How to Cut and Light a Cigar

Cutting

• Straight cut — the most common, suits almost every cigar. Remove 2–3 mm of the cap.
• V-cut — a wedge cut that concentrates the smoke; good for larger ring gauges.
• Punch — a round hole in the cap; great for round-headed cigars like robustos, not for torpedoes.

After cutting, take a cold draw to taste the unlit tobacco and check the draw.

Lighting

1. Use an odourless flame: cedar spills, long sulphur-free matches or a butane lighter. Avoid petrol lighters.
2. Hold the foot just above the flame, rotating slowly to toast it evenly.
3. When the edge is evenly charred, draw gently while rotating until the whole foot glows.
4. Blow gently on the foot to check for an even burn.

Pace

About one puff a minute is right. Puffing too fast overheats the cigar and turns it bitter; too slow and it goes out. A cigar can be relit — just purge the stale smoke first.

Cigar smoke is not inhaled — enjoy the flavour in your mouth.