What is your preferred method for cutting your cigar? Also, have you found a way to cut your cigar that works when you don’t have your cutter with you?
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What Is Your Cut?
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I use the guillotine cutter and occasionally the v-cut. I like the way the smoke covers the whole palette when cut off all the way. I wish I could find a way to cut if I didn’t have my cutter with me. I hope someone that has will post their way!
I have read on a few review websites that it is possible to make a small opening with a fingernail, or even punch out a decent size hole with a few pokes from a tooth pick. I have not personally tried either.
I usually use a guillotine cutter.
When I find myself without a cutter, a Bic ballpoint pen cap works as a decent punch, as long as you make sure it hasn’t got any ink on it (could taste a bit funny until the ink burns off, if you got it on the cigar).
In a pinch I’ve used a box cutter to do a V-Cut and it worked quite well. In a bind I’ve also bitten the cap off but I usually end up spitting out tobacco bits for the next 30 minutes.
@Jesse: I’ve never bitten the cap off, but I’ve heard from others who have that it’s not worth it. Like you said, they just end up spitting out tobacco bits for the entire smoke. To me, that wouldn’t be worth it, as it would ruin the experience and I wouldn’t enjoy the cigar like I should.
@Adam: I definitely only do this to cheaper cigars. To keep myself from doing this again, I’ve collected a few freebie cutters that I’ve spread out in locations where I typically smoke in case I forget my trusty Palio.
I hear ya, Jesse.
I usually do the guillotine, but be without my cutter? Never! I have some Xikar cigar scissors that fold down real tiny, I can keep those in my pocket all the time with no real problem, so I do.
I’ve got a cheap punch at the moment and I’m thinking of upgrading to a Xikar Punch Cutter soon. As far as bladed cutters I have a Palio and and my wife has a Xikar. Myself I prefer the Palio as I find the Xikar a bit awkward to use. I prefer the punch on cigars with a bit looser draw.
Guillotine or bust!
I don’t like the punch because it pulls too much tar into the draw and ruins the taste. I only use a v-cut on short fillers, because a guillotine cut will loosen the small fillers and make an unpleasant experience.
If Guillotine is unavailable, teeth work just fine.
I’ve never really had that much trouble with tar build up. What cigars give you trouble with that?
This goes for any cigar. Namely, the longer the worse the problem: Churchill, Double Corona, etc. Anytime that you use a punch cut, it narrows the draw which then causes build up. This will then cause the taste of the cigar to be altered. This is one reason the guillotine is the most chosen cut.
I’ve never had too much trouble with tar build up but typically I only use the punch on cigars with a looser draw and I typically don’t smoke anything larger than a Robusto.
I have used a punch, a V, a Xikar and now I use the Xikar scissors. It really depends on my mood and someones what is near by.
I prefer my 2-bladed guillotine (no single blades for me), but if I forget it I can carefully cut with my pocket knife. I use a slow sawing motion and keep my blade razor sharp.