Lighting Cigars 101

CastleCrest

EJS54

Scott319

It is funny you bring up Bosses. My Boss, NEVER clips the end of the cigar before lighting. He spends his time and toasts the foot of the cigar until it is a cherry red, always blowing on the end.

It is his opinion that if the end is cut, the harsh tastes and odor have a direct route up the length of the stick.

After the foot is a perfect red circle, he clips the cap and takes a deep draw, and volumes of smoke immediately appear.

It is a longer time to light a cigar, but he always said a premium cigar should never be rushed.

CigarStudent.com

That's exactly how I light my cigars...when I'm at my cousin's, I use matches, otherwise I use a Colibri.

jihiggs

"It is his opinion that if the end is cut, the harsh tastes and odor have a direct route up the length of the stick." I guess the theory is sound, but I am skeptical as to whether it actually makes a difference.

kuzi16

Scott319:

It is funny you bring up Bosses. My Boss, NEVER clips the end of the cigar before lighting. He spends his time and toasts the foot of the cigar until it is a cherry red, always blowing on the end.

It is his opinion that if the end is cut, the harsh tastes and odor have a direct route up the length of the stick.

After the foot is a perfect red circle, he clips the cap and takes a deep draw, and volumes of smoke immediately appear.

It is a longer time to light a cigar, but he always said a premium cigar should never be rushed.

   he has the last part right. in my opinion, if you light the cigar right there will be no harsh tastes and odors to travel up the stick.  Its never been a problem with me.

handypantz

I generally do the exact same as you CC......I live in the country so when im driving I still roast the end of the cigar.....just have to watch for deer

shootg32

Good smoking tips in this post. I'm gonna give them a shot on the next one I light up....

kuzi16

when i first started i was amazed how much a "proper" light helped.

madurofan

yea lighting is a major factor. Another pointer, don't let the flame touch the cigar keep it just a hint off the tobacco.

Matt Marvel

madurofan:

yea lighting is a major factor. Another pointer, don't let the flame touch the cigar keep it just a hint off the tobacco.

I'll second that. I've screwed up and torched a few, especially when I'm stuck with a lighter that doesn't want to work. Luckily it didn't do too much to diminish the cigar.

j0z3r

I get my worst lights when I try to rush the job. That's why I prefer to use a natural style flame as opposed to a torch, I feel that I get a better light that way even though it may take twice as long because I really take my time and focus on an even light. Right and wrong accounts for about 30%, preference accounts for the rest in my opinion.

kuzi16

madurofan

j0z3r:

I get my worst lights when I try to rush the job. That's why I prefer to use a natural style flame as opposed to a torch, I feel that I get a better light that way even though it may take twice as long because I really take my time and focus on an even light. Right and wrong accounts for about 30%, preference accounts for the rest in my opinion.

I've been hearing this more and more lately. A buddy told me about a guy he knows that lights his cigar with nothing but a natural flame BUT he uses a torch for corrective lights. I know its mostly preference but I'm thinking about experimenting. I've always used a torch bc I smoke outside most of the time so I'll see how it goes.

j0z3r

madurofan:

j0z3r:

I get my worst lights when I try to rush the job. That's why I prefer to use a natural style flame as opposed to a torch, I feel that I get a better light that way even though it may take twice as long because I really take my time and focus on an even light. Right and wrong accounts for about 30%, preference accounts for the rest in my opinion.

I've been hearing this more and more lately. A buddy told me about a guy he knows that lights his cigar with nothing but a natural flame BUT he uses a torch for corrective lights. I know its mostly preference but I'm thinking about experimenting. I've always used a torch bc I smoke outside most of the time so I'll see how it goes.

