When you begin your cigar journey, there are many subtle nuances that every beginner must learn. They may seem mundane at first but smoking a cigar the right way means all the difference between a great smoking experience and a bad one.

A cigar isn’t a cigarette, so lighting it isn’t as simple as putting the end to a flame. We’ll examine not only the correct method of lighting a cigar but also the types of lighters out there and what happens when lighting a cigar incorrectly.

By the time we’re done, people will ask you for advice on lighting their cigar.

Types of Cigar Lighters

There’s not just one way to light a cigar, but there are lighters that make it easier. We’ll go over the various types and why people choose one over the other. 

Standard Lighters

If you walk up to a cigarette smoker and ask for a lighter, they’ll throw you their favorite Bic or Zippo. When it comes to standard soft flame lighters, you have the throwaway ones you buy at gas stations and the refillable ones that people keep for years. 

Are these standard lighters good for lighting cigars? Your gas station throwaways and refillable use lighter fluid as the fuel source. Many people believe using these lighters impact the taste. There is debate in the cigar world if these impacts taste that much. 

A soft flame lighter creates a flame like a candle and enough heat to light your cigar, but it takes longer to get that even burn. 

The biggest problem with soft flame lighters, especially the cheap ones, is the parts heat up fast and can burn your fingers and they’re only good for using inside. Windy days or inclement weather make these lighters useless.

Zippo Lighters

Is there anything cooler than the look of a Zippo? Everyone feels cool opening and lighting a Zippo. It is another type of soft flame lighter that uses a liquid fuel believed to create an oily smell when used for cigar lighting. 

The company realized this, and many people believe they changed the formula to eliminate the oily smell. We’ll leave that decision up to you. 

Torch Lighters

The king of cigar lighters is the torch lighter. It creates a high-intensity hot flame that provides an even burn and toasts your cigar fast. If you ask anyone that smokes a cigar what lighter to use, they’ll tell you one of these. 

If you like cigars with a small ring size (36-42), then the single jet torch lighter is for you. It’s a hot flame with good accuracy. Larger cigars with gauges above 48 need something more robust. Use a double or even triple jet lighter because it covers more surface than the single. 

Torch flames also resist wind and are used indoors and outdoors with ease. 

Cigar Fuels Are Not All the Same

All cigars run on some type of fuel, and it eventually runs out. You can just buy a brand new lighter or refill it. Don’t head out to your local store and buy the first lighter fuel you see. 

Torch cigars require refined fuel that creates a clean burn. Fuels filtered three times are the best. Why is this important? There’s always the worry that impurities may impact the flavor of the cigar, but cheap fuel clogs up your lighter. 

There are ways to unclog it, but by that point, it’s best to replace it. 

Lighting The Cigar

You’ve got your lighter picked out and it’s time to light the cigar. First, cut the cigar so air passes through. 

Regardless of if it’s a torch or soft flame lighter, you never touch the flame to the end. You’ll burn the cigar or create an uneven burn and that ruins your cigar smoking experience. 

Keep the lighter a few inches from the end and slowly rotate the cigar until the end is toasted evenly. Torchlight is the fastest and provides the most even burn. If you use a soft flame lighter, it takes longer, and you must be vigilant so that it burns evenly.

As you rotate the cigar, puff on it and see that the foot is lit evenly. When it’s lit, put it down for about a minute to stabilize.

Saving an Improperly Lit Cigar

Even the experts make a mistake every now and then, leading to a cigar that doesn’t burn evenly or even goes out. The good news is that many premium cigars autocorrect themselves after about ½ of burn. 

If the only part not burning is the outer wrapper, then it’s best to leave it alone. If you have a lot of tobacco not burning, then you need to relight. Grab your lighter and hold it a few inches from the unlit section of the cigar. 

Take a draw and see if it ignites. Smoke it gently until you get the even burn.

Cigars and Matches

The use of matches to light your cigar is controversial, but you can do it. Don’t use matches from a matchbook since they use sulfur and that impacts the flavor. They’re also too short and don’t provide even lighting. 

You want wooden matches, ideally cedar, to light your cigar. Light two at the same so you get a wider flame that covers more of the cigar. 

Let the match head burn first so it starts burning the wood to eliminate the chemicals. Keep the flame from touching the cigar and slowly toast the end and rotate as you would with a lighter. A good premium cigar may take a few match strikes before it’s evenly lit. 

The flame isn’t the hottest, so the process takes a few minutes. 

Enjoy Your Lit Cigar

When you get the hang of it, lighting a cigar is easy. You’ll get an even burn every time, or almost every time, no matter if you use a soft flame or torch lighter. There are many lighter brands, so experiment and find the one you like best.

Many cigar aficionados don’t have just one, but a few cigar lighters that they use. If you’re interested in learning more about our cigars and cigar lighters, then check out our inventory or contact us today.