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Chapter X
How to cut, light, smoke, and store
Tools need not be luxurious. The order does. A bad cut unravels, a bad light tastes burnt, a fast pace heats the cigar, and poor storage cracks or molds the leaf.
Cut
Guillotine, punch, V-cut.
Light
Cedar, match, and torch.
Smoke
Pace, ash, and when to stop.
Store
Humidors, humidity, travel.
Pairing
Coffee, tea, spirits, and water.
Etiquette
Place, smell, and sharing.
Related chapters
How to cut
Guillotine, punch, and V-cut: how much cap to leave so the wrapper does not split.
How to light
Toast the foot, avoid petrol lighters, and when a torch is useful.
How to smoke
Pace, why smoke stays in the mouth, what ash is for, and when to put the cigar down.
Humidors and storage
Relative humidity, temperature, Spanish cedar, calibrating a hygrometer, and travel pouches.
Drink pairings
Coffee, tea, whisky, rum, port, and alcohol-free options with mild or full cigars. No shops.
Etiquette
Where to smoke, how to treat other people’s air, bands, gifts, and sharing.