Here are a few ways that you can cut your cigar:. A cigar is comprised of a head and a foot, with the foot being the end that you will light and the head being the end that you will cut and place in your mouth. Most cigars also feature an identifying band towards the head to help you identify which side to cut. On top of the head, your cigar will most likely be capped , meaning that the roller placed tobacco from the wrapper leaf there specifically to hold the wrapper together after you cut it.
Most likely, your cigar will feature a triple cap following Cuban tradition and as pictured above. The goal of cutting the cigar is not to cut the entire cap off, but just to remove the bare minimum necessary to smoke your cigar. Beginners are encouraged to start with a V cutter as it contains a frame that will not let you cut too far.
Likewise, a perfect cutter is a variation on the guillotine cutter that also features a backing and will not let you cut too far. There are both shallow and deep V cuts, each affording the cigar enthusiast different experiences. If you have a guillotine or straight cutter without this feature and want to remove the possibility of cutting too deep, you can also place the guillotine cutter flat on a table. Punching a cigar involves vertically rotating a hollow, cylindrical punch into the cap.
This method is not recommended for cigars with just a single cap such as the higher end Padron series. This method requires a slicing action instead of a chopping action, where you will carefully rotate the knife inward to remove a small portion of the cap.
Scissors are usually only a valid option if you have cigar scissors as pictured above - normal scissors just don't cut it. This method relies on the concept of removing the smallest amount of the cap possible, and is used to simply scrape some of the tobacco away so that you can smoke your cigar.
Raise the head of your cigar to your lips and take a cold draw, or a draw without the cigar being lit. Taking the time to toast a cigar is completely optional, but not without benefits. Here are the most common reasons to toast your cigar:. A consistently even burn is the hallmark of a well-made cigar, showcasing the skill of the Master Blender and rolling pair. But no matter how well constructed your cigar is, there are no substitutions for getting off to a good start.
To toast your cigar, hold the foot of your cigar at a degree angle above a flame source see Step 4 for acceptable sources without letting the flames touch the tobacco directly. The goal is to slowly warm up the foot of your cigar until the outside edges are white and the center of your cigar has been exposed to heat. A tunnel occurs when filler tobacco the center burns much faster than the binder or wrapper, creating undesirable airways that may cause the draw of your cigar to become too loose, the flavors to become too hot and acrid, or force your cigar to go out.
Some even prefer to continue the toasting process, effectively skipping Step 4. This method involves slowly rotating the flames to the center of the cigar, igniting the outside wrapper and binder first and then working your way to the filler tobacco.
Using this method, cigar smokers slowly light the entire cigar without ever placing it to their lips. Proponents of this method say that they experience better flavors from the beginning because they were much less likely scorch the tobacco or draw hotter air through the cigar.
Torch lighters are the most commonly used lighters for cigars because they provide a concentrated flame that is very controllable. Torch lighters are particularly useful when smoking in the wind or at higher altitudes, as soft flame lighters are either impracticable or may scorch the wrapper.
When using a torch lighter, take care to remove the cigar from direct flames. Depending on the intensity of your torch, one or more inches should be between the visible flame and the foot of your cigar. Soft flame lighters are excellent choices when indoors, although most disposable lighters become uncomfortable for your thumb after long periods of time.
As a benefit, however, soft flame enthusiasts are rewarded for their patience with less risk of overheating their cigar. It is not recommended to use a Zippo lighter as the smell of the fuel will impact the flavor of your cigar. If you must use a Zippo lighter, let the flame burn for several seconds first in an attempt to burn off any residual smell.
Wooden matches expunge the chemical odor within seconds of lighting the head, making them ideal for lighting a cigar with. To light your cigar , place the head the side that you cut in your mouth and apply flame underneath the foot at an angle. Simultaneously draw air into your mouth and rotate your cigar, pulling flames into the tobacco and creating an even, uniform burn.
Once again, take care not to let your cigar touch the torch flames directly, as it may directly affect the flavor profile. There are few things in this world more satisfying than smoking a premium cigar, so congratulations on making it this far! To enjoy your cigar fully, here are a few tips to remember:. Cigar smoke should be drawn into the mouth and expelled the same way, without ever entering the lungs.
See our FAQ at the bottom for retro haling, a method in which smoke is expelled through the nose but still not inhaled into the lungs. The best practice to maximize flavor and improve your experience is to enjoy your cigar slowly. A cigar consists of burning tobacco that will become bitter, acrid, and unfavorable at higher temperatures.
Of course, every cigar is different and may require a different cadence. Instead of pulling or ripping the cigar, however, use your incisor teeth to create a shallow V shape cut in the cigar. Focus on scraping away the wrapper tobacco, being careful not to bite too hard and crack the cap. If you have access to a sharp fingernail or loose nail, these could also be used to scrape away enough tobacco to smoke your cigar.
Nails offer more control and flexibility to teeth at minimize your chances of ruining the cigar. You smoke the end of the cigar that you cut. If you have a precut cigar, usually the side that you smoke will be identified with a band. Yes you can! Preferrably cigar scissors, as they're sharper and created specifically for this purpose.
Normal scissors are duller, thicker, and must be used in a non-traditional way to cut a cigar. If you attempt to cut a cigar with scissors the way that you would cut paper, it will split the head and possibly ruin your cigar. If you must use scissors, use it like you would your fingernail to scrape away enough of the cap to be able to smoke your cigar. In most instances, premium cigars will feature a cap that you will need to cut before you are able to smoke it.
