What Is a Cigar Cap?

The cap is a small piece of wrapper leaf applied to the head of a cigar, the closed end you draw from, to seal it and hold the wrapper in place. When you cut a cigar, you slice just above where the cap ends, removing only its top. Understanding the cap is the key to cutting cleanly without unraveling the whole wrapper.

Why cigars have a cap

A cigar's wrapper is wound in a spiral up the body. Without something to hold it down at the top, that spiral would unravel. The cap is a separate piece of leaf placed over the head to anchor the wrapper and seal the end. On premium handmade cigars, the cap is applied by hand and is a sign of good rolling.

Cap vs head vs shoulder

These three terms are close together and often confused:

• Head: the whole closed end of the cigar that you put to your mouth.
• Cap: the small leaf piece sealing that head.
• Shoulder: the curved line where the cap meets the body of the cigar.

Your cut should land just above the shoulder, taking only the very top of the cap.

Types of cap

• Flat or straight cap: the standard rounded finish on most cigars.
• Triple cap: three layers of leaf, a mark of careful Cuban-style rolling.
• Pigtail (curly) cap: a small twist of leaf left on top, decorative and easy to twist off.

Why cutting the cap correctly matters

If you cut only the top of the cap, above the shoulder, the rest of the cap keeps the wrapper anchored and the cigar smokes cleanly. If you cut too deep, past the cap and into the body, you remove that anchor and the wrapper can peel apart as you smoke. This is the single most common cause of an unraveling cigar.

What if the cap comes loose?

If the cap starts to lift, a little saliva or a dab of cigar glue can tack it back down in a pinch. Prevention is better: keep cigars properly humidified so the wrapper stays supple, and cut carefully.

Where to go next

Learn the technique in how to cut a cigar, see the opposite end in what is a cigar foot, and place it all in context with cigar anatomy explained.