The Gourmet Guide to Cigars
Author: Paul B. K. Garmirian
Edition: First Edition
Year: 1990
Paul Garmirian's "The Gourmet Guide to Cigars" stands as one of the more influential cigar reference works to emerge at the close of the twentieth century. Originally released in 1990, this 146-page hardcover volume offers readers a thoughtful window into the cigar world as it existed three decades ago—a perspective that has only grown more valuable with time.
Format and Presentation
| Pages | 146 |
| Dimensions | 235mm × 158mm |
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Illustrations | Black and white photographs, cigar bands |
The book is presented in a substantial hardcover format, measuring 235 by 158 millimeters. Inside, Garmirian includes various black and white photographs and imagery, with cigar bands featured among the visual elements. While not lavishly illustrated by modern standards, the visual content serves the educational purpose well.
Historical Significance
Garmirian earned recognition for bringing order to what had been a somewhat chaotic naming conventions in the cigar world. His work on rationalizing common cigar names provided a foundation that would later be expanded upon by Perelman in his more comprehensive classification system. In this sense, "The Gourmet Guide to Cigars" serves as an important stepping stone in the literature of cigar taxonomy.
Notably, this volume is widely credited as the first reference work to draw a clear organizational distinction between Havana and non-Havana cigars, separating them into distinct categories. This approach may seem obvious today, but at the time it represented a meaningful evolution in how cigar literature structured its subject matter.
Content and Coverage
The book provides a broad overview of cigars, accompanied by engaging anecdotes that add personality to the reference material. Of particular interest to enthusiasts is the chapter devoted to Davidoff—a section that offers revealing insights into this iconic brand. Readers seeking to understand the Davidoff story will find worthwhile material here.
Verdict
Perhaps the greatest value of "The Gourmet Guide to Cigars" lies in its function as a historical document. The book captures the state of the cigar industry circa 1990, preserving knowledge and perspectives from a pivotal era. Some thirty years after its initial publication, the work remains worth reading—not only for its foundational contributions to cigar classification but also for the snapshot it provides of a bygone era in cigar culture.
For collectors of cigar literature and those interested in the historical development of cigar knowledge, this first edition represents a worthwhile addition to the reference shelf.