"Cut It Out!"

     Today, let's talk about cutting your cigar.  One of the questions I'm asked frequently is "does the cut make a difference?"  Well, in my humble opinion, yes the cut makes a difference.  They're several different cuts if you're not familiar.  In general you have the guillotine cut, the V-Cut, the punch and the piercing.  Let's take a brief look at each cut and talk about 'em a bit.

     First, the guillotine or straight cut.  That can be done with either a single or double blade cutter (the double blade is the better of the two) or if you're real "old school" with a very sharp pocket knife or razor blade.  With this cut, you're cutting of the cap of the cigar just above the shoulder (didn't know I was a surgeon, did you).  The cap of course in the head of the cigar and what holds the wrapper together.  So you need to be very careful when cutting your cigar so you don't cut it past the shoulder, as if you do, it'll typically cause your cigar to unravel.  Back to the actual guillotine cut, which allows more smoke to flow through your cigar, causing a faster burning cigar, with less of a possibility of tars building up as you smoke it.  If you're not careful, it will also cause your cigar to burn hot and we all know a hot burning cigar is not a good cigar.  I personally mainly use the guillotine cut on very small ring gauge cigars, Petite Corona's, Lancero's, and the occasional Toro.  Because they're smaller rings, and you'll want to get the full flavor that's why I recommend using a guillotine on those cigars.

     Next let's look at the V-cut.  This is the cut I use most.  A V-cut or "Cat eye" cut, literally cuts a , or what looks like a cat's pupil, in the cap of the cigar and not as much smoke comes from the cigar as with a straight cut.  Larger ring gauge cigars Corona Gorda's, Churchill's, Sixties etc., are cigars that work well with this type of cut.  This type of cut also, for the most part helps maintain the structure of the head of  the cigar as you smoke it, because you're only cutting a small V from the cap.  The drawback (no pun intended) to this cut is that, if you smoke the stogie to fast, the possibility of tars building up and giving you that bitter taste, is more likely.  And because it's not cutting off the whole cap, it tends to make your smoke last longer. 

     The Punch, is my second most used cut.  The Punch is a hollow cut about the circumference of a No. 2 pencil.  Again, on the cap of the cigar you take the Punch and gently twist it, so it puts a hole in the top of it.  This is also good for larger ring cigars I mentioned in the paragraph above.   Like the V-cut, it regulates the amount of smoke that comes from the cigar, burning slower, and really mixing the tobaccos give you the ultimate taste profile.  As with the V-cut, the Punch will also build up that nasty tar if you smoke the cigar to fast.  Another drawback is that if the cigar has a double or triple cap, you may have to take some of the tobacco out of the hole (because the punch will only make a hole and not remove tobacco from the head of the cigar) and if you don't, it will make the draw somewhat harder.

     The Piercer is like the Punch, but it's very, very small.  If you've seen some of the older machine made sticks like White Owls, Dutch Masters etc., they have the piercing.  A small hole the size of a small galvanized "finishing" nail, which by the way is what some use to pierce their cigars.  Piercing a cigar is a really old fashioned way of enjoying your cigar.  The biggest drawback is that if the cigar is rolled to tight, you won't get a good draw and if you keep trying it will build up a massive amount of tar, although if you do get a nicely rolled cigar, plus you end up using the piercer to keep opening up a passage in the cigar.  Piercing produces just a small amount of smoke and it truly makes the smoke last a lot longer. 

     A lot of folks still bite or pinch the end of the cigars off and I truly don't recommend that method, but if that's all you have, go for it.   Biting or pinching tends to destroy the cap and the unraveling things happens.  I always keep a cutter or punch on my person.  You can get cutters or punches that fit on your key chain, I have a "credit card" cutter that's great (unless you forget it in your wallet and trying going through the machines at the airport).  It's a metal cutter that's the same size as a credit card and its good to have as a back up.  Several companies also make ink pens with punches built in, and a lot of lighters have cutters and punches built in as well. 

     So the next time you enjoy a stick, experiment with the different style cuts and you just may be surprised by what you discover.  Excuse me, while I V-cut my CAO Gold Maduro and enjoy my Friday evening.  Until next time, CLP!!! (clip or cut, light and puff)  Long ashes  (___G__________}}}}~~~