By T.J. Mayben – Feb 9 2024
So, you’ve cut your cigar…but now what? Obviously you need to light it, but what should you use to do it? And how do you go about it?? Let’s explore your options after the break…
So, if you have questions about how to cut take a moment to go read my other article on cutting…then come back.
Ok, now that we’re all on the same page, let’s talk about lighting:
Technically, you can light your cigar with anything hot enough to ignite the tobacco. I’ve seen everything online…from hot rifle barrels to welders. But since most of us won’t likely see those as everyday options, let’s talk about the most common and best methods to properly light your stogie.
The most common these days is a lighter. There are many brands and types, with the most common being the butane torch. Whether utilitarian or elegant in appearance, torch lighters use highly-filtered butane for fuel, are adjustable, and can have one to three individual flames. Cost is reasonable, as a cheaper (but effective) torch can be available as low as around $13…nicer, finely designed lighters can range up to the hundreds. I recommend you start cheap until you find one you can’t live without and are willing to shell out decent cash for. The butane used is a clean fuel, so it doesn’t introduce pollutants to your cigar, but you have to be careful not to actually burn the cigar; this is a torch and runs way hotter and has a more forceful flame than a typical Bic.
Speaking of Bic lighters: you CAN use a cheap Bic soft-flame lighter to light your cigar! It’s filled with isobutane which is chemically similar to regular butane but actually burns cleaner…unless you fill your torch with multiple-filtered butane. Don’t buy into the myth about dirty fuel in Bics…the real, biggest problem with a Bic is that by the time you’ve toasted your cigar to the proper lighting point, it’s so hot you’ll badly burn your fingers. They’re made to light paper-wrapped cigarettes, not premium cigars.
Zippos however, use a fuel called Naptha which is a lighter fuel that absolutely should be avoided and will impact the taste of that premium tobacco you just shelled out for. So these should be avoided. There are after-market torch inserts that you can replace the inner guts of a Zippo with, and these use the butane mentioned above if you love the feel of a Zippo in your hand. The flame will be a torch, instead of a soft flame.
There are also soft-flame cigar lighters available from manufacturers such as S.T. Dupont or Colibri that use proper butane fuel and are beautiful to look at…but be advised, they’re expensive. These lighters are elegant and provide a large soft flame for lighting even the largest gauge cigars without the dangers of burning your wrapper as with a torch.
Using a lighter to light your cigar is typically referred to as “toasting”. To toast your cigar, hold the lighter far enough away from the foot so the flames don’t actually touch the cigar and the heat warms the end of the cigar without lighting it on fire. Move the lighter around, turn your cigar to ensure even warming, and when it’s properly toasted (edges of the wrapper should be burned back slightly and the entire face of the cigar has been heated), place the cigar into your mouth and take a draw. Turn the cigar so you can see the face of the foot and blow softly to make the end glow…look for any spots that you missed with the lighter and touch ‘em up. Once it’s uniformly glowing, enjoy. NOTE: Be careful not to get too close or to keep the lighter focused on one area for too long lest you invite “canoeing” (an uneven burn up one side of the cigar).
So that’s lighters…what other options are there?
Sulfur-less matches are a nice alternative, as they do not impart the sulfur smell of regular matches, but are harder (for me at least) to use for toasting. These matches are usually available at most brick & mortar stores/lounges and are often emblazoned with the name of the lounge on the box (if you’re into collecting swag from your cigar-related journeys, these make inexpensive souvenirs to bring home!) Light your cigar in much the same way as above, being careful not to burn the wrapper or your fingers. Also, make sure you have enough on hand, as you don’t want to start lighting and then run out of matches before the job is done!
Another option is to light a Spanish cedar spill, and then use the spill to light your cigar. The Spanish cedar imparts a nice complement to fine tobacco. One of the great benefits of using a spill is it doesn’t matter what you use to light it…so even a Zippo can be used. Historically speaking, before the advent of matches spills were used to transfer flame from the fireplace or stove to your cigar or pipe, so it’s an elegant throw-back way to light your premium cigar. Spills can be purchased online (even on Amazon) and are a nice addition to any home lounge or put a few in your travel humidor.
Regardless of the device you use to light your cigar, the main thing to remember is to take your time lighting…it’s a process, one that deserves your concentration and care. Taking your time gives you a moment to reflect on the many hands that took the time to create that beautiful cigar you’re now holding in yours. Now go enjoy!
tj
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