February 2025 will mark the arrival of CIGARS: A Biography, an extraordinary undertaking more than 15 years in the making that deftly combines the remarkable talents of author Aaron Sigmond and photographer Ian Spanier in their fourth collaboration.
Richly illustrated with exclusive photography by Spanier—shot on location in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras and Mexico, as well as across the United States and throughout Europe—and penned by Sigmond, CIGARS: A Biography is part history book, part travelogue, part photographic monograph and part luxury reference book. It all adds up to a comprehensive survey of cigars that weaves in the narrative tapestry of Sigmond’s more than 35 years as a renowned cigar connoisseur. Over the decades his travels have taken him (often accompanied by Spanier) to cigar factories and tobacco farms throughout the Caribbean Basin, Europe and the United States, as well as cigar merchants and lounges around the world.
CIGARS: A Biography includes a foreword by Tom Chamberlin, ardent cigar enthusiast and editor in chief of The Rake, the world’s leading publication on classic men’s style and good living. This hand-bound illustrated volume is presented in a handcrafted cigar case– inspired slipcase, a must-have for any cigar aficionado.
“When you’ve had the privilege of unfettered access to true cigarmaking masters such as Carlito Fuente Jr., Litto Gomez, Henke Kelner, Manolo Quesada and Benji Menéndez; legendary tobacco growers including Don Alejandro Robaina, Jon Foster and the Plasencia and Oliva families; and cigar merchants such as Edward Sahakian and Desmond Sautter, as well as cigarmakers of my own generation such as Pete Johnson, Jonathan Drew and Nestor Andrés Plasencia, the humbling fact is you’re always learning,” Sigmond says. “Nonetheless, after four decades in and around the cigar world as a retailer, writer and creative director you also have a tale or two to tell, and thoughts to share.”
This new book is also an anthology of sorts, featuring previously published articles and book excerpts thoroughly updated by Sigmond. Included as well is past work from Spanier, blended seamlessly with unpublished photographs taken in the last decade and a half, and all-new images shot specifically for CIGARS: A Biography over the last two years. The result is the book Sigmond and Spanier have long envisioned. It was designed by award-winning creative director Liliana Guia.
“From a photographer’s standpoint, a comprehensive body of work like this signifies a deep exploration of the subject, capturing nuances and intricacies over time,” Spanier says. “The evolution in my approach reflects not only a dynamic journey but shifts in composition, lighting and perspective, showcasing my growth as a photographer and, equally, my growing desire to visually interpret the complexities of this distinctive subject.”
Preorders of CIGARS: A Biography are now being taken exclusively at www.sigculture.com
RETAIL PRICE
- $175 / €175 / £150
- Limited First Edition
