Cutting non-smokers cigars

[md4958]

So I had a buddy over for a nice steak last night and after dinner I convinced him to have a smoke with me (peer pressure is AWESOME!). He is not normally a cigar smoker, but does smoke a pipe.

He selected a CAO Italia Novella out of my humi, and I grabbed a PAM Principe for myself.

Without thinking about it, I took his selection from him and cut it.

This morning I saw the two disks of cap in the sink I started thinking... Should I have offered him a cutter or did I do him a favor.

Or, should I have showed him how to cut a cigar?

I would appreciate your thougts for the future.
Moe

[ucla695]

I think you did him a favor. Chances are he wouldn't have cut off the right amount and it might have affected the draw or taste. This way, you gave him the best chance to enjoy the cigar and convert him to our evil ways. :ss You can always show him how to cut the next time he's over.

[Sauer Grapes]

I think cutting it for him is fine, but maybe ask him if he wants you to cut it for him next time.

An Italia for his first smoke? Glad he ate first.

[md4958]

An Italia for his first smoke? Glad he ate first.

he picked it, with my warning. he liked the band i think. he had a pick of my whole humi, even the few that said "Habana" on them...

[Commander Quan]

I'd ask if he wanted you to cut it for him, or else show him how to cut it by laying the cutter flat on a table and standing the cigar upright and cutting it that way. Perhaps teaching him a little about cigars will go along way to him enjoying cigars more often.

It's like the old saying "Clip a cigar for a man and he'll smoke for a day, Teach a man to clip and he's wife will hate you for 10 lifetimes" :ss

[croatan]

I always say "want me to cut it for you?" as I pull it out. Then, I turn it at an angle so he (or she) can see how much I'm cutting off and say something like "all you have to do is just barely shave the cap."

[md4958]

I also way "want me to cut it for you?" as I pull it out. Then, I turn it at an angle so he (or she) can see how much I'm cutting off and say something like "all you have to do is just barely shave the cap."

Thats actually a great suggestion.

[Skywalker]

Whether new or old to cigars, cutting someones cigar should be thought of as a gracious move by the host.

I toast my friend's cigars (out of my Humi) for them unless I know they are better at it than I am! I wouldn't do this at a Herf mind you!

[replicant_argent]

offering to cut is good, having a guest with an unraveling cigar wrapper is a nuisance for him, and can easily be remedied.

[RGD.]

I will normally take the cigar and while asking if they want me to cut it for them - cut it anyway.


Ron

[mrreindeer]

I voted show the guy how to do it....but it is a nice gesture to do it for him. I'd likely ask him if he wanted to do it himself though. I always ask my wife if she wants to cut herself (ouch! http://www.cigaroutcast.com/forum/images/smilies/stretcher.gif) or if she wants me to do it. She always wants me to do it but I always ask her anyway, just in case.

[Mark]

I cut and light any cigar I give to anyone, not to be an a-hole about it but because I want to serve my friends. They always get their smoke cut and lit before I light mine up.

[SmokeyJoe]

I always say "want me to cut it for you?" as I pull it out. Then, I turn it at an angle so he (or she) can see how much I'm cutting off and say something like "all you have to do is just barely shave the cap."


Great advice... this is how I approach it as well. Really wasn't sure how to vote in the poll... :D

Excellent question for discussion, by the way! :tu

[SmokeyJoe]

Whether new or old to cigars, cutting someones cigar should be thought of as a gracious move by the host.

I toast my friend's cigars (out of my Humi) for them unless I know they are better at it than I am! I wouldn't do this at a Herf mind you!

At most of the nicer B&Ms I have visited (Corona Cigar Store in Orlando, for instance) they ask if you would like to smoke one of your purchases and offer to cut, toast, and light it for you.

I appreciate the service. :tu

[Scottw]

Did your buddy seem to be objectionable to you clipping the stick? Maybe next time show him how to do it.

[md4958]

Did your buddy seem to be objectionable to you clipping the stick? Maybe next time show him how to do it.

Not at all.

[Hardcz]

I always cut for my non smoker friends now.... too many times they've cut at least a quarter inch PAST the cap...... and then they wonder why the cigar unravels.

[dannyboy]

I have learned to offer to cut, and then show them how as I do it. As stated above, letting them watch while you say, "Just shave the cap off" works great. Too many awkward moments with people asking if I can cut it for them and feeling bad about it, or watching someone lop off 1/4" made me realize that offering is a good idea.

[groogs]

I only have one friend that I smoke with on ocasion, and he only smokes cigars if he is with me. The first time we were having a smoke together, I showed him how to cut a cigar, using mine as an example, and then I let him cut his his own. I think cutting the cigar is part of the experience, so I wanted to let him do the honors. I think it is worth the time to show a non cigar smoker how to cut it properly.

[Benwoo]

I usually find myself heading a cigar circle training session, explaining and showing how to cut and toast as we all start up... I do usually ask if I need to cut for people as well if the don't feel comfortable.

[Coz77]

Wow I'm surprised I'm the only one who voted "No, give them the option of doing it themselves, even if they screw it up"

I just show them Ron's (RGD) post (http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=507)... After reading that one Ive never screwed up a cut. Best resource out there IMO.

[Silound]

My standard tactic is to pull out the cutter, open it flat on a counter top or some other flat surface, and show them the "stand it up" method. I find that once I show them this, most people tend to pick up on the amount they need to cut each time, and many end up cutting their own regularly after a few cuts.

As far as pointed caps, I simply tell them to cut a tiny bit off, and test the draw. Keep taking off a little bit until you like how much air you pull through and then you're set.

[dcamacho]

definitely walk him through it, show him how to.

[rhythm11]

I think that for someone that is not a cigar smoker and has no real interest in the hobby, that I would just cut it for him.

I recently had an experience about this...After class one night, I asked my professor if he smoked cigars, his reply was sometimes. The reason I asked is that his name, appearance, and accent had me to believe he was from a country that may enjoy a good cigar, and I just so happened to have a few nice sticks on me :ss, so I handed him over a couple. After talking for a couple more minutes he asked me if I had a cutter, so I took out my cutter and handed it him. He proceeded to go through the motions of cutting the cap off and then slide the cutter down what seemed like an inch from the head. I immediately asked him if he would like for me to cut it and he said yes. I think that his smoking experience would have been different had he cut off the 'cap' where he was going to...

[last_ace]

I agree with cutting it for them, like if you were at a fine smoking establishment. Keeping them from any embarrassment is most important.

[Sr Mike]

I say No. It is a good experience for them, also it is far more fun to laugh at them if they screw up.

[tsolomon]

I have at least two friends who still bite the end off of their cigar, so I'm opting for cutting it for them the first time. Maybe that will generate enough interest for them to want to learn how to do it. :bh

[smokin5]

Call me elitist (you wouldn't be the first), but I always cut AND light cigars for my casual stogie smokin' friends. It's just way easier all around. Seen too many people butcher them and then set fire to them in such a prolonged way that they're never going to enjoy the poor charred unravelling thing.

[Darrell]

I always clip my non cigar smoking guests sticks. I'd rather see it done correctly than cringe at them slaughtering a nice stick, I also pour them a nice glass of something to have with it. :tu

[Costa]

ALWAYS cut it for them. I have seen too many good sticks with the first 3 inches lopped off. :mad:

[jaycarla]

I always say "want me to cut it for you?" as I pull it out. Then, I turn it at an angle so he (or she) can see how much I'm cutting off and say something like "all you have to do is just barely shave the cap."


Perfect.