Lesson 6 of 8 · 3 min
Cut and light
Cut a cigar cleanly and light it evenly.
The 30-second version
- Cut a little at a time and leave part of the cap on.
- Light with butane, wooden matches or cedar. Skip petrol lighters and candles.
- Toast the foot first. Then draw gently while you turn it.
- Puff slowly. Puffing too often makes the smoke hot and bitter.
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Three cutters
- Straight cut
- A guillotine slices off the end of the cap. The most common cut.
- Punch
- Removes a small circle from the cap. Neat, but less open.
- V-cut
- A wedge-shaped notch through the cap.
Cut just above the line where the cap meets the wrapper. Cut too deep and the wrapper can unravel.
Light it slowly
Hold the foot just above the flame and turn it until the edge glows evenly. Then draw gently while rotating. With matches, let the head of the match burn off first.
Smoke slowly
Cigar smoke is usually drawn into the mouth, not the lungs. Not inhaling does not make it safe. Puffing too often makes the smoke hot and bitter, so leave time between puffs. When you finish, rest it in the ashtray and let it go out.
Sources: Habanos: choosing, cutting, lighting and smoking · Tobacconist University: cigar anatomy