How to Properly Cut a Cigar
Properly cutting a cigar without ruining it can be more difficult than it looks. Cut too deeply, and the cigar can burn too hot. Use a dull blade, and you can tear the wrapper and cause it to unravel. The right cigar cutter can ensure a clean cut and perfect draw.
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Instructions
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Choose the Right Type of Cigar Cutter
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Choose between guillotine cutters, cigar scissors, punch cutters or V-cutters. Guillotines and cigar scissors will make a clean cut. A punch cutter cores out a small piece of filler at the tip while leaving the sides in tact. Finally, a V-cutter leaves a notched cut across the head of the cigar while preserving much of the surface.
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Experiment with several cutters to find the right one. Guillotines can fit in the palm of your hand and will properly cut a cigar with just a pinch of your fingers. Cigar scissors cut cleanly, but are less convenient to carry. Punch cutters are small, sharp blades that can fit on a key chain, making them convenient and versatile. V-cutters provide the same cut every time, but take a little practice.
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Find the right cutter for your favorite type of cigar. Each one provides a different draw.
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Invest in a good-quality cutter and keep the blades sharp to properly cut a cigar without smashing the tip.
Cut a Cigar Properly
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Use a guillotine or cigar scissors to remove the top 1/8 inch of the cigar, making a straight cut where the tip begins to curve from the body. Place the cigar into the hole of the guillotine and press the blades together, being careful not to cut at an angle. If you're using scissors, make one quick cut. Guillotines work best on cigars up to 54 ring gauge.
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Insert a punch cutter into the closed end of the cigar, twist gently and remove the core. Punch cutters work well on mixed filler and large ring gauge cigars. They also enable you to adjust the size of the cut.
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Place a V-cutter against the head of the cigar and press the lever. V-cutters work well on thinner cigars.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy a double-edged guillotine with a ring gauge, or width, of at least 54 if you smoke wider cigars.
Remove the cigar band, or leave it on? Read about the pros and cons at the Cigars International website (see Resources below).
Don't use a punch cutter on a dry cigar.
Don't try to cut a wide cigar with a small-gauge cutter or a dull blade.
Try not to remove the entire cap when cutting or the cigar will likely unravel.
