Frequently asked cigar questions

When it comes to cutting a cigar there are 3 main styles, Straight cut, V- cut, and Punch. There are other methods but these are the most common. As to which type of cut is best that is up to personal preference. All three methods have their pros and cons and it is truly up to you the smoker to decide which way is best for you.

When It comes to cutting a cigar less is more. Every premium cigar has what is called a cap on the end followed by the shoulder(the curved edge). A perfect cut will leave most of the shoulder intact. Only a small amount of wrapper leaf needs to be removed at the top to get a good draw, you can always take off more but cant put it back on. If unsure a good trick with a straight cutter is to place the cutter on a flat surface, place the cigar between the blades and cut, this will result in a perfect cut by only taking a little off the cigar. Cutting too much off the head of a cigar can lead to the wrapper unraveling.

A Premium cigar is referring to a cigar that is a hand made, all natural product. These cigars are closer to works of art with the amount of time and care that go into planting, growing, harvesting, curing, aging, and constructing them.

These terms refer to the different parts of a cigar.

Filler- refers to the inner tobacco or ‘guts’ of a cigar. These leaves help provide flavor and complexity to the cigar. Filler leaves must be bunched by trained experts to make sure the cigar is well constructed and provides a balanced draw and burn.

Binder-These are usually thicker and denser leaves that are added to the outside of the filler to create a bunch. The binder will help protect the filler leave and also help to form the filler tobacco into the molds and presses.

Wrapper- These are the outer leaves applied to cigars and the ones you see when looking at a cigar on the shelf. Wrapper leaves are generally the most delicate and ideally perfect tobacco leaves wrappered around the binder and filler once it comes out of the mold. Wrapper leaves greatly contribute to the overall flavor of the cigar.

If you’d like to know more about the different tobaccos used in the different parts of a cigar stop by Minutemen anytime and we will happily tell you all you’d like to know, probably while smoking a cigar.

The first most important thing is making sure the cigar is evenly lit. If the foot isn’t evenly lit your cigar will not burn or smoke properly. It is best to use a butane lighter(other styles can change the flavor of your cigar with the fuel they use) or matches to light your cigar. If using matches make sure to allow a few seconds to let the sulfur and chemical to burn off so they don’t affect the flavor of a cigar. When lighting the cigar, hold the flame slightly off the foot of the cigar, about ⅛ an inch for soft flame ½ in for a torch. Draw air or ‘puff’ the cigar while slowly rotating it till evenly lit. Be careful not to charr the foot or the sides of the wrapper. If using a torch you may also toast the foot (again be careful not to char the tobacco) before bringing it to your mouth and puffing. Perfectly lighting a cigar takes some time and practice. If you are ever unsure about a part of the process or want to make sure you are doing it correctly just ask your local tobacconists at Minuteman Cigars, we are happy to help. Trust us every cigar smoker has been there.

Ring Gauge refers to the diameter of a cigar measured in 64th of an inch which is exactly 1 inch diameter. In general cigars with a thinner ring gauge will express more flavor from the wrapper, while bigger ring gauges(since they contain more filler tobacco) can potentially offer a broader range of flavors.

Now this is a question(or statement perhaps) we have heard many times. The truth is no premium cigar is made to get harsh and bitter and leave a bad taste in your mouth. This usually comes about from smoking a cigar too fast or improperly. Charing the foot, machinegun puffing(puffing rapidly multiple times in a row) or smoking a cigar quicker than its intended can all lead to more bitter and acrid tastes, something we would like to avoid. This is a problem that can be easily fixed by First: pick the cigar size based on the time you want to spend smoking. If you only have 45 minutes to an hour, pick a smaller cigar. Second: Watch your cigar, it will let you know. If you ash your cigar and there is a domed ember, you start canoeing, or you start tasting more bitter acrid flavors, slow down, let your cigar rest for a few minutes before continuing. Remember Cigars are meant to be enjoyed and savored so take your time, treat your cigar well and it will do the same.

This is a question we get a lot and honestly the only one who can truly answer it is you. Everyone’s palate and tastes are different, which means the best cigar in the shop is the one you enjoyed the most. That being said, at Minutemen we pride ourselves on helping you find that best cigar and will give recommendations and advice based on what you like or have smoked before. And if you are new to the world of cigar smoking we are happy to help guide you through your exciting cigar journey.