Easy-breezy: The Guillotine
One thin, confident slice at the head and the cap drops off. Try not to cut too much as you may unwittingly cause the wrapper to unravel, making the cigar messy to smoke. The best way to do this is to look for the shoulder of the cigar – literally the area where the curved end starts to straighten out – and make your clean-cut right there. Double-bladed cutters provide a cleaner, smoother cut while and a well-circulated draw. The only letdown is that some residue and tar will come into contact with your mouth.
Punctilious : The Punch
Needs the precision of a knockout blow. The least effective of the three, it works by removing a small circular section of the cap rather than creating a large opening at the head. Just press the sharp circular blade into the head, twist and pull away – hopefully you’ll end up with the perfect hole without causing the whole wrapper to come undone. Also, make sure that the diameter of the cut isn’t too small as it could restrict the air circulation while the tar and residue may accumulate at the opening of the hole.
Savoir-faire: The Notch or V-Shaped Cut
This is an elegant and stylish cut. The process is very similar to its guillotine cousin except that the single blade cuts a channel into the cigar instead slicing off the cap. This type of incision allows for a denser draw, which can sometimes make the smoke a little too hot. Aside from that, this type of slice actually allows for the air to circulate properly while the residue and the tar accumulate on the wedges, keeping them well away from your mouth.
Note to perfect light: Use wooden matches or a torch-butane lighter so as not to affect the taste of the cigar. Toast the foot a little on flame for even light before placing the cigar to your mouth. Once in your mouth, rotate the cigar under the flame while gently puffing out the smoke every few seconds. If the cigar is still not burning evenly gently blow at the foot to further ignite it. Only then are you ready to truly enjoy your cigar.
