The Habanos Size Guide Poster Set 2006 Review

The Habanos Size Guide Poster Set 2006 Review

Publication Overview

Released in approximately May 2007, "The Habanos Size Guide" represents a collaborative effort between Habanos S.A. and the distinguished British distributor Hunters & Frankau. This poster collection was made available commercially throughout the United Kingdom and distributed internationally in six different languages, making it accessible to cigar enthusiasts across various markets.

Content and Structure

The complete set comprises four individual sheets, each dedicated to a specific ring gauge category. Three sheets cover the long-filler ranges: heavy, standard, and slender gauges respectively. A fourth sheet addresses the short-filler offerings. Additionally, a consolidated large-format poster was produced, focusing exclusively on the long-filler selections.

Each poster presents a comprehensive visual and written profile of every vitola within the 2006 standard production lineup. The visual component features full-scale representations of each cigar shape, displayed without decorative bands. Accompanying these images are essential technical specifications: the factory name (Vitola de Galera), ring gauge with metric equivalent, length expressed in both millimeters and inches, and the commercial designation assigned to each cigar across all Habanos brands.

Production quality is noteworthy—the posters are printed in vibrant color on substantial, high-quality paper stock, reflecting the premium nature of the subject matter.

Scope and Limitations

The collection documents the complete standard Habanos portfolio as it existed in 2006. Conspicuously absent are Limited Edition releases and Special production items. Beyond external documentation, the posters themselves carry no explicit dating, which makes contextual knowledge important for proper cataloging.

Historical Significance

This publication holds considerable reference value for several reasons. Most significantly, it confirms that the Habanos brand portfolio had contracted to 27 distinct marques by this period. Equally notable is the documentation that machine-made cigars had been entirely eliminated from the Habanos production range—a watershed moment in the company's commitment to handmade quality.

One minor inaccuracy deserves mention: the inclusion of the José L. Piedra Petit Cazadores. While this vitola was apparently planned for 2006 release, actual availability did not occur until mid-to-late 2007, making its presence in this 2006 reference slightly premature.

Value for Collectors and Enthusiasts

For serious cigar aficionados and collectors, this poster set serves as an invaluable historical document. It captures a precise moment in Habanos production history, preserving the complete standard vitola lineup at a time of significant corporate transition. The combination of visual accuracy, technical precision, and production quality makes this set both a practical reference tool and a worthy collector's item.