A Philosophical Approach to Cutting a Cigar

In a world as deeply rooted in tradition as tobacco culture, every innovation is met with both curiosity and caution. One such example is the concept of SikarInfuse, which I recently came across. To some, it's a modern evolution centered on aroma; to others, it's a trend that should be approached carefully. In light of evolving cigar preferences and shifting user profiles, I find this new approach worth a closer look. In fact, I’ve even written an article on the topic in the past.

SikarInfuse is a system designed to enrich the flavor of cigars by allowing them to interact with certain aromas or scents. The core aim here isn’t to create overpowering flavors through chemical additives, but rather to introduce subtle, complementary notes that accompany the natural character of tobacco.

For example, elements like cedarwood, aged rum, espresso, or mild spice tones are used to layer the tasting experience—without overwhelming the tobacco’s inherent identity.

A similar experience was mentioned by one of the most famous cigar smokers, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a story he shared about how he first encountered it back in 1989.

Unlike Arnie’s direct method of flavoring, SikarInfuse takes an indirect approach—using cigar tubes to gently infuse the cigars with aromas. Of course, this requires a bit more preparation and takes some time.

The tubes are sold in sets designed for 1, 3, 5, or 10 cigars. You choose the size of your set based on how many cigars you want to infuse—or how many different aromas you’d like to compare.

The system itself is actually quite simple. First, you place your selected cigars into the tubes and seal them with a cedarwood cap. Then, at the base of each tube, you attach a round chamber filled with the aroma source—either liquid or solid—depending on what you want to infuse into the cigars.

For liquids, an infusion period of up to one week is recommended. For solid aromatic materials, it’s best to let them sit for up to two weeks. If you're using solid substances, it's also advised to add a drop or two of pure water to the chamber to help maintain the cigars’ humidity.

The tubes can hold cigars up to 7 inches in length and 73 ring gauge, which conveniently covers most vitolas.

Although opinions among cigar smokers vary when it comes to this kind of flavor infusion, it’s not uncommon to see people—like Arnie—trying to enhance their cigars with drinks or other aromas. Perhaps SikarInfuse might just be the perfect solution for them.

Of course, many purists consider the natural tobacco profile to be sacred, believing that any external aromatic influence risks overshadowing the authenticity of the blend and its origin.

What’s your take on this?

Long ashes...