Skip to main content

How to cut a torpedo cigar: The proper way to prepare the unique size

Torpedo Cigars up close from Oliva, Ramon Bueso, and Padilla.
Briley Kenney / The Manual

Torpedo Cigars up close from Oliva, Ramon Bueso, and Padilla.
Briley Kenney / The Manual

You don’t want to take too much off the top when cutting a cigar, just enough to let the smoke and flavors pass through. But all bets are off when cutting an unusual size, like a torpedo cigar. That’s because the head — the end where you cut — is shaped like the sharp edge of a torpedo. It comes to a point that can make cutting, at least with traditional cutters and tools, a bit contentious. So, if you’ve never had the pleasure of smoking a torpedo-style cigar before, you might find yourself a little confused when prepping for the experience. This guide will walk you through how to cut a torpedo cigar, point out some things you might want to know, and I’ll even share a few of my favorite torpedo smokes. Let’s discuss.

Recommended Videos

How to cut a torpedo cigar the right way

how to smoke a cigar
Genevieve Poblano / The Manual

If you’re learning how to cut a cigar, you can always start with our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide. The trick is to snip a little off the head, not a huge chunk, to let the smoke pass through the cigar, delivering loads of flavor and nuance as you draw through it. A common mistake beginners make is to chop off too much, especially when using a straight cutter. If this is your first time, I highly recommend — it’s a style of cutter that has a backstop behind the guillotine so you don’t chop too much off.

But when cutting a torpedo cigar, you might want to cut a little more off. Start by snipping just the tip of the cigar using a quick, slicing motion with whatever cutter you have. Place it on your lips and see how it feels. If you don’t like how it comes to a slight point, cut a little more off and try again. You’re done when you’re satisfied with the feel of the cigar, and you’re sure there will be a decent draw. You can test the draw by placing it to your lips and subtly pulling air through the cigar. You’ll also taste a little natural flavor this way.

Although you’re cutting the head of the torpedo cigar more than once, you don’t want to chop too much off, so be mindful of that.

Other cutting methods for torpedo cigars:

  • Use a V-cut
  • Use a traditional table cutter
  • Use cigar scissors
  • Use the Dickman cut (a 45-degree angled straight cut)

When you’re ready to light it, you can use your preferred method for lighting cigars. There’s no special trick or process to it.

Why are torpedo cigars the way that they are?

It might surprise you, but the tapered head of a torpedo cigar is specifically designed to deliver more concentrated flavors to your palate. The smoke isn’t just channeled through the cigar but into a more focused area at the head. Moreover, most torpedos use a broader or wider ring gauge, meaning the cigar rollers can pack more into them.

One of the benefits of torpedo cigars is that people who usually prefer to smoke smaller ring gauges because of their comfort level or preferences can now enjoy smoking a definitively larger cigar. With the right torpedo cigar, the intensity is a bit higher, giving you a one-of-a-kind experience overall.

What are some good torpedo cigar recommendations?

I’m glad you asked! Here are a few torpedo-style cigars that I enjoy smoking and can recommend to anyone looking to get into the hobby:

Briley Kenney
The Manual's resident cigar enthusiast and expert. Branded content writer. Purveyor of all things tech and magical.
Predator: Badlands is giving Predator fans the movie they’ve always wanted
The movie is set to hit theaters in November, years after the debut of Prey.
Elle Fanning in Predator Badlands

After the success of Prey, there's some new energy in the Predator franchise. What's even better for Predator fans, though, is that the next installment seems designed to give them something they've always wanted. Namely, a movie that follows a predator's POV.

In the first trailer for Predator: Badlands, a predator named Dek is exiled from his clan, only to meet a humanoid-looking life-form played by Elle Fanning. The two of them team up to take on something that "can't be killed," and a long the way, we get some pretty incredible looks at the homeworld of the predators.

Read more
The next Hunger Games movie has found its lead actors
The movie will be set 24 years before the original Hunger Games.
Sunrise on the Reaping cover

Following the success of Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest book in the Hunger Games series, Deadline is reporting that the film adaptation that is set to release in 2026 has found its lead actors. Joseph Zada will play Haymitch in the film, while Whitney Peak will play Lenore Dove, Haymitch's romantic partner.

The film will be set 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and 24 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games. The book follows Haymitch, the District 12 victor who mentors Katniss and Peeta, as he wins his own Games on their 50th anniversary.

Read more
The 9 best golf documentaries to watch this year
Here's a glimpse into the amazing history of golf, including how the sport has evolved
Tiger (HBO)

Depending on how you look at it, golf is either one of the simplest sports or one of the most complex. The objective is very easy to wrap your head around: This ball has got to wind up in a hole that's maybe a quarter mile away. Everything that happens after that, though, is where things get interesting. Of course, people who love golf love it for a wide array of reasons. Some people love the beautiful courses, while others love the stories behind their favorite players.
There are plenty of people who love golf but don't play it much themselves, and those are the people who this list is really for. Golf's full of amazing stories, and we've even gotten our fair share of great golf movies as a result. Sometimes, though, a documentary is an even better fit for a particular story set in the world of golf. As someone who doesn't play much golf but loves to watch it, these documentaries are right up my alley. They're the kinds of movies that can inspire and perplex you, and also remind you that at its best, golf is filled with legendary moments. These movies might not be on the shortlist for any awards, but that's only because sports documentaries are so recognized for how well they put stories together.
After careful consideration, we've brought you this list of the best golf documentaries you can stream now.

Full Swing (2023)

Read more