Smoking cigars is a real ritual that is often compared to a tea ceremony or tasting good wine. The purpose of this action for true connoisseurs is to enjoy the aroma and relax. Smoking one cigar can last from 30 minutes to 3 hours, which you can spend alone with yourself or fill with a pleasant conversation with friends and colleagues. For many of our compatriots, this ceremony is exotic, nevertheless, knowing its features is a sign of good form. In this article, we’ll cover the basics – how to properly trim a cigar and prepare it for smoking.
Types of cigars
Experts distinguish an extensive classification of tobacco products by rolling methods and shapes. If you do not go into details, then they can be conditionally divided into two large groups: straight and indirect (conical). The former include the classic cylindrical cigars with a sealed rounded cap. These are, for example, Camacho Corojo Toro, Casa Turrent 1973 Robusto and others. All other types of cigars can be classified as cone-shaped – having a tapering pointed cap. Examples include Cohiba Piramides Extra Tubos, Heritage 1492 Nicaragua Perfecto. These small differences also determine the peculiarities of cap cutting.
So when we know the types, we can easily figure out how to cut the cigars.
Beginners should take into account one important point. If you look closely at the cigars, you will notice that closer to the sealed end, the direction and frequency of the wrapper turns change. This transition is usually called “shoulders”. It is their location that is important to consider when cutting a cigar. The cut line should be located just above the “shoulders”.
Camacho Corojo Toro and similar straight cigars are usually cut in a straight line, approximately 3mm from the edge. Tapered Cohiba Piramides Extra Tubos give you more room for experimentation. You can position the cut line diagonally by trying different diameters and experimenting with traction.
Tool overview
Good cigars, like fine wines, require special handling. We do not recommend that you bite off a cigar cap with your teeth or use an ordinary penknife following the heroes of Hollywood films. For these purposes, there are special accessories, which we will discuss in our next article.
Good luck!
