As any cigar aficionado will attest, the most critical piece of enjoying the perfect cigar lies within your preparation.
Smoking a great cigar is all about a relaxing, sensual experience – full of flavor and scent – so why rush through the process? The heady combination of discipline and romance found in cigar culture is superbly encapsulated by the patient care that a true cigar enthusiast will take with lighting their smoke. And the method of lighting really makes a difference!
How you light your cigar will determine the quality and comfort of your smoke session, as well as have a huge say in the taste.
Obviously, you want to experience the cigar as the master blender intended – don’t shoot yourself in the foot with a hasty or sloppy light.
A patient approach will keep you from having to fight an uneven burn, an overheated cigar, and any surprise unpleasantness (like the taste of lighter fluid. Yikes). So, how to light a cigar perfectly?
Cigar anatomy: Understand your cigar before lighting
In order for us to get the best of our cigars, we have to understand their composition first.
The wrapper is the tobacco leaf that covers the exterior of the cigar. The wrapper is also designed to be the only visible component of the final product, so how it looks is often very important to the maker.
The binder is a coarser leaf, almost leathery in texture, that serves to bind the elements of the cigar blend– the wrapper is too delicate to perform this function by itself, so the binder helps adhere the ingredients of the cigar to each other and also to the wrapper itself.
The filler is the heart and core essence of the cigar. It consists of a well-balanced selection of different tobacco primings, meant to deliver the bulk of the cigar’s flavor and character to the smoker.
The key to an even burn and an enjoyable smoke is to engage all three of these elements together in harmony.
3 Different Ways to Light a Cigar
For convenience’s sake, it may be tempting to light your cigar with various easily-available sources of flame.
Maybe you’re eyeing the stovetop, a candle, or the end of an already-lit cigar or cigarette. Resist the urge and hear us out – there’s nothing worse than a chemical, burnt, or otherwise off-putting taste to ruin your cigar experience. Instead, consider our three favorite flames that are sure to elevate the entire quality of your smoke.
Cedar Spill
A cedar spill is a strip of Spanish cedar whose end can be lit to induce a slow-burning, elegant, and traditionally formal flame for the lighting process.
There’s a reason cedar is the most popular wood for cases and humidors. This absorbent, protective material is excellent at keeping your cigars dry and fragrant. You can purchase professionally manufactured cedar spills, or even make them yourself; just take a sheet of cedar from a cigar box and fold it into thin, half-inch strips.
This method forces you to really take your time and pay close attention to the cigar as it’s toasting or lighting. It’s worth noting, though, that this is not an ideal method for outdoor use, as lit cedar spills can quickly extinguish with slight amounts of wind.
Sulfurless Wooden Match
A sulfurless wooden match is the preferable alternative to a regular convenience store’s match; regular matches are cheaply made with inferior combustion that will cause a frustrating, drawn-out lighting experience and will likely result in a chemical taste while smoking.
Opt for cigar matches, which are often made of cedar and are extra-long, allowing you to light them and wait for a solid flame to burn for a moment before introducing it to the foot of your cigar.
With clean oxidation as central to their combustion process, cigar matches provide an accessible and smooth light for your smoke.
Pro-tip: strike two matches at once to get a wider flame and a more even toast for the foot of your cigar. And hold them at a slightly downward angle to get more burn-time!
Butane Fuel Lighter
A butane fuel lighter is your go-to for outdoor smoking. This method’s extremely hot, clean and odorless burn are fantastic for convenient, quick toasting and lighting, as well as a consistent flame for optimal evenly-spread heat exposure.
Just as you would do with the cedar spill or cigar match, though, be sure to let the butane lighter burn for a moment after ignition, to make sure the flame is clean and focused. This will help you avoid the addition of any strange tastes or textures to your cigar once it’s lit.
The Best Way To Light A Cigar
There are several methods to get the best results in lighting a cigar. However, these next are key in getting the most out of it.
