In the movies, cigars look effortless and automatic. A character – usually a hotshot boss or take-charge action hero – simply slides the cigar from their pocket and lights up. Easy as that.
Unfortunately, Hollywood usually misses a step in the stogie smoking process: cutting the cigar. Cigars are manufactured and sold with a closed, intact cap (the end that goes in your mouth). Without a cut, you wouldn’t be able to draw any smoke – rendering your stogie about as useful as a prop cigar.
In this article, learn the ins and outs of cigar cutting. Now, let’s cut to the chase.
Why Does Proper Cutting Matter?
The intro detailed why a cigar ought to be cut – but why do you need to cut it properly? Why can’t you simply take scissors or a steak knife to it?
The problem with dull or serrated blades is twofold. First, they compress the tobacco filler before making any cut (think of it as trying to cut a crusty baguette with a butter knife). The compressed tobacco leads to a tighter draw and lighting issues. Second, a dull or serrated blade can tear the wrapper, affecting the stogie’s taste and structural integrity.
For these reasons, you need a dedicated cigar cutter (or, in a pinch, a workable solution).
Punches, Guillotines or Wedges: A Primer on Cutter Types
Cigar cutters come in three main types: cigar punches, guillotine cutters, and wedge cutters (or V-cutters).
Cigar punches feature a sharp, cylindrical blade that creates a circular hole in the cigar cap. Guillotine cutters are the most popular type and resemble (you guessed it) a small guillotine that leverages two sharp blades for an even, clean cut. Lastly, wedge cutters or V-cutters look a little like a cat’s eye and create a slit-shaped incision in the cigar cap; they used to be relatively unknown, but they’ve gained popularity in the last decade.
Using a Cigar Cutter
When using a cigar punch, gently fit the circular blade against the cap and twist it until you meet natural resistance; this guide on how to use a cigar punch will give you all the info you need.
When using traditional straight-blade cutters like the guillotine, you must first find a suitable cut depth. As Cigar Aficionado points out, “Too small a cut and the cigar won’t draw; too wide a cut and the cigar will fall apart.” They advocate for cutting about one-sixteenth inch from the cigar’s head, or right where the cap straightens out. Make one confident, quick slice with the guillotine.
In a Pinch: What to Do Without a Dedicated Cigar Cutter
Did you search for this article because you’re about to enjoy a premium cigar with no cutter in sight? Every cigar lover has been there before. In a pinch, you can try some DIY cutting methods. (Disclaimer: these aren’t nearly as good as dedicated cutters; your mileage may vary). They include:
- Using a golf tee to burrow a hole in the cap
- Circling a very sharp (non-serrated) knife along the cap, then make a decisive cut.
- Removing the pink eraser from a pencil and using the aluminum casing as a cigar punch
- Using your teeth, a last-ditch, primal method that most cigar regulars have tried once
Hopefully, this guide equips you with everything you need to know for a clean, effective cigar cut.
