Dave Sabot

Fixing an Improperly Lit Cigar

Lighting a cigar correctly ensures that one gets the best possible flavor from their stogie.

This process requires a bit of practice, however, and it is inevitable that novice cigar smokers will get it wrong a few times. One can correct a bad light with a bit of work and, oftentimes, a bad light can be remedied without compromising the flavor of the cigar in any regard. The right lighter is oftentimes the key.

In some cases, the cigar will light properly but only partially. On these occasions, one need only even out the foot of the cigar to ensure that the ember is burning evenly. This can be done in two ways. One may hold their lighter to the unlit portion of tobacco until it combusts or one may blow on the tobacco until the foot of the cigar is burning at an even temperature over the entire surface area.

While some purists prefer to use cedar strips to light their cigars, there are many fine butane lighters on the market that are specifically manufactured to light a stogie. They generally feature a wider flame area which helps to provide a more even light. More expensive models, such as cigar cutter lighters, are provided with tools attached that eliminate the necessity to carry several implements around.

After stubbing out the cigar, repeat the entire process starting with the toasting. To toast the tobacco, hold the cigar slightly above the lighter flame until it reaches an even warmth. After this is been done, one lights the cigar by holding the flame slightly below the wrapper and puffing the flame into the tobacco. Because the cigar has been stubbed out and was never lit correctly in the first place, the toasting process must be repeated to ensure proper burn. Without doing so, the cigar will burn unevenly resulting in a poor-quality smoke.

If one is very much a cigar aficionado, one owes it to themselves to purchase a proper cigar lighter. These are available with attachments that make it more convenient to smoke when away from home. For example, one may purchase a cigar lighter with cutter implements attached which can ensure that one receives an even draw off of their cigar every time and which can eliminate the need to correct a poor light or to relight a stogie altogether when it is burning unevenly.

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