly]

I love mine.  I got it for less than $100 years ago.  Can't remember the exact amount.   My buddies love to read it when they come over and I love having it.  Not in the best of condition now but I enjoy it for sure.  Would love to have the new edition but that will not happen for budget reasons.  Lots of passion went into the book and I am grateful to have the opportunity to own it.  Just my thoughts.

[NSXCIGAR]

16 minutes ago, joeypots said:

I'm not saying the whole thing is bad, it's just out of date and my edition has enough flaws that it irked me. If you want to know about cigars that are from, ok, 2004, or earlier, have at it. And since he states that what makes Cuban cigars special are the changes they go through as they age, your statement:

makes the book pretty much moot for anyone who is buying cigars now. So love the book if you want and read it and study it, I did. But as a reference now, it's not worth big dough.  At least to me it's not.

Good points, and I certainly understand age issue. Obviously, the 2nd edition really applies to cigars made prior--lots has changed since 2004 which will hopefully be addressed in the upcoming 3rd edition. Certainly, aging characteristics and recommended aging time have changed. 

Nothing is perfect, but MRN is objectively the most comprehensive resource there is. 

[oliverdst]

I am sure there are a lot of buyers for those who want to sell.

[Smallclub]

6 hours ago, joeypots said:

BTW, who has a definition of coginers, or conigers, or what ever it is that he refers to that make a cigar age well?

CONGENERS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congener_(alcohol)

[Ken Gargett]

42 minutes ago, joeypots said:

please, if you can, explain   coginers, or conigers. 

 

i do not want to speak for MRN but i wonder if he is referring to congeners of the type produced during the fermentation of spirits. they are basically a mix of the undesirable and not so undesirable. things like the fusel alcohols back end of a fermentation, plus esters and tannins etc. i have not heard of them in the production of cigars but given that there is fermentation involved, i don't see why not. 

[Ken Gargett]

21 minutes ago, Smallclub said:

CONGENERS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congener_(alcohol)

looks like we are on the same page. i think that must be what he means. must say that i had not really thought about them from a cigar fermentation perspectve but no reason why not. 

[oliverdst]

1 hour ago, Ken Gargett said:

looks like we are on the same page. i think that must be what he means. must say that i had not really thought about them from a cigar fermentation perspectve but no reason why not. 

There are FOH members who have "access" to him. This can be easily answered.

[JohnS]

I too have enjoyed referencing this book, in particular learning about MRN's subjective insights on cigars and I've also enjoyed Adriano Martinez Rius' input as an insider in the Habanos industry in Cuba. 

If you can't access MRN's 'An Illustrated History of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars', try at least to source Adriano Martinez Rius' 'El Gran Libro Del Habano' (The Great Book of the Habano), a similar grand (in regards to information, not volume) reference work on Habanos cigars released in 2010.

[MooseAMuffin]

Any idea how much this 2nd edition is going to cost?

[JohnS]

15 minutes ago, MooseAMuffin said:

Any idea how much this 2nd edition is going to cost?

In terms of US Dollars, thousands. 

[MooseAMuffin]

2 minutes ago, JohnS said:

In terms of US Dollars, thousands. 

Well, I guess if I sold everything I own, I might be able to pick up a copy

[JohnS]

5 minutes ago, MooseAMuffin said:

Well, I guess if I sold everything I own, I might be able to pick up a copy

And I don't mention the price as a matter of disrespect in any way, it's just that it is that big in volume, hence the expense (and delay).

[joeypots]

14 hours ago, Smallclub said:

CONGENERS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congener_(alcohol)

Thanks. I never thought to look in Wikipedia. 

[joeypots]

http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/mrn-second-edition-exclusive-pictures-final-info/

Here is Nino's blog, Nino's Flying Cigar,  post about the second edition. Scroll down to see the photos.

[NSXCIGAR]

5 hours ago, joeypots said:

http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/mrn-second-edition-exclusive-pictures-final-info/

Here is Nino's blog, Nino's Flying Cigar,  post about the second edition. Scroll down to see the photos.

Hadn't seen that link yet, thanks for posting.

Wowza, lots of new info and notes--and it looks like tasting notes will be updated from 2004 onward as well. Six volumes, new research, new topics, extremely rare cigars mentioned in the first but not pictured until now, ultra-rare unofficial productions--this will certainly be one of the most definitive works on any topic, let alone cigars. I had no idea this was going to be so much more voluminous than the first--no wonder it's taken a decade and been met with years of delays.

Looks like only 1800 out of the 2000 will be available for purchase, and 1500 out of those will be gradually released over a 5-year period, meaning scarcity will remain high. 

And since slipcases for future updates are indicated, it appears that MRN is committed to a continuing effort to catalog all cigars released in the future as well. Very impressive.

[planetary]

The absence of updates for 2 years is concerning, however.

I find it disappointing that MRN is limiting the number of copies to be sold.  I'm sure this decision benefits collectibility (and Nino's many pictures of the custom book cases suggest this is a significant planned factor), but isn't the purpose of an encyclopedia to share information?  Why not sell to any number of buyers?