Nothing quite speaks of a celebration as does smoking a cigar. Whether it’s celebrating a new job, a new fiancée or a new baby, breaking out the handmade cigars shows you are letting the good times roll.

However, there is a great deal of ritual attached to enjoying the perfect smoke and here we look at one of the most important, cutting the cigar.

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Step 1: Step 1: Avoiding a Bad Cut

A bad cut can mean you won’t enjoy smoking the cigar so it’s

important to get it right. A handmade cigar is held together by a cap at one end and this also prevents the cigar from drying out. Beneath the cap lies what is called the shoulder of the cigar and when you make the cut you want to make it above the shoulder. If you make the mistake of dropping below the shoulder you risk the cigar unravelling and you will end up, not with an enjoyable smoke, but with a mouthful of tobacco.

Step 2: Step 2: Choosing the Right Cutter

The cutter itself is also important. You should select a good quality cigar cutter and make sure that the blade is sharp otherwise it can tear through the wrapper causing the cigar to unravel. There are various types of cigar cutter available, some with a single blade and some which are double-blade guillotine cutters. While some people try to cut a cigar with a knife or a sharp blade if the correct tool isn’t handy, the risk is rarely worth the reward.

Step 3: Step 3: Making the Cut

There are various shapes of cigar and each will have slightly different needs when it comes to cutting.

Parejo: The first we will look at is the parejo which has a flattened end. To cut this type of cigar successfully you need to find the point where the cap comes over the shoulder and there you will see a line on the cigar. You need to cut just above that line close to the end of the cigar. Place the cigar in the cutter above where the cap is attached and then cut it with a short sharp motion. This should produce a wide open cut across the opening of the cigar.

Figurado: Next we will look at the figurado which has a more pointed end. When you make the cut on this cigar, aim about a quarter of an inch down from the tip. You will definitely need to use a guillotine cutter on this type of cigar. Squeeze the blades together in a sharp motion.

Some people then like to take a cold taste to test the draw of air through the cigar. If it doesn’t seem quite full enough, you may need to cut a little more off which will produce a fuller draw. Better to take too little at first than too much.

Perfecto: These cigars are shaped and closed on both ends. One end has a rounded tip and other a pointed nub. Open up the rounded tip by taking off a little bit, just like the parejo. People are divided on whether the other end should be cut. Some people cut off a quarter of an inch at the foot to get a fuller draw of air through the cigar while others leave it in place and let it burn down.

Step 4: Step 4: the Brush or Tap

Once the cut has been made on any of the cigars, either brush them off or tap the cigar on the side of the ashtray. This removes any loose pieces of tobacco which might have been left when you made the cut.

Step 5: Step 5: Enjoy Your Smoke

After only a little practice cutting you will end up with a smoke that you enjoy, not just that one time, but every time. After the cut, light up and enjoy.