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Cigars/smoking half a cigar

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Expert: - 7/12/2009


Question
Hi James,

I was wondering if cigars are wrapped in the same manner from head to foot.   I bought some "Perdomo 2 mistakes" which are 6.5 inches in length and 55 ring gauge.   I find it too long of a smoke most of the times and cannot finish it.   I was wondering if its alright to cut it in half and have half of it in one sitting, and the other half some other time.   I dont know if perhaps the tobacco is rolled differently on different parts of the cigar.   I imagine the half without the head runs a risk of unraveling... but is that it?

Answer
Hi Andrew,

You're right.  Cutting a cigar in the middle can cause the cigar's wrapper leaf to unravel.  The tobacco in a cigar is consistently rolled so it is possible to cut the cigar in half and smoke the halves separately.  To prevent the loose wrapper leaf from unraveling, simply use a bit of pectin, vegetable glue or Cigar Dr. adhesive to affix the loose end of the leaf to the cigar.  The cigar half without the head may also have a looser draw as the tobacco near the head of the cigar is usually bunched tighter and slightly tapered as it is rolled.

Aside from this, it's perfectly fine to cut your cigar in half to smoke separately.

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

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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