Toasting
When lighting a cigar, don’t forget to toast it before you really light it up.
By toasting, we’re referring to the process by which one heats, blends, and softens the foot of a cigar for an even, smooth taste.
To properly toast the foot of your cigar, think of how you might toast a marshmallow – not too far from the fire or directly in it. Hold the cigar at an angle (about forty-five to sixty degrees) over the flame, and commit to about ten seconds of toasting; begin at the edges of the wrapper, then work your way in, remembering to be thorough and slow.
Without this step, you’re likely to only set fire to the filler, which won’t give you the complete experience of a premium cigar. You really want to set fire to all three of those important elements we discussed: wrapper, binder, and filler burning in tandem.
When the foot of the cigar is evenly gray and ashy throughout, leaving no untouched cigar-brown parts, it’s time to light up.
Puffing
Get the cigar a little closer to the flame for this part.
Now we’re looking for a smoky red-orange color, or the “cherry”. Take a slow, gentle puff on the other end of the cigar (imagine that you’re sipping liquid through a straw), watching for a consistent color and burn at the foot.
If you’re using a butane lighter, pay close attention to the distance you’re keeping between the cigar and the flame; flecks from the cigar can fall into the torch valves and clog them, which may cause problems in any future use.
Begin to take a short set of puffs every thirty to sixty seconds, still watching closely for that nice cherry color and no blackening – blackening means that you’ve overheated the cigar.
Enjoying
Don’t be afraid to re-light if the color isn’t right and take some more puffs as you go. Take your time and relax! Smoking a good cigar is one of the great pleasures of life and can be very meditative and calming.
Cigar Lighting Troubleshooting
Although a great pleasure when handled correctly, lighting a cigar has more issues than you could think of. Here’s how to solve some of the most common.
Is your cigar having trouble staying lit?
This problem could be anything from overly quick lighting to poor manufacturing or quality. But first things first: check your storage method.
If your case or humidor isn’t shut all the way, or if the lining seems like it might be compromised, address that right away; if your cigars are damp or retaining moisture, that’s likely the reason that they’re not staying lit.
Over-humidifying during storage is a common culprit for this issue. And not to beat a dead horse, but please take the extra time and effort to toast your cigar! Otherwise, you risk tossing a good product out of frustration.
Is your torch lighter having trouble staying lit?
Check the fluid right away. If there’s a sufficient level, move on to purging. Regular purges of a butane lighter can make a world of difference for long-term performance. Purge the air in the chamber of your lighter to release the pressure in the gas chamber, or else less and less butane will be able to flow into the chamber upon each light, causing sputtering and outages.
Does your cigar burn unevenly?
Toasting plays a huge part in this. Go ahead and blow gently on the foot of the cigar, taking care to get airflow to all edges and sections of the foot, until the ember or cherry is bright and vibrant on all parts.
Again, don’t shy away from re-lighting your cigar. Steady puffs and a loose hold (try not to chomp down on the end!) will help you gauge the nature of the issue and troubleshoot accordingly.
Is your cigar burning too hot?
Firstly, let’s clarify that the longer you burn a cigar, the more potent its tars and oils become.
It’s totally normal to notice a stronger, earthier scent and a smokier mouthfeel about halfway into a good cigar. And check yourself for the rate of your puffs: ideally, you should be waiting a solid thirty to sixty seconds before taking another draw.
Fast smoking will overheat your cigar and spoil the blend’s overall effect. If you’re noticing a hot, bitter character to your cigar, try slowing down and seeing if that helps.
Poor construction can also lead to overheating during a smoke session. If the filler of your cigar is under the proper quantity, or too loosely packed in the cigar, it will probably mean a less satisfying experience.
The same goes for a cigar that’s been hastily wrapped. The construction should be firm and well-made. You can also try blowing gently and slowly into an overheated cigar; this can help to redistribute the tars and oils for a more even burn.
