How to Cut a Cigar – Full Guide to Properly Cutting Cigars

The Different Types of Cigar Cutters

When it comes to cutting your cigar, there’s actually a few different ways to do it. There are three different ways: straight cuts, V cuts, and punch cuts. The reason why one would choose one over the other can comes down to a few factors, such as flavor, draw, and personal preference.

Straight Cut (Guillotine)

The most common way to cut a cigar is the straight cut. This is generally achieved by using a guillotine cutter. With this type of cut, you can adjust how much airflow you get by how much of the tip you cut off. If you want a tighter draw, you’ll cut less off. For more draw, you’ll cut more.

The amount of draw you have affects the amount of smoke you get on each puff, and also affects the flavor. A tighter draw will lead to a more concentrated flavor, further bringing out the notes of the cigar.

This graphic from Cigar Country demonstrates where you should cut the cigar for a straight cut.

V Cut

The V Cut is used for those who enjoy a more restricted airflow and a more pronounced flavor. This achieves a similar result to just getting a smaller cut with a guillotine cutter, but it’s a more controlled cut so you don’t cut too much off. With a traditional cutter, it can be easy to mess up the cut. In addition to flavor and airflow, some just prefer how it feels against their mouths, since the cut is only made through a sliver of the cigar.

In this image, you can see where you place the cigar, and press down to get the V shape cut into the cigar.

Punch Cut

The punch cut is the most unique, as you don’t actually cut the cigar, but rather punch a hole in the end. This is for those who prefer a much tighter draw than even the V-Cut. This provides the most concentrated flavor of the three options.

The punch cut is also sometimes used more out of convenience. If you’ve ever forgotten your cutter, or maybe brought cigars on a backpacking trip and didn’t want to carry a bulky cutter, most cigar torches actually come with a hole punch for cigars.

This image from Holt’s shows a punch cut, and how the hole should look after use.

How to Cut Your Cigar Without a Cutter

Forgetting your cigar cutter can be a quick way to ruin your night. But don’t worry, we’ve got some tips on how you can smoke your cigar without a cutter.

• Use something pointy for a punch cut

Pocket Knife

If you happen to have a pocket knife handy, or any knife for that matter, you can use this to cut your cigar. It’s going to be much easier if you go with a straight cut, but you can carve out a V cut if that’s what you prefer. When doing a straight cut, put the cigar on a hard, flat surface. Then, cut the end off as if you were cutting a carrot on a cutting board. And remember, the sharper the knife, the better. If you don’t have a clean cut, it can greatly affect your smoking experience. 

Bite the End

Some people actually prefer to bite the end off of the cigar, rather than using a cutter. Not sure why, but this is a personal preference for some. So, if you don’t have a cutter handy, you can bite the end off. 

Using a Pointed Object for a Punch Cut

If you don’t have a knife and your cigar lighter doesn’t have a hole punch on it, you can use a pointy object as a hole punch. If you’re out in the woods, you could use a small stick. If you don’t have any sticks lying around, then you might just have to get creative.

Choosing the Right Cutter

Choosing the right cigar cutter all comes down to personal preference. Whether you prefer a looser draw and lighter flavor, or a tighter draw with stronger notes, one thing you need to look for in all cutters is quality; not all cigar cutters are built the same. If you have a dull blade, or a blade that doesn’t slide smoothly, it can cause the cigar to unravel if it snags the tobacco in the wrong way. It can also be difficult to get precise cuts, and you may cut too much off, or get a crooked cut. So when picking a cigar cutter, make sure you get one that’s built to last. If you’re looking for good, high-quality cigar cutters, check out our selection to find what you’re looking for.

Cutting a Cigar – FAQs

What are the different types of cigar cuts?

There are 3 different types of cigar cuts: straight cuts, V cuts, and punch cuts. Each cut has a different draw, which can impact the flavor and notes of the cigar.

How do I cut a cigar without a cutter?

You can either use a knife, scissors, or even a stick to cut your cigars if you don’t have a proper cigar cutter on hand.