How to Cut a Cigar Properly: Every Method Explained

A bad cut is one of the quickest ways to ruin a perfectly good cigar. Cut too little and you'll struggle to draw; cut too much and the wrapper will unravel. Here's how to do it right.

The Goal: A Clean, Open Draw

The cap — the small rounded piece of tobacco at the head of the cigar — seals the cigar during aging. Your job is to remove just enough of it to create an open airway without damaging the structural integrity of the wrapper.

Golden rule: cut above the shoulder — the point where the cigar's taper ends and the cylindrical body begins.

The Straight Cut (Guillotine)

The most common and versatile method. A double-blade guillotine cutter produces the cleanest cut.

How to do it:

1. Hold the cigar near the cutter opening
2. Position the blade just above the shoulder (typically 1–2mm from the cap tip)
3. Cut swiftly and decisively — hesitation tears the wrapper
4. Check for a smooth, even opening

Best for: Corona, Robusto, Toro, Churchill — any parejo (straight-sided) cigar.

The V-Cut (Cat's Eye)

Creates a wedge-shaped notch in the cap. It concentrates airflow and enhances flavor intensity, which many smokers love.

Best for: Thicker ring gauges (52+) where a straight cut might feel too open. Also excellent for figurados and torpedos.

The Punch Cut

A small circular blade punches a clean hole in the cap. It's the most conservative cut — minimal tobacco debris and no risk of unraveling.

Best for: Robustos and Coronas. Not ideal for very large ring gauges or figurados where the cap is too tapered.

The Scissors

A cigar scissors is essentially a precision straight cut. It's favored by connoisseurs for its control and clean finish.

What NOT to Do

• Don't bite the cap off. It's tempting, but you'll get a ragged, uneven cut every time.
• Don't use a kitchen knife. The blade isn't designed for it and you'll crush rather than cut.
• Don't cut too deep. If the wrapper starts to unravel, you've gone too far.

Caring for Your Cutter

Keep your blades sharp. A dull cutter tears rather than cuts, which damages the wrapper and ruins the draw. Run a fine sharpening stone along the blade occasionally, or replace inexpensive cutters every few months.