Lighting Cigars 101

I have heard so many people that have so many different ways of lighting a cigar.
I thought I'd put down what I do (mostly)
I say mostly, because in my car driving or outdoors I put my flame to a cigar & suck!
But given the time to sit and do it right:
First I try and feel the cigar, rolling it softly in my fingers.
I look for hard spots, possible plugs.
I will then clip the end, always drawing on the cigar before I light it.
If it does not draw I use a poker and try to save it.
If I can draw air through the cigar I will then go to lighting the cigar.
First (with my torch lighter) I roast the end of the cigar.
Never drawing air, just hold it in front of me and use the flame to roast the end of the cigar till it looks like it is going.
I then blow out thre the cigar, trying to drive and smoke from the lighting out of the cigar.
I look for a even light, I will blow on the cherry and see if I missed.
If I have a little more flame and blow out again.
At this point I will draw smoke from the cigar.
A soft gentle draw, not a puff puff puff.
If I do it right then it is off to an easy sit back and smoke.
Why blow out?
I was taught that the lighting of the cigar can give a harsh smoke.
So by blowing out I do not let the smoke come through the stick.
I have heard a lot of methods & only offer up what I myself use.
Cedar strips, bic lighters, wood matches & ect.
Wondering if this is your method????
& I hope I have helped you to enjoy your cigars a little more.
Some times the ritual de Habitual is half the fun!
Enjoy!
CC

(another small advise I will share.
When heading out for the evening,
I will clip my cigar and check the draw.
I have had to many moments out when my cigar was plugged and ruined my smoking moment.)

(Also it good to blow the smoke out of the cigar every now and again to clear the cigar - this will often keep the cigar sweeter!)

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Comments

kuzi16

FEAR NOT!! there is a thing called the "z-plus" it is a zippo lighter insert. this makes a Zippo lighter a butane lighter. if im not mistaken, they are in the neighborhood of $10.00

mat4twamp

Got one on order, thanks a bunch!

urbino

mat4twamp:
It was a cool a$$ Miami Dolphins zippo though

Well done, sir.

Wafflebob

mat4twamp:
Well I think I screwed up, I went down yesterday and got myself a double blade cutter and a Zippo. After reading some stuff it seems like a Zippo is a bad idea because of the lighter fluid taste getting in the stick? It was a cool a$$ Miami Dolphins zippo though

From my experience, you can still get a damn fine light from a zippo or other fuel lighter, take your time with the light, and when you get it going, blow out through the cigar and then give it a minute or so resting time before you take a drag, that'll clear up any lighter fluid taste you get. Butane lighters are the best, but there's no reason why you can't use a zippo or other fuel lighter just take your time. everybody has their preference but I love my old beat-to-hell zippo. The REAL key is to give it a minute or so to burn off the fuel/burned flavor

kuzi16

Wafflebob:
mat4twamp:
Well I think I screwed up, I went down yesterday and got myself a double blade cutter and a Zippo. After reading some stuff it seems like a Zippo is a bad idea because of the lighter fluid taste getting in the stick? It was a cool a$$ Miami Dolphins zippo though
From my experience, you can still get a damn fine light from a zippo or other fuel lighter, take your time with the light, and when you get it going, blow out through the cigar and then give it a minute or so resting time before you take a drag, that'll clear up any lighter fluid taste you get. Butane lighters are the best, but there's no reason why you can't use a zippo or other fuel lighter just take your time. everybody has their preference but I love my old beat-to-hell zippo. The REAL key is to give it a minute or so to burn off the fuel/burned flavor

i just cant get past the lighter fluid smell.

urbino

Ditto.

btmisles

kuzi16:
i just cant get past the lighter fluid smell.

Same here. I used a zippo once when I was in a bind w/out matches or butane. Once is all it took. I now make sure there is a full supply of matches or a torch in every car and every room in the house.

Wafflebob

Maybe I just can't detect the lighter fluid smell very well. I've never had an issue. Then again, I've never had a butane lighter. I'm hoping to get one for my birthday in a few weeks.

Krieg

One of the best things about a well made cigar is getting an even burn. In my opinion, it is the icing on the cake. After reading all these posts about lighting a cigar, I come to realize that a cigar enthusiast lighting rituals are vast and different as they're cigars. I know this sounds really stupid, but I take great care and time in getting the perfect light. Here is what I do:

I prefer to use a butane(torch) lighter because butane is odorless and doesn't change the taste of the cigar. However, if a torch lighter isn't available, I will use wooden matches (the long ones) or my Zippo. I first will clip off the cap and make sure I can draw, then I put the cigar in my mouth and rotate it while "kissing" the cigar with the flame. If available, I will use my reflection to check and see if the cigar is lit. Once my cigar is lit, I will then let it "settle down" in the ashtray before enjoying the first luxurious puff. I let it settle down because I do not want the cigar to burn too hot, the taste of the cigar would suffer.

Also, I am a fan of Zippo lighters and I am thinking about getting one of the new Zippo BLU lighters. Has anyone bought one?

Thanks,

Chris

kuzi16

ive heard about them.
by that i mean " i heard they exist."

i have yet to se one IRL

dwayne3307

A LOT of good info in this thread for a newbie like myself. BTW, I see the term "B&M" used a lot, what does that stand for???

dutyje

Brick & Mortar

dwayne3307

dutyje:
Brick & Mortar

gotcha, thanks for the info!!

urbino

Krieg:
If available, I will use my reflection to check and see if the cigar is lit.

I've seen (on the internets) a lighter that has a built-in reflector for this. Can't remember where I saw it, though, or who makes it.

j0z3r

I think the Perdomo table-top lighter has such a feature.

urbino

Perdomo: is there anything they can't do?

gmill880

urbino:
Perdomo: is there anything they can't do?

Yes...after years of trying they have given up on turning a sow's ear into a silk cigar wrapper ......

urbino

That's just a vicious rumor. They haven't given up. They still have pig's ears from 1994 fermenting.

gmill880

urbino:
That's just a vicious rumor. They haven't given up. They still have pig's ears from 1994 fermenting.

LMAO

Krieg

I llike to use my RP torch lighter, drawing on the cigar while rotating it to get an even burn.