Cutting
You probably want to ask whether cutting is that important, don't you? Well, the answer is - yes, it is. A right clean cut is really necessary to fully enjoy smoking a cigar.
First of all, you will need to cut the head of a cigar before you put it into your mouth to smoke.
The important thing is that you do not cut your cigar until you are ready to smoke it.
It is essential to make clean and regular cut. Otherwise it will cause the wrapper to unravel.
Look at the head of the cigar. You will notice the cap, which is a round piece of tobacco that is glued to the head to keep the wrapper together. There will be a distinct line. The end, which you light, is the opposite end of the cap. It is called the tuck or the foot of the cigar.
You have to clip just before the cap leaving 3-4 mm to avoid tearing the wrapper. Hold on the cap and then cut. Make it in one quick, strong and precise movement.
You should never cut just at the limit of the cap or lower because you'll risk tearing the wrapper. You only mast cut off enough so you can see the filler.
There are several types of cigar cutters, and the most widespread are:
- Straight Cut (Guillotine)
- Punch Cut (Bullet)
- The "V" cut.
Choose a cutter that you plan to use. It is based on personal preference and the size and/or shape of the cigar.
The best advantage will be if you use a good quality cutter. Then you will have a better tasting smoke.
Guillotine
The straight cut made with the single blade guillotine cutter is the most common. The guillotines have a lot of advantages: they are the least expensive, practical and you can safely carry them in your shirt or trouser pockets. All you need to do is hold your cigar with one hand and the guillotine with the other, then insert the head of the cigar into the guillotine and cut into the cap. A lot of aficionados prefer the double blade guillotine since it makes a cleaner cut.
Punch
If you prefer to use the punch cut you have to place the cutting end of the punch in contact with the head of the cigar and gently twist while pushing down into the tobacco with a firm motion. This will cut out a little plug of tobacco from the head of the cigar. There are several types of cigar punches: a bullet punch, Havana punch, and multi-punch. If you prefer lots of smoke so you need to punch several times in that area of the cap.
V-cutter
V-cutter makes a notched hole in the cap of the cigar. This cutter creates a wedge shaped notice in the cigars head. This cut allows proper air circulation to occur. Good V-cutter penetrates deeper into the filler than straight cutter, and a lot of aficionados prefer it for thicker gauge cigars.
Also you can bite the cap or use a sharp knife for cutting it. But you have to cut it carefully since the cap is used to seal the head of a cigar and secure the wrapper. Therefore it can ruin your smoking experience. If you prefer scissors, keep them sharp and hold the cigar against one of the blades while you cut.
So... now that your cigar is decapitated it's time to put it in your mouth and light!
P.S. In case you still have questions, or even if you don't, you will surely enjoy this video with a lecture on cigar cutting from Aria Giovanni: