Which tool to choose for cutting your cigar

When you want to enjoy a cigar, an essential step is cutting the head of the cigar. If this cut is done poorly, it can ruin the entire tasting experience. Follow our tips to avoid common mistakes and fully enjoy your cigar.

Which tool should you choose for cutting?

The market offers many accessories dedicated to cutting cigars. Each tool has advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs and experience. Here is an overview of the available solutions.

The double-blade guillotine

One of the most popular tools is the double-blade guillotine. Simple to use and very effective, it ensures a clean and precise cut, ideal for preserving the integrity of your cigar.

Single-blade cigar cutters

Single-blade cigar cutters are another option. However, their use is more delicate. A single blade can crush the cigar head, which can damage the wrapper leaf and affect the draw quality.

Note that these guillotines (single or double blade) are limited by the diameter of the cigar (called ring gauge).

Cigar scissors

For fans of large modules, cigar scissors are an excellent alternative. Their design allows for precise cutting even on cigars with a large diameter.

However, be careful, using scissors requires a certain dexterity to avoid damaging the wrapper leaf.

The punch

The cigar punch is another highly appreciated cutting method. This tool consists of a cylinder with a sharp edge, which creates a small round hole on the head of the cigar. The old aficionados even used ammunition casings for this purpose!

To avoid nicotine plugs, choose a cigar punch suited to the gauge of your cigar. For example, the following model offers three different sizes to fit all vitolas:

The beveled blade

Finally, the beveled blade is a less recommended option. Its use can lead to crushing the head of the cigar, causing draw resistance and sometimes nicotine plugs.

Some practical advice

• Always cut your cigar in full light. If the lighting is insufficient, do not hesitate to go outside the room to better see what you are doing.
• Make the cut at the beginning of the rounding of the head. A cut that is too high may not reach the filling, while a cut that is too low can damage the outer leaf.
• In case of doubt, it is better to cut too high and recut a second time than to risk a cut that is too low.

Conclusion

For beginners, the double-blade guillotine is the ideal tool. Over time, you will be able to experiment with other methods according to your tastes and dexterity. But above all, avoid the "cowboy" method of cutting with your teeth: it irreparably damages your cigar.

Enjoy your tasting,

Thierry