Why use a V-cutter on Torpedo cigars?

Monday, June 21 2010

Q:  I've always used a guillotine cutter to snip off the cap on Torpedo cigars. Could you go into more detail about using the "V" cutter?

Thank you,
Kyle in Orange, TX

A:  I almost always use a V-cutter when I smoke a Torpedo or any other figurado-shaped cigars for that matter. Here's why:

For one, the V-cutter clips the head of the cigar leaving a clean cleft tip, and it's usually deep enough to give you a good draw.

Using a standard double-blade cutter, if you happen to cut the head too far down, the wrapper could unfurl, and there's little hope for repairing it. Cut it too short and you could have a draw problem.

Since both the the above have happened to moi, my method when using a standard double-blade cigar cutter is to lay the cutter flat on a table, place the head in the middle of the cutter, and clip. The first clip is usually too short, so I do it again, take a draw, and see how it is. It usually takes about two or three cuts to get the cigar to draw well.

Suffice it to say, it's just too much work. The V-cutter gets it right the first time, 99% of the time. I'll take those odds. Even a cheap v-cutter (shown) will work well.