Two Guys Cigar Blog

where there’s smoke there’s fire

I talked about cutting your cigar a few days ago today I figured we could delve into another debate, lighting your cigar.  There are really two main ways the jet torch and a natural flame. There are some good and bad things that can happen with each and like cutting it comes down to your preference.

The jet torch is pretty much just what the name says it is. Its a high powered torch flame that is extremely hot. there are good and bad parts to all that heat. the benefit is that with high heat you will light your cigar very quickly.  The torch will also usually give you a very easy burn and allows for easy touch ups for cigars that may be burning at a slightly uneven pace. the down side is that you can over torch the foot of the cigar causing a burnt and often “ashtray” taste to the first inch of your cigar. it usually fades away once you get past the severely charred part of the cigar, but you do end up losing some of the flavors at least partially. 

The other option being a soft flame is probably more familiar to most none cigar smokers.  It is comparable to your every day lighter that would be used for lighting candles or, heaven forbid, cigarettes.  The benefits to a soft flame are kind of the same as the hindrances of a torch flame. With a soft flame its virtually impossible to over burn the foot of your cigar. The down side is that sometimes with a soft flame it takes longer to get the foot fully lit which if not done will cause your cigar to burn very unevenly or “run”. 

There are a few options on lighters that fall in between the two general categories such as wind proof lighters.  While windproof lighters are great for on a boat or out on the golf course they are really an inferior option to either a torch or soft flame. They simply don’t put out enough heat to toast the foot properly and really aren’t a great alternative.

One thing that I would stress is that you must use proper fuel in which ever lighter you chose to use. I would recommend not using anything that isn’t butane refillable as some fuels can impart flavors through their flames. I also highly recommend you buying at least triple refined butane refills. Doing so will clog up your lighter much less often and will keep your lighter in better working condition.

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