The Cut Makes the Smoke

As I begin to learn about the anatomy of a cigar, I now know that tastes are varied based on leaf and the filler and how, when and where the cigar was made. But I’ve also learned that how you care for the cigar can affect the taste and now I have embraced that the cut is as important.

There are four basic cutters:

1) V-Cutter: Best for small cigars and provide a large clean smoking areas from the cut








2) Bullet or Punch: Easiest to transport; also the ease of use makes it less likely you will make a bad “cut”. This instrument basically punches a hole into the smoking surface.








3) Scissors: You must choose high quality scissors as bad blades begat bad cuts begat bad smokes.











 4) Double Guillotine – Is the most common of cigar cutters…and its proper name is the coolest.











In the anatomy of the cigar the CAP is the small, round piece of wrapper leaf attached to the head of a cigar. The purpose of the cap is to secure the wrapper. When cutting a cigar smoke, the cap is the perfect place to use as the template for the cut.

                                     

With the Guillotine, V or Scissors, you should hold the body of the cigar firmly between your thumb and index finger in your non-dominant hand. Place the blades of the cutting instrument of choice just before or just beyond the end of the cap. You’re looking at about a millimeter’s difference. With one quick motion, snip the cap off of the cigar. It is important to make one quick cutting motion as not to make the wrapper of the cigar start to unravel.

The technique of making the cut using the cap as a measurement is not available for torpedo or Figurado shaped cigars. The advantage to cutting either of these types of cigars is that you have more choice of how large an opening you can make.

With the Punch or Bullet cutter, again hold the cigar in your non-dominant hand. Place the cutting instrument over the top of the cap. Insert the blade into the cap. After the blade is inserted into the cap, rotate it to cut a hole into the cap, and then remove the blade. It is something aesthetically unpleasing to me about the punch cut; however, when you’re on the golf course and you and your playing partners have all left your guillotines in the car, a divot tool works quite nicely.

There will be times while perusing your favorite tobacco shop when you might decide to enjoy a smoke in house. The tobacconist might ask, before he cuts your cigar, “What type of draw do you like?” He or she is asking if you like a big puffs of smoke or small puffs and will cut your cigar accordingly.

Personally, I taste the cigar better if it’s not over powered by a big draw of smoke; which would suggest that I would like the punch. But I prefer a small draw from a “traditional” cut – just enough smoke and just enough taste.

CAO Italia

Cigar: CAO ITALIA
Size: 4.5 X 46 / Petit Corona
Color: Colorado Maduro to Maduro
Cost: $5.95
Drink: Woodford Bourbon Single Barrel Reserve

One of the first things I decided as I start this quest, is not to go out half cocked with no idea of what I was going to try or have no plan of how to get started.  The one thing I did know, I wasn't going to buy the most expensive cigars I could find under the auspices that they would be better. So to make this interesting, I decided to go out and find the least expensive cigars with most flavor.

I perused the internet and found several sites that recommended cigars that were both highly rated and very inexpensive.  Enter the CAO brand and for this tasting the ITALIA.

The ITALIA is one of the few cigars made with Italian Leaf and Italian tobacco filler.  The cigar is also filled with Nicaraguan and Peruvian tobacco.

The first puff lent itself to a sweet, peppery taste. The color of the leaf is is dark (Colorado Maduro to Maduro), so as expected, there was a very strong tobacco smell.  Around the middle of the smoke, the cigar began to change flavors.  I'm not sure I can put my hand or my taste buds on the flavor.  It was still rather sweet but without the pepper.  I wonder if my bourbon assisted in enhancing the sweet and easing back the pepper flavor.  I started to taste the "bad" tobacco when there was about an inch to an inch and half left.

I used my XIKAR torch to light the cigar.  It burned slowly and the ash was very sturdy.  According to my cigar tutoring, sturdy ash speaks of purer tobacco filler as opposed to filler that includes paper or pieces of stalk.

Because is the first official tasting, I will rate the CAO ITALIA at 3 of 5 stars.  I reserve the right to amend this as I taste more cigars.  As for now, anything above 3 stars is recommended.  Also, the band is so very cool.  It will definitely be kept for the collection.