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How to cut a cigar properly

The ritual before the first light.

Hand-rolled Havana-style cigar with wrapper and binder leaves

The perfect cut

You should never prepare a cigar with unsuitable tools. You would damage the delicate wrapper and, in the worst case, end up with the unpleasant taste of raw tobacco in your mouth. Special tools are therefore essential for cutting a cigar properly. Ask an experienced cigar roller about the right tool and you will usually get several answers – because among Aficionados four classic options have become established.

The right choice

Which tool is used in the end depends on the cigar lover’s personal preference. Those who consciously celebrate enjoyment and tradition often own several of these accessories and choose the right instrument for the occasion. Since cutters and scissors are easily lost in everyday life, experienced smokers often own several. Particularly fine models, which can cost 100 euros or more, are however treated with the greatest care and valued as precious companions.

The classics

Among aficionados, four tools have become classics: the cutter, also known as the guillotine; elegant stainless-steel cigar scissors; the practical punch cutter; and the distinctive V-cutter with its characteristic blade. Each of these instruments produces its own cut and thus influences the draw and the development of the smoke. The choice depends not only on the cigar’s format but also on personal style and the preferred intensity.

Timing & craft

Opinions also differ on when to cut: some light the cigar first, others cut before lighting. There is no universal rule – in the end, personal taste decides. Some short- and medium-filler cigars come pre-cut, so this step is not needed. While cutting with the right tool is quickly learned, rolling a cigar remains a high art that requires real craftsmanship and many years of experience.