So you have purchased your first cigar whether online or at your local cigar store, what now? Well let’s cut that baby and fire it up! Whoa Whoa Whoa, first things first, you may have noticed the store doesn’t cut it for you unless you ask or the online shop doesn’t cut it whether you ask or not, you have to do it. So what is the best cigar cut? It really all boils down to choice, so since you are new to this I will describe the three cuts and why I think people choose them. However, first if you listen to anything I say listen to this: DO NOT BUY A CHEAP CUTTER! There are three and a half types of cutters, A Guillotine or straight cutter, a V or wedge cutter and a punch cutter, the half is a scissor cutter, which is primarily the same type cut as a Guillotine cutter it just looks like a weird pair of scissors. I am not sure why the punch cutter is called a cutter as you are punching a hole in the cap but that’s what they are called.
There are a variety of reasons as to which cut you use, most of which are personal preference but there are scientific and propulsion reasons as well. Ok that may be a bit of a stretch but if you think of a jet engine, the intake is much larger than the exit chamber (punch or V cut), which compresses the smoke (the flavor) unlike the guillotine cut where the intake is about the same as the exit chamber. There are some that say just the opposite, the bigger the exit the more flavor but since I am Your Cigar Tutor, we will go with my theory. Or try them all and see which one you like the best.
There are rules though to cutting a cigar, when using a guillotine cutter NEVER cut the cap completely off as your beautifully wrapped cigar will come unravelled which will leave you spitting more than smoking. The red arrow indicates the perfect cut with the guillotine cutter. Obviously if you have purchased a Torpedo or Pyramid shaped cigar about the only cutter you can use is a guillotine.
As usual, if you have a question or comment feel free to hit me up below.
Smoke em If You Got em,
Steve
The Cigar Tutor
