Anatomy of a Parejo

[jdizzle113]

Hello all,

Please excuse this really basic question.

I was just wondering if I could get some help identifying the line where the head of a cigar ends? I always have difficulty identifying. For example, in this attached photo, is the end of the head at the label "A" or is it at "B"?

Also, is the head and the cap the same thing?

I really appreciate your help.

Cheers

James

[sounddust]

If I'm not wrong, "B" should be the "shoulder" of the cigar; so it should be somewhere around "A" then.

[Ginseng]

Well,

In one sense, the head is really the entire top part of the cigar including the half inch or so below the shoulder. The operational definition depends on what you intend to do with the thing. For cutting, you slice or punch the cap of the head of the cigar. For general assessment of aesthetics and construction, I look at the head as extending a little below the shoulder.

Wilkey

[jdizzle113]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Well,

In one sense, the head is really the entire top part of the cigar including the half inch or so below the shoulder. The operational definition depends on what you intend to do with the thing. For cutting, you slice or punch the cap of the head of the cigar. For general assessment of aesthetics and construction, I look at the head as extending a little below the shoulder.

Wilkey

So does this mean that for cutting I should try to cut above the line at label "A"? Because at present I cut below "A" and above "B". Is this too low? - sometimes the wrapper starts to come undone slightly as I smoke.

Cheers

James

[Habanos2000]

So does this mean that for cutting I should try to cut above the line at label "A"? Because at present I cut below "A" and above "B". Is this too low? - sometimes the wrapper starts to come undone slightly as I smoke.

Cheers

James

Where to cut or punch is a personal decision. As long as the cigar doesn't unravel, you're good.

[Ginseng]

Where to cut depends on what works best for you in terms of maintaining the integrity of the head (no unraveling) and creating a sufficient sized opening to accommodate the cigar and your smoking, drawing habit. Try it at a few different places and be attentive to how the cigar feels and performs and you will come to the best solution for your style. I almost always cut above A. In fact, I just slit the cap before where it starts to slope down to the shoulder. I like a big opening where I can access as much of the bunch as possible but not so big that the wrap at the cap starts to come loose. There is nuance to this though. For larger ring (50+) cigars, I tend to cut higher up. For smaller cigars (38-), I tend to cut lower down. Can you guess why?

Wilkey

[jdizzle113]

Where to cut depends on what works best for you in terms of maintaining the integrity of the head (no unraveling) and creating a sufficient sized opening to accommodate the cigar and your smoking, drawing habit. Try it at a few different places and be attentive to how the cigar feels and performs and you will come to the best solution for your style. I almost always cut above A. In fact, I just slit the cap before where it starts to slope down to the shoulder. I like a big opening where I can access as much of the bunch as possible but not so big that the wrap at the cap starts to come loose. There is nuance to this though. For larger ring (50+) cigars, I tend to cut higher up. For smaller cigars (38-), I tend to cut lower down. Can you guess why?

Wilkey

Maybe the size of the cutter? I know my xikar cutter can't get too far down the head of my sublimes.

Or maybe something to do with the draw? Maybe if the aperture is too large (like a thick cigar cut low) then you can't built up enough negative pressure for a good draw?

do tell....

[Ginseng]

Good guess. I use a Palio and it can handle pretty fat sticks. Actually, I try to open up as much of the bunch as I can on the small cigars and try to restrict the opening on larger cigars. With small cigars, smoking technique is usually slower and more gentle so I want to access fully the smoke delivery. With fat cigars, I want to throttle down the airflow (unless the cigar is tight, then I open her up) to force me to slow down a bit and to concentrate the typically less extracted smoke. That's my general approach. Draw and smoke characteristics of the particular cigar can force one to adapt.

Wilkey