Let’s set the record straight: much like cutting a cigar, lighting a cigar is not an overly complicated process, but has a few essential steps that should be adhered to to ensure that you get the most out of your cigar experience. With proper consistency, routinely lighting a cigar in the correct manner will ensure that any unfavorable smoking experience does not stem from anything you have done to prepare and maintain its burn; instead all the blame can be put on the actual cigar itself. If you have a cigar that you know you like, and you light it using the correct steps and use the correct items outlined here, you’re almost certain to enjoy it.

Every. Single. Time.

Read on…

Step One: Choosing The Right Flame

Fist things first. Never use the following to light a cigar:

• A cigarette lighter
• A candle
• Paper matches
• A stovetop

Though very common and readily available, cigarette lighters contain lighter fluid that has a chemical smell that negatively impact the way a cigar tastes after being lit. Yes, that includes a Zippo too. Also, given its typical scented wax composition, a candle’s flame is also not a good option as its chemical properties unfavorably impact taste, scented candle or not. The same can be said about paper matches and a stovetop. Refrain from using any of these to ignite your stogie, and please for the love of God – don’t be a douchebag and use dollar bills, homeboy.

The proper items to light a cigar with are:

• A wooden match
• A butane lighter
• A cedar spill

Cedar spills are thin sheets of Spanish cedar that are used to line individual cigar tubos (aluminum tubes) or are often found within a box of cigars to ensure freshness. Cedar spills burn well with a nice large flame and a great scent. Of course, a cedar spill has to first be ignited by something else before lighting your cigar, in which case, you would use one of the other two proper ways to light a cigar: a wooden match or a butane lighter. When using a match, make sure to allow the match to burn for a few seconds, which will insure that any sulphur from the match head has been burned off before it’s flame comes in contact with the cigar.  Though a wooden match is the most classic and time-honored way to light a cigar, it is certainly not the most effective. A torch-style butane lighter is the most effective and powerful way to light a cigar, and is the method favored by most cigar smokers today.

Step Two: Toasting The Foot

The foot of the cigar is the end opposite to the cap end where you place the cut. Prior to placing the cigar in your mouth to light, you first toast the cigar by holding at a 45-degree angle in the hand opposite the one holding the match or lighter and toast the outside edge of the foot as you evenly rotate it.

The purpose of toasting is to ignite the outer layers of the tobacco (the binder and the wrapper) that hold the cigar together. Otherwise, only the inner tobacco layer (the filler) would ignite, which can result in an uneven burn and a poorly shaped ash. Of course, remember to hold your cigar approximately 2-3 inches above the flame to avoid charring the wrapper which will create an bad taste from your beautiful cigar.

Step Three: Lighting The Cigar

Once the foot has been toasted, you can place the cigar in your mouth and again hold it three inches above the flame while rotating it evenly, this time taking a few short puffs. Once lit, turn the cigar around and gently blow air on the lit foot to see that it all is evenly burning and consistently red in color.

Your cigar is now ready to smoke.

A few extra tips….

Longer wooden matches exist that are ideal if using a match to toast or light. When the flame burns up the match, it creates a wider flame which makes lighting the cigar evenly relatively effortless, and decreases the chances of charring the inside of the cigar, as happens sometimes when using a butane torch. Remember, unlike a cigarette, you shouldn’t repeatedly tap off the ash of your cigar, as it makes the ‘cherry’ burn too hot, which can burn away delicate flavors off of the draw. The longer ash will help to keep the cigar ‘cool’ and will help nurture the optimal flavors from within the tobacco. Let it grow an inch or two, but not too long, as it may fall off on to clothing or upholstery.

As an all-natural product containing solely tobacco and plant resin, cigars tend to not burn as easy and continuous as does a cigarette, as they do not contain any added chemicals or paper that can encourage a faster burn. Thus, sometimes your cigar may need to be re-lit from time to time as it could go out. When this happens, gently knock off the ash at the end and relight your cigar in the same manner. If an unfinished cigar has gone out for more than a half hour, you can relight it and then blow smoke outward out of the foot a couple of times quickly to recondition it before taking a puff in and starting it again.

Now go enjoy that cigar….

– Kurt Bradley