Editorial policy

Cut & Smoke is an independent publication written by Charles McQuain, who is documenting what he learns about cigars, storage, gear and pairings as a beginner.

Evidence labels

Every story states how it was put together:

• Personal observation: based on the author’s own notes and experience.
• Researched guide: compiled from published sources named and linked in the story.
• Researched comparison: compares published specifications and design differences without hands-on testing.

Stories do not claim testing that did not happen and do not publish ratings, scores or rankings.

Sources

Researched stories name and link the publications they draw on as they go, and say so when a source sells what it is discussing. They also say where sources disagree.

Images

Photographs are licensed stock photos unless a story says otherwise. They illustrate the subject in general: they do not show the author’s own setup, and they are not evidence of testing. Product photographs, when used in a review, show the actual item discussed. The source and license of every image are kept on file.

Independence

No company has paid for coverage. If that ever changes, the arrangement will be disclosed on the affected page. Cut & Smoke does not sell cigars. It may earn commissions through affiliate links, as described in the affiliate disclosure, and a commission does not change what a story says. Charles also owns and operates BourbonProof.com, and stories here say so when they mention it.

Health

Cigars are tobacco products. Nothing on this site suggests that smoking is safe. This site is for adults 21 and over.

Corrections

Errors are corrected on the affected page with a dated note. To report one, email hello@cutandsmoke.com.