How to Cut a Cigar: Guillotine, Punch, and V-Cut Without Ruining the Draw

Theo showed up to Thursday table last month with a new cigar and a brand-new cutter. He lined it up carefully, squeezed, and took off about a quarter inch of the head. The wrapper started to unravel before he could light it. Ray didn't say a word. Luis handed Theo his double-blade and said, "Less. Always less."

I've made that cut. My first night with Mr. Reyes, I took half the head off. The cigar still smoked. It just smoked worse. Cutting is the one step you can't undo, so it pays to slow down.

What you're actually cutting

At the head of the cigar (the end that goes in your mouth) there's a small round piece of leaf called the cap. It holds the wrapper closed. Your job is to open a clean airway through that cap without tearing the wrapper or exposing the filler.

Look at the head. You'll see a curve. The "shoulder" is where that curve starts to flatten into the body. Stay above the shoulder. If you cut into the shoulder, the wrapper can peel.

Guillotine (straight cut): the everyday move

A guillotine cutter is the most common tool, single-blade or double-blade. Double-blade is more forgiving because it squeezes from both sides instead of crushing from one.

1. Open the cutter fully. 2. Slide the head in until only a thin sliver of the cap sticks past the blades, about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch. 3. Close in one quick, confident motion. Hesitation tears.

Cold blades cut cleaner than warm ones you've been fiddling with. Wipe the blades now and then. Sticky residue from the oils in the leaf will start dragging.

Pro tip: If the draw feels tight after the cut, take a tiny bit more. You can always go deeper. You can't put leaf back on.

Punch cut: great for travel

A punch twists a small round hole through the center of the cap. Less leaf removed, a more concentrated draw, and it travels well on a keychain.

Press the punch firmly into the center of the cap, twist, and pull the plug out. Don't punch off-center or you'll nick the wrapper.

Punch cuts work best on cigars with a well-defined round head. Soft or fragile heads, and some figurados, do better with a guillotine or a careful V-cut.

V-cut: a wedge for denser smoke

A V-cutter takes a wedge out of the cap. The opening is deeper in the middle, so the smoke feels a little more concentrated. Some people love it on fuller cigars. Some find it harsh if the V goes too deep.

Same rule as the guillotine: shallow first. A deep V can open the filler too aggressively and make the cigar run hot.

What if you don't have a cutter?

A sharp pocket knife can work in a pinch. Saw gently across the tip rather than crushing it. Scissors can work too if they're sharp and you make one clean snip. Neither is as consistent as a proper cutter, and both are easier to mess up. If you're building a small kit, a cheap double-blade guillotine is enough. Mr. Reyes's old double-blade is still the only cutter I'm sentimental about.

Don't bite the tip off. You'll chew the head into a wet mess and taste paper more than tobacco.

Common mistakes (I've made all of them)

• Cutting too deep. The wrapper unravels or the head gets spongy. Stop above the shoulder.
• Slow, hesitant cuts. The blade tears instead of shears. Commit.
• Dull blades. Replace or sharpen. A $15 cutter with sharp blades beats a fancy one that drags.
• Cutting a cold, dry cigar. An under-humidified cigar can crack at the cut. If it feels crunchy, fix storage before you cut another one. Our guide to storing cigars without a humidor covers the basics.

After the cut: check the draw

Before you light, take a gentle cold draw. Air should move easily, not whistle tight and not feel like a milkshake straw. If it's tight, shave a hair more. If tobacco bits fall into your mouth, you went too far or the cigar was fragile at the head.

Then toast and light. If you want the full sequence from pick to ashtray, start with how to smoke a cigar. For an easy first stick to practice on, the Macanudo Cafe or an Oliva Connecticut Reserve won't punish a slightly imperfect cut.

Write the cut down once

When you log a smoke in LongestAsh, note the cut you used. Guillotine, punch, or V. Over a few weeks you'll notice which one gives you the draw you like on which shapes. That's the whole game: one small preference at a time.

Take your time. The cigar will wait.