Expert: James Yee - 1/17/2009

Question
Hi James, I am wondering why , not always but sometimes when I cut my cigar the wrapper cracks down toward the band, as far as I know my cigars should have the right moisture content, I am using a cigar oasis and it is set at 71%. Not all my cigars are premium cigars and now that I think about it mainly less expensive cigars do this, is this a common thing? Is it an idea to moisten the end first before  cutting? Thanks for your time again.

Answer
Hi Grant,

This is somewhat of a common thing.  Usually when this happens, it's because the cigar is either A/ too dry at the head of the cigar, B/ a machine-made or low quality cigar, C/ rolled too tightly, or D/ cut too deep or too hard using a cigar cutter.  This problem can also be a combination of the four.

To reduce your chances of splitting cigars, rotate them more frequently in your humidor.  This will allow all your cigars even exposure to humidity.  If your cigars are constantly arranged in your humidor in a certain way, it's possible that parts of the cigars (ie: the head) are not getting enough humidity.

This is also a common problem with machine-made "convenience store" cigars as many are rolled too tightly; so tightly that there's hardly any room in the filler tobacco for humidity aeration.  As a result, the cigars have soft exteriors but the filler tobacco is hard and dry.  For tight cigars, cutting too much of the cigar head  can cause the tightly packed filler tobacco to "burst open" and split the wrapper.  This can also occur with premium cigars that are handrolled too tightly but this occurs predominantly in machine-made or low quality cigars.  With convenience store cigars, there is also the issue that the cigars are not properly humidified so they be extremely dry as well.

Moistening the head of the cigar does work and you can also try to cut the cigar more gently as cigars can split simply by having a cigar cutter cut it too forcefully.  This causes the blade(s) on the cigar cutter to pinch the cigar head down as it cuts and as a result, the wrapper splits.  Try cutting a cigar more gently and use a sharp double-bladed guillotine cutter.  Also avoid cutting the cigar head too deeply as you could sever the cap seam and cause the wrapper leaf near the cigar head to split or unravel.

Hopes this helps.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James