There are some instances of cigars being pre-cut, however, in which case you won't need to perform any additional cuts. To take full advantage of this site, please enable your browser's JavaScript feature. Learn how. Prime Fiat Lux by Luciano M. Carrillo Dusk by E. Carrillo E Stunner By E. Carrillo E. Carillo Interlude E. Carrillo La Alianza Natural by E.
Does Your Cigar Taste Good? Is Your Cigar Too Hot? Should You Remove the Band? How to Put Your Cigar Out? Related Posts. How to Perfectly Cut and Light Your Cigar In order to fully access the rich flavor and aroma fine cigars deliver, it is essential to know how to cut a cigar and how to light a cigar properly. How to Store Cigars and Keep Them Fresh Without a Humidor Before looking at options for cigar storage, it is important to understand the purpose of a humidor, and how ideal cigar storage conditions can be achieved without one.
Email Address. Subscribing, please wait As you exhale, you should able to release it through your nose. The preferred and conventional way of holding a cigar is between your thumb and index finger. If the cigar is quite long, you can let your other fingertips rest across the body.
As the cigar burns down, you can reduce the number of fingers that you use. Another particularly popular way of holding thick cigars is by curling your index finger of the band. Some circles tend to frown upon holding a cigar between your index and middle fingers. Whichever way you choose to hold your cigar, try to refrain from animated gestures or pointing with it, which can the ash to drop off.
Try to keep your hand relatively still with the cigar parallel to the ground. Generally, chomping on a cigar can be considered poor form. Furthermore, it may damage the wrapper due to pressure and moisture, which will cause it to unravel.
Those designed specifically for cigars feature large indents or stirrups designed to let them rest without falling into the ash. Likewise, letting the ash get too long may have the opposite effect and the cigar will be too cold. Nevertheless, a high-quality and well-rolled cigar will be able to create a very long length of ash. Long ash on a cigar usually indicates that the cigar was rolled with the right tightness and consistency.
Furthermore, it suggests that the length of filler leaf used was quite long too. Alternatively, cigars that lose their ash too easily may have been loosely rolled or made with short filler tobacco. Certain circles of enthusiasts like to compete by stacking the ash as long as possible. Similarly, letting the ash get too long that it falls on the floor or in your lap is generally frowned upon. Although it may vary depending the cigar, the ideal length of ash is around an inch 2.
If you see the ash beginning to form a crack, it may be safer to remove the ash earlier. In order to maintain this length, gently rest the cigar against the side of the ashtray and either press it or carefully roll the end at an angle to remove some ash.
If the ash resists too much, continue smoking and try again later. Originally, the band was designed by Dutch-born cigar maker Gustave Bock in the s as a way of identifying his products exported to Europe. However, there have been suggestions that they were created to secure the wrapper in place or even to protect the fingers from nicotine stains.
Today, the bands are largely decorative and means to identify the brand. Like wine labels, the bands can be interpreted as a form of artwork and collecting them is known as vitolphilia.
Some smokers claim that the band should be kept on out of respect for the manufacturer. Meanwhile, others believe that leaving on the band of a particularly expensive cigar is a form of boastful showing off. Generally, people tend to leave the band on when they start the cigar. Removing the band of a cold or freshly lit cigar can be difficult and risks tearing the wrapper. Letting the cigar warm up may loosen the band enough to make this easier.
This ideal time for this can be anything between the first third and halfway. Additionally, you could consider this as a fair compromise between the two differing opinions. Whenever you choose to remove the band, make sure that you do it carefully using your fingernails to avoid damaging the cigar. Knowing how far down to smoke a cigar is mostly a question of personal preference.
Cigar etiquette usually dictates that you should only smoke a cigar halfway. Meanwhile, other sources suggest that you should smoke up until the band or when three finger-widths are left.
Similarly, bands come in different shapes and sizes with some covering as much as half of the cigar itself! Instead, smoke until you feel satisfied with the cigar. If you decide to stop at any point, that is you choice.
Generally, a cigar becomes much stronger in the final third with distinctive peppery notes. Sometimes, they can get quite hot and crude near the end. However, refrain from crushing it like a cigarette. At the very least, this will stink out the room and fill it with smoke. Instead, simply let the cigar rest on the side of an ashtray and it will eventually go out on its own. Leaving them too long in a room can leave a bad smell that takes time to dissipate. After having enjoyed your cigar, take a moment to savour the remaining flavours in your mouth.
A good cigar will leave a pleasant aftertaste that can range from caramel to minty notes. However, you may want to smoke another or move onto something else. One of the best ways to achieve this is by eating or drinking something to cleanse your palate. Therefore, you can aim to neutralise the flavours by opting for something acidic. Coffee is an excellent choice and a well-known palate cleanser. Alternatively, you can choose a spirit such as whisky or rum.
If you prefer to avoid alcohol, soda is known to work well and lemon-based drinks contain decent levels of citric acid. Salted and roasted nuts are an ideal appetiser as well as cheese. Finally, if your tasting a number of cigars, consider waiting at least 15 minutes before lighting up another.
This will give your palate enough time to rest and reset itself. Similarly, ensure that the next one you smoke is stronger than the first or you may struggle to taste it. Now that you have learned how to enjoy a cigar, discover our more detailed guides on other practices. For instance, our cigar cutting and lighting guides feature extra hints and advice.
Alternatively, check out the best places to buy cigars! Many thanks for your kind words! Feel free to share this with anyone you think may also find it useful. Thanks, Vaggelis! Glad that we helped! There are plenty more resources on BU that can help you along your learning journey. Thank you! But I still found this informative, especially regarding how to draw out the smoke and making this special experience last longer!
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