Wetting the cap before cutting

[jdizzle113]

Just read the following post off cigarinspector.com:

When I light a cigar with friends who are not regular cigar smokers, I often see them damaging the wrapper near the cap when using a guillotine cutter. While it may seem obvious to some of you, a very simple tip is to wet the cap a little with your lips, then carefully apply the cutter. The cap (especially true if it’s a Cuban triple cap) will come off without effort, leaving even edges without damage to the wrapper.

It's the first time I've ever heard of this practice in cutting a cigar - I thought it would've been bad etiquette to get your saliva all over the cap before cutting and hence getting your saliva all over the cutter. Does anyone know if this is a good technique? Or does anyone practice it?

[Ginseng]

I don't wet it, but then I use the slit-and-lift method to just remove the wrapper/binder at the head. I don't actually cut any bunch tobacco. Use a sharp cutter or a sharp pocket knife and you'll have a hard time mangling the wrapper.

Wilkey

[aavkk]

I oy do this rarely and only when the cigars wrapper is very thin and I think it may crack upon cutting. It seems to be something I've limited to cigars very old... Hence it's rarely used

[Habanos2000]

I always put the cigar in my mouth before cutting. I don't slobber all over it, but I think it helps to prevent the cap from splitting. At least now it's a ritual habit for no other reason.

[shrink]

I never fail to roll the head of the cigar in my mouth before cutting. First, to soften the cap so it's less likely to crack, and second, to taste the wrapper before lighting. Sometimes I'll even put a bit of the cap in my mouth. If you try this a few times, you'll be amazed at the variety of flavors there are in the tobacco. Sometimes sweet, sometimes savorty, and occasionally quite peppery. It's just another ritual, along with smelling the foot, that gives me an introduction to the cigar and enhances the overall experience.

[Stormin691]

I too 'dampen' the cigar before I cut it to soften the wrapper a bit and get a clean cut..

[Kangaroo495]

When I was in the Partagas Factory, the barman asked me to wet the end of the cigar before he cut it for me. Was the first time I'd seen that done.

[mkz]

I always put the cigar in my mouth before cutting. I don't slobber all over it, but I think it helps to prevent the cap from splitting. At least now it's a ritual habit for no other reason.

Ditto.

[Guest rob]

I'm a pre-cut cap-wetter.

[harryleech]

I'm a pre-cut cap-wetter.

Yep, me too. Big fan of tasting, smelling and checking the draw before I light... Adds to the experience.

[sandholm]

Just read the following post off cigarinspector.com:

It's the first time I've ever heard of this practice in cutting a cigar - I thought it would've been bad etiquette to get your saliva all over the cap before cutting and hence getting your saliva all over the cutter. Does anyone know if this is a good technique? Or does anyone practice it?

I usually put the cigar in my moth to tast it, as Habanos2000 I dont slobber all over it but i tast the tobacco.

For the cutter, first its very very little saliva you will get on the cutter, and even if it comes a bit of saliva on it, don't worry, that's why you have an immune system.

cheers

[Guibou]

I never fail to roll the head of the cigar in my mouth before cutting. First, to soften the cap so it's less likely to crack, and second, to taste the wrapper before lighting. Sometimes I'll even put a bit of the cap in my mouth. If you try this a few times, you'll be amazed at the variety of flavors there are in the tobacco. Sometimes sweet, sometimes savorty, and occasionally quite peppery. It's just another ritual, along with smelling the foot, that gives me an introduction to the cigar and enhances the overall experience.

Exact same here

Plus, if people around do not carry their own cutter, well, too bad for them. If they want to use mine, they'll have to adapt to my habits

[anacostiakat]

I don't do this. Or rarely. Only if the cap was brittle and with my own cutter that I use.

[Colt45]

I do not.

[Tampa1257]

The idea of this reminds me of when humidors were not used and people slobbered all over their cigars to wet them down, which in todays environment is a totally disgusting idea to me. I store my cigars properly and do not use a wetting process before I cut the cap.

[Vetteman]

Don't put the cigar in my mouth prior to cutting, and rarely before lighting. After reading this thread, I may try it once though.

[sandholm]

The idea of this reminds me of when humidors were not used and people slobbered all over their cigars to wet them down, which in todays environment is a totally disgusting idea to me. I store my cigars properly and do not use a wetting process before I cut the cap.

You don't taste the tobacco before you light the cigar, or do you cut first then taste?

cheers

[qman22]

Yep, I'm a cap wetter as well. When I 1st started smoking I had a couple caps crack and split slightly so I've been doing it ever since. It's now become a ritual.

[jdizzle113]

I usually put the cigar in my moth to tast it, as Habanos2000 I dont slobber all over it but i tast the tobacco.

For the cutter, first its very very little saliva you will get on the cutter, and even if it comes a bit of saliva on it, don't worry, that's why you have an immune system.

cheers

It's not so much the risk of getting sick, it's more what seeing it done elicits. Sort of like when you go to a public toilet and you see a guy leave a cubical and walk straight out and not wash their hands. Chances are those actions aren't gonna make you sick but it still makes you shudder.

[thechenman]

I don't put the cigar in my mouth until after it's been cut. That is when I taste it. Will smell the cigar prior to the cut though, but I don't touch my nose to it. There are some people I smoke with who will still wet their cigars. I guess it is habit for them. They tell me that is how they were taught by their fathers, so that is the way they do it.

[Smooth]

i do... very lightly. 99% of the time.

Nothing worse than not wetting a cap and having the wrapper self destruct worse than the world #1000 playing one of the Willaims sisters.

[gerem]

I never fail to roll the head of the cigar in my mouth before cutting. First, to soften the cap so it's less likely to crack, and second, to taste the wrapper before lighting. Sometimes I'll even put a bit of the cap in my mouth. If you try this a few times, you'll be amazed at the variety of flavors there are in the tobacco. Sometimes sweet, sometimes savorty, and occasionally quite peppery. It's just another ritual, along with smelling the foot, that gives me an introduction to the cigar and enhances the overall experience.

I second that!!!! I do it the same way

[Shelby07]

Tried it a few times with a couple of cigars that seemed overly dry... never seemed to do anything. I've seen lots of guys do it. I think it's more of a tradition than actually having any useful purpose.

I've read where some folks take the cigar and run the whole thing under the tap before cutting and lighting. Could never figure that one out.

[brutusthebuckeye]

I tap the cap on my tongue a few times before i cut...works great...

[El Presidente]

Being a heathen I generally use a Cuban Cut using the nails of my thumb and index finger to serrate the inside of the cap. Easier to do when the cap is dry rather than wet.