Email: How does cut influence flavour?

[El Presidente]

I am going to pass this one onto you as I hop on a plane this am. 

I really don't have a theory outside of the fact that I use my nails to cut a hole the size of a punch. I vary the size of the hole subject to the gauge. I like to restrict the air flow a little to slow the burn and  increase the flavour. It may just be imaginary. 

Do you have a set practice? Do you have a reason you do what you do and can you explain it for this fine lass?"

 

"Rob, can you tell me your theory in terms of cutting different types of cigars and whether or not the type of cut influences the flavour?  Can you point to some examples?"

[tigger]

Fingernails, knife tip or small punch to start on parejos. Double bladed cutter on figurados.

Start small. You can always cut more. You can never cut less. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

I use a Colibri v-cut for everything. I have for years. It provides a consistent cut that leaves the cap intact, and a consistent draw.

[madandana]

8 minutes ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

I use a Colibri v-cut for everything. I have for years. It provides a consistent cut that leaves the cap intact, and a consistent draw.

X2

[JohnS]

Cut is one thing, draw is another. What I mean by that is, the advantage I find for the Colibri V-Cutter is how precise a cut it makes on torpedos and how it assists with me not getting excess moisture on the head of the cigar, thus avoiding potentially bitter flavours.

[shadowACE]

1 hour ago, JohnS said:

Cut is one thing, draw is another. What I mean by that is, the advantage I find for the Colibri V-Cutter is how precise a cut it makes on torpedos and how it assists with me not getting excess moisture on the head of the cigar, thus avoiding potentially bitter flavours.

Love a v-cut on torpedos. Maintains the shape of the stick and produces a perfect draw.

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[SCgarman]

I have used a Zino double edge guillotine for over 20 years on every and any size cigar I cut. Since my fingernails are always kept cut short, not possible to use them to cut a cigar. Besides, think of the various bacterial nasties that live under your long fingernails! Yuk. Are you sure you want them in your mouth with the head of the cigar? ?

[LLC]

Love a v-cut on torpedos. Maintains the shape of the stick and produces a perfect draw.

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X2 having one now.




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[LLC]

Would be a good experiment on the deck for a video.


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[bbguardsp]

Always considered how cigar filler is bunched in tubes.  With a straight cut I feel like I'm getting all the air channels more evenly than a V or punch.

[BlueRidgeFly]

Straight cut 99% of the time (otherwise a v-cut or punch). If the draw is not great, I'll often take a clean, thin wood screw and twist it in/out dead center (my cheapo "perfect draw" tool).

[Puros Y Vino]

I've fallen in love with the V cut. I use it pretty much on anything 40RG+. My Credo 3 in 1 punch is for the panatelas, lancero and Hamlet flying pigs. I find the V cut prevents any build-up and keeps the cigar intact throughout the smoking experience.  Lots of surface area too. Also allows for my sausage fingers to pull out any troublesome bits like stems.  

[MD Puffer]

For me

- Guillotine on piramides.

- Guillotine on narrow ring gauge smokes (40 and under)

- Punch on fatties (eg Libertador- mostly because it's difficult to get a good bite with some of the V-cutters)

- V-cut on everything else most of the time.  However, I sometimes just let loose and use a guillotine on a double corona.  But that just has to do more with the wild risk taker I am vs. any specific habit or method.

[nKostyan]

It is very easy to get experience: take Belicoso or Piramide and cut off the head more and more in the process of Smoking, then you can continue experiments with Parejo shape

[Connoisseur Kim]

7 hours ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

I use a Colibri v-cut for everything. I have for years. It provides a consistent cut that leaves the cap intact, and a consistent draw.

 

6 hours ago, JohnS said:

Cut is one thing, draw is another. What I mean by that is, the advantage I find for the Colibri V-Cutter is how precise a cut it makes on torpedos and how it assists with me not getting excess moisture on the head of the cigar, thus avoiding potentially bitter flavours.

 

6 hours ago, shadowACE said:

Love a v-cut on torpedos. Maintains the shape of the stick and produces a perfect draw.

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

 

4 hours ago, bundwallah said:

I've fallen in love with the V cut. I use it pretty much on anything 40RG+. My Credo 3 in 1 punch is for the panatelas, lancero and Hamlet flying pigs. I find the V cut prevents any build-up and keeps the cigar intact throughout the smoking experience.  Lots of surface area too. Also allows for my sausage fingers to pull out any troublesome bits like stems.  

I finally got Colibri V-Cut! Can't wait to try V-Cut on CCs with mighty Colibri V-Cut ?!

For Straight Cut experience, I didn't find any difficulties yet, but cheapo plastic guillotines (also have it in my stash) tend to mangle cap of cigar. Will get Lotus Jaws Serrated Cutter for upgrade Straight Cut experience.

[TheGipper]

5 hours ago, bundwallah said:

I find the V cut prevents any build-up and keeps the cigar intact throughout the smoking experience.

Absolutely.  I've recently converted over to a v-cut and I can't believe it took me this long to discover how much better it is.

To answer the original question, it doesn't really affect taste for me, but it greatly reduces (often eliminates) the tar buildup at the head.  To extent you can keep the tar off your lips, it kind of keeps the flavor pure all the way down to nub length.

Also it takes some time to master the skill of controlling the depth of the cut with a v-cutter.  But once you get it figured out, it seems to me a superior cut for most everything over 38-40 RG or so.

[Deeg]

I just prefer the v-cut in every sense. My evidence that it positively impacts draw or burn is strictly anecdotal as I’ve never systematically tested it - I just like a cut that leaves the cap intact.  It does seem to me that cigars burn cooler and slower with a V as well.

[GrouchoMarx]

Cuban crafter perfect cut guillotine.

Never tried a V cut.

[BrightonCorgi]

Scissors on everything and never gave it much thought.

[lovethehaze]

V cut usually on pyramid or companas. 
 

guillotine on all else. Never used a punch ? 

[Hadroxity]

4 hours ago, GrouchoMarx said:

Cuban crafter perfect cut guillotine.

Never tried a V cut.

Same for me. 

[Str8BlkCoffee]

I use a punch on most. It has a small 5mm and a larger 9mm cutter. I also have a double blade Guillotine cutter that I use from time to time. 

The punch keeps the cap from coming apart if you cut too deep with the guillotine. If the draw becomes too tight during the smoke due to moisture build up in the foot I can always resort to the guillotine to cut the offending bit and keep smoking.

I have been wanting a V-cutter.

 

 

[PigFish]

... clipping a piece of my finger off, always makes a cigar taste like salty iron...! I have never been able to figure that one out! It is the damndest thing!

Cheers! -the Pig