Guillotine, punch or V-cut: choosing the right cigar cutter

A clean cut decides the draw, the flavour and whether the wrapper holds. Three tools to choose from — guillotine, punch and V-cut. Here's which one suits you.

The guillotine — the all-rounder

A guillotine's straight cut opens the full face and gives the freest draw. A double blade cuts cleaner than a single one — it slices from both sides at once without crushing the wrapper. The safe choice for almost any size.

Guillotine-Cutter (2 Klingen) Double-blade guillotine cutter for cigars (various options). CHF 8.00View in the shop →

The punch — compact and on the go

A punch bores a round hole in the cap instead of cutting it off. The draw is a touch more concentrated, the wrapper stays intact, and it fits on a keyring. Great for robustos and thicker ring gauges — less so for very slim shapes.

Zigarrenbohrer Metall grau (2 Grössen) Cigar drill / punch cutter in grey metal, two sizes. CHF 40.00View in the shop →

The V-cut — the middle ground

The V-cut opens a wedge notch in the cap: more surface than a punch, but more protected than a straight cut. It funnels the smoke nicely — a favourite on fuller cigars.

Which one for whom?

• Beginner / all sizes: double-blade guillotine.
• On the go / robusto fan: a keyring punch.
• Flavour funnel: V-cut for full-bodied cigars.
• Switch often and you'll end up wanting all three in the drawer.

A good tool costs little and saves every cigar — a bad cut ruins the best one.

Cutters & punches in the shop