Whats your method of lighting cigars?

[rudeJARHEAD]

Sometimes I toast it for a few seconds, but usually I am too damn impatient and just hit it with the torch while rotating it to ensure an even light. Sometimes the flame touches sometimes it may not.

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by madurolover

I toast, blow gently on the end, toast, blow gently on the end and continue until the cigar is lit. I then set it down and let it relax for about 1 minute before I start smoking it. Usually takes me about 2 - 3 minutes to start smoking from clip to first puff.

You my good man are a cigar tease! Actually, there is a ton of credence to this approach because it does enhance the overall taste of the cigar. I have approached the lighting of a cigar in the most hurried of situations where I lit it as quickly as possible and taking my time like Donnie does. It honest to God makes a difference and when you pay as much as we do for some of our cigars,,,,why not make it the best as you can to smoke?

[gjcab09]

Have tried the "toasting" method twice today. Man! What a difference that makes to the initial few puffs! Thanks guys! What a great tip!

[edogg]

I always toast before actually lighting.

[Dgar]

I always try and toast the foot first, If I get in a hurry I usually end up burning the wrapper leaf and getting a funky uneven burn... not the way I like to start a cigar.

[Sigarz]

Originally Posted by Cigary

I have read a lot of articles about this and they say when you light a cigar the flame should never touch the actual cigar,,,apply the flame at a 45 degree angle and rotate while ( toasting ) the foot and get it to where the foot is red and then blow on the end so as to keep it like a cherry. This takes about a good minute of your time but it is worth it. Once lit then draw the smoke into your mouth. I will also use a cedar strip which catches the hint of the cedar taste while drawing lightly so as not to overpower the lighting process and overhead the tobacco. I use to just light up the cigar with a torch and draw like it was a milkshake and that just burns the tobacco,,,doing it right does make a difference in the quality of the cigar,,,since you pay that much for one might as well get as much pleasure of the tobacco as you can.

[ribletman]

Looks like I am going to be the odd man out. I use a Savinelli Im Corona Old Boy lighter, which is designed for pipes but works excellently for cigars as well. This is not a torch lighter, which makes lighting a bit different. You flip up the cap, then strike the lighter. It stays lit as long as you do not close the top, making it very easy and comfortable to hold the lit lighter for an extended period. It is also efficient on fuel, being able to burn for around 15 minutes on a single refill. But as you can adjust the flame, time may vary.

What I do is toast the foot, changing the angle and rotation constantly to get an very even charring of all the foot's tobacco. This takes 10-15 seconds on most cigars. Then I purge the cigar, blowing out lightly for a few seconds. Then I light by drawing on the cigar while applying the flame again. Usually it only takes a second or two to be fully lit.

The whole reason I started toasting is to get a very even burn started. Works wonders. But since I am using a much lower temperature flame, I may never get the cigar lit trying to just hold it to the flame. So I draw in lightly.

[Hemingway in Havana]

I always use matches to "toast". If I do draw, at this point, it is very lightly. Then I blow on the toasted area. I then wave the cigar (carefully!) in a circular motion once or twice, then check the end again. It is usually good to go at this point. Initial puffs are very light. Torch lighter is used for touch-ups only. Funny how we all develop our own little rituals/patterns: yet another interesting thing about the hobby.

[DerStro]

I never really toast, I just grab my zippo/crack lighter and draw while moving the lighter around the cigar foot. Probably not the "proper" way, but as long as I cut the cap properly (aka, not lopsided) it burns just fine, no problems keeping it even.

[Raybird]

I usually toast the foot of larger cigars before lighting, but I prefer a zippo, bic or just plain matches for the coronas.

[bimmian]

For me, it's really depending on my location and what stick I'm burning.. If it's a really good or really expensive one, I'll use matches or cedar spills exclusively to toast the foot and then blow on it. More matches/spill and a few light puffs, if that doesn't work out the 1st time around. My current favorite is my new Savinelli IM Corona Double Corona lighter, similar to the Old Boy that ribletman uses. I pretty much use the same method he uses for that. Also works for S.T. Dupont lighters, or anything with a cooler flame. If I'm outdoors and it's windy, nothing beats a torch. Toast and puff, then purge to try get rid of any butane that might have gotten in. For all methods, I try to avoid touching the flame to the foot if I can, but if it's breezy you just gotta do what it takes...

[blazingazn]

I puff on wooden matches about 1 inch away from the cigar and rotate my cigar.

The flame licks up by itself and I notice I don't get that initial smoke taste as bad.