That's me maddy, I use a natural flame for lights and a torch for correction, I think its a great combo and it works well for me, and my lighter is a dual purpose type, with a natural flame and a torch flame.

madurofan

j0z3r:

madurofan:

j0z3r:

I get my worst lights when I try to rush the job. That's why I prefer to use a natural style flame as opposed to a torch, I feel that I get a better light that way even though it may take twice as long because I really take my time and focus on an even light. Right and wrong accounts for about 30%, preference accounts for the rest in my opinion.

I've been hearing this more and more lately. A buddy told me about a guy he knows that lights his cigar with nothing but a natural flame BUT he uses a torch for corrective lights. I know its mostly preference but I'm thinking about experimenting. I've always used a torch bc I smoke outside most of the time so I'll see how it goes.

That's me maddy, I use a natural flame for lights and a torch for correction, I think its a great combo and it works well for me, and my lighter is a dual purpose type, with a natural flame and a torch flame.

Thats bad @ss where did you get such a lighter? who is it made by? How much? I WANT ONE.

kuzi16

another soft flame that im ok with is spanish cedar matches. i REALLLLLLY wanna try that but i fear that itll be a giant pain in the butt and ill just end up pullin out the xikar to finish gettin it lit.

madurofan

I've used them, lit more of my finger than the cigar. Pulled out the Colibri(back then I was still using that piece of crap) and finished the light. Matches just all burn to quickly for me. I like taking my time and slowly turning the cigar. With a match all thats going through my head is HURRY HURRY YOU'RE GONNA BURN YOURSELF!!! OW, SH*T, TOO LATE.

kuzi16

urbino

I tried just using a Bic for a while when I started smoking cigars again, mostly because I didn't want to spring for a torch lighter. It just doesn't work very well outside. If there's any breeze at all, you can't keep anything like a consistent amount of heat going to the cigar -- if you can keep the lighter burning at all.

j0z3r

gelb13

J03zr, thank you for sharing your lighter with us. I thought it was so cool that I just ordered one from 2nd Street-cigars.com. Thanks again!

j0z3r

not a problem gelb, and that's the place I got mine from, I just couldn't remember it when I posted. I have the Red one, which did you go for?

gott.des.feuer

j0z3r:

madurofan:

j0z3r:

I get my worst lights when I try to rush the job. That's why I prefer to use a natural style flame as opposed to a torch, I feel that I get a better light that way even though it may take twice as long because I really take my time and focus on an even light. Right and wrong accounts for about 30%, preference accounts for the rest in my opinion.

I've been hearing this more and more lately. A buddy told me about a guy he knows that lights his cigar with nothing but a natural flame BUT he uses a torch for corrective lights. I know its mostly preference but I'm thinking about experimenting. I've always used a torch bc I smoke outside most of the time so I'll see how it goes.

That's me maddy, I use a natural flame for lights and a torch for correction, I think its a great combo and it works well for me, and my lighter is a dual purpose type, with a natural flame and a torch flame.

That's a pretty slick lighter. I saw a Xikar (the Exodus) that used a natural style flame, but I think it only did the natural. For the same reasons others mentioned, though, I stick with a jet/torch flame... I like the straight flame at any angle and regardless of wind.

gelb13

Hey, small world; I also got the red one.

Capt

The Dupont Extend is the way to go. The good guys at the old forum bought me one when I was going through the deeeevorce a few years back. That thing is a workhorse, probably lit over 1000 cigars to date.

ChrisCookz

So let me get this straight. One way to do it is: You burn around the end of the cigar before you cut it until it's evenly red. Then you blow it out. Then you cut it and light it again? Does that seem right or am I missing something? I'm new to this whole cigar thing and I'd like to get it right from the start and avoid any bad habits lol

dutyje

ChrisCookz:

I'm new to this whole cigar thing and I'd like to get it right from the start and avoid any bad habits

Hey, thanks for the new signature line!!

rusirius

zoom6zoom

I've been known to use a very large soft flame.... the front burner on the kitchen range. Don't have to worry about burning my fingers with the match, just hold it over a few inches and wait for the heat to do the job.

dutyje