A cut above the rest (Cutters)

James Leavey looks at cutters - and explains why they are important

Kinky Friedman, the politically incorrect Jewish Texan singer/songwriter, thriller writer, and close friend of social outlaws such as Willie Nelson, is a dedicated smoker who often gets through twelve large Havana cigars every day. He actively detests what he calls, “all that anally-retentive crap” about the right way to cut, ignite and enjoy fine cigars. “Just slice ‘em, light ‘em and smoke ‘em,” he once told me, over an overflowing ashtray in London, “the rest is history.”

That said, tobacco retailers should remember that some smokers who are new to cigars need to be reminded about the basics; it’s rather like telling a computer-illiterate pensioner that before you actually play with your PC you need to know how to switch it on.

A couple of years ago, one of London’s leading tobacco merchants told me the story of a Japanese customer who returned his cigars to the shop he bought them from, complaining that the draw was so tight he couldn’t extract the slightest whiff of smoke.

The salesperson looked at the cigars, smiled and said, “Well the thing about hand made cigars, sir, is they need to be cut at the ‘head’ or closed end before they can be smoked.”

There are various ways of doing this. Cuban smokers usually bite off the ‘cap’ of their Havana, or flick it off with their fingernail; others do it by using a sharp knife.

The rest of us prefer an easy life, and use a proper, sharp, cigar cutter.

The ‘cap’ is that small circular piece of tobacco leaf stuck on the head o.....

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By James Leavey

Section : Cigar Accessories

Page number : 26

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 3 on 01/05/2005.

This article is 88 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	A cut above the rest (Cutters) James Leavey looks at cutters - and explains why they are important Kinky Friedman, the politically incorrect Jewish Texan singer/songwriter, thriller writer, and close friend of social outlaws such as Willie Nelson, is a dedicated smoker who often gets through twelve large Havana cigars every day. He actively detests what he calls, “all that anally-retentive crap” about the right way to cut, ignite and enjoy fine cigars. “Just slice ‘em, light ‘em and smoke ‘em,” he once told me, over an overflowing ashtray in London, “the rest is history.” That said, tobacco retailers should remember that some smokers who are new to cigars need to be reminded about the basics; it’s rather like telling a computer-illiterate pensioner that before you actually play with your PC you need to know how to switch it on. A couple of years ago, one of London’s leading tobacco merchants told me the story of a Japanese customer who returned his cigars to the shop he bought them from, complaining that the draw was so tight he couldn’t extract the slightest whiff of smoke. The salesperson looked at the cigars, smiled and said, “Well the thing about hand made cigars, sir, is they need to be cut at the ‘head’ or closed end before they can be smoked.” There are various ways of doing this. Cuban smokers usually bite off the ‘cap’ of their Havana, or flick it off with their fingernail; others do it by using a sharp knife. The rest of us prefer an easy life, and use a proper, sharp, cigar cutter. The ‘cap’ is that small circular piece of tobacco leaf stuck on the head o..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By James Leavey Section : Cigar Accessories Page number : 26 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 3 on 01/05/2005. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 88 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2012. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.