Cubans: The Ultimate Cigars. This item is unavailable.Cubans: The Ultimate Cigars

Here is all you need to know about the world's best-loved cigars. First is a complete history: Columbus's 1492 landing on Cuba's shores - and the discovery of the Indians' odd habit of inhaling smoke from bundles of rolled plant leaves; the evolution of the cigar industry from small-time farming through Castro's collectivization; the fascinating saga of a tumultuous past - and an exciting future. Also examined are the painstaking labor and professional craftsmanship of the agriculture and manufacturing, with special emphasis on what makes Cuban cigars extraordinary. Perhaps the most useful chapter for the aficionado is a thorough but concise discussion of each brand, with lore and background as well as frank assessments of the current products - and including the most up-to-date information on the latest new releases. And of particular interest to the American cigar-lover are practical chapters on the embargo and its meaning for the consumer, smuggling and counterfeiting and how to avoid being harmed by both, and a personal and eye-opening travelogue. (4 3/4 X 7 1/2, 196 pages, color photos)