For newbie cigar smokers, one of the questions that comes up often is "how do I properly cut this cigar?" Well, you're going to need a cigar cutter unless you want to get medieval and bite the end off of it - please resist any alcohol-induced urges toward this method since you'll probably end up with a wrecked cigar! There are a few different styles of cutters, each with their pros and cons. Regardless of the style you use, be sure not to cut the whole cap off since it actually helps hold the cigar together, and you wouldn't want the leaves coming apart while you're trying to smoke it. Nothing says "I'm a noob" like an unraveling cigar! There's a line where the cap joins the cigar, so look for that and make sure you don't cut below it.

One of the most popular types of cutters is the "guillotine" style, in which the cutter has a round hole through which the cigar cap is placed, and a blade comes down and whacks the end right off producing a circular opening. A variation on this is the twin-bladed guillotine, which has opposing blades that cut from two sides. The twin-bladed type tends to make a neater cut in our experience, but in either case you'll need a firm motion for the blades to make a good cut; don't be soft about it or you might mangle the end a bit.

Cigar scissors are another option which many people like. You have complete control over where and how you cut the cigar, but some people find the other cutter types to be a bit more "automatic" and easy to use.

The so-called "V-cutter" style snips a V-shaped opening into your cigar, making for an elongated mouth-like opening. Many people find this option to give them the best draw, and it's a great option for thinner cigars. Be sure not to cut too deep into the cigar otherwise you'll actually draw too much and it'll be a little hotter than you'd like.

The punch cutter type has a circular blade that you just press into the end cap and it bores out a hole. They're often small enough to be hung on your keychain. The downside to this cutter style is they don't work well on some cigar shapes, like torpedoes; they're best for cigars with traditional round end caps.

So how much do you have to spend to get a good cutter? Cheap versions (under $5) are readily available at any smoke shop and are often totally adequate, but you might want to spend a little extra to get a higher quality product. Some of the cheapo cutters do a better job ripping your cigar than cutting it. Other times they'll actually work pretty well until the handle comes off or the blade dulls. A higher quality cutter will stay sharp and produce nice cuts, allowing you to fully enjoy your smokes now and into the future!