Cigar accessories

Accessories decide whether a cigar opens up or is ruined: an uneven cut tears the wrapper, and a petrol lighter spoils the aroma on the very first draw. This section gathers the tools without which the ritual is not complete — from cutters to travel tubes.

What a basic kit contains

The minimum for comfortable smoking is a cutter, a source of flame and an ashtray. Beyond that the kit grows to fit the format: travel, home or collection.

Cutters: guillotine, punch or scissors

A double-blade guillotine suits about 90% of formats. A punch makes a neat hole and travels well, but does not work on figurados. Scissors are a tool for the experienced and take practice. Cut two to three millimetres above the shoulder, or the cigar starts to unravel.

Flame: butane or cedar matches only

Use turbo lighters running on refined butane, or thin cedar matches. Petrol lighters and ordinary sulphur matches leave a taste that overrides the tobacco. Lighting takes twenty to forty seconds: warm the foot without touching it with the flame.

Storage on the move

A sealed tube is enough for a day or two, a case with a humidification element for a week. For permanent storage at home you need a humidor holding around 70% humidity.