HOW TO PERFECTLY LIGHT A CIGAR

Lighting A Cigar

Let’s be quite clear: Lighting a cigar is not an art form. But still from time to time even experienced cigar smokers have a hard time lighting them. The wrong instrument, unfavourable wind conditions or unbridled haste before smoking suffice to denature the pleasure of enjoyment. We at Taylors tobacconists in several decades of aficionado cigars smoking have seen people light their beloved cigars in the strangest of ways.. from the store technique to using the barbecue.

But we don’t want to go into that further here. I just want to recap on some basics for the sake of completeness. Don’t light your cigar “in” the flame but “on” the flame. Depending on the intensity of the lighter/flame, one rotates the lighting end, at a slight angle, just over the top of the flame – about three millimetres (1/8 inches) and a soft flame, or about 12 to 25 millimetres (1/2-1 inches) above the jet flame or torch. Using a torch, one can also – the other way round – hold the cigar still and move the flame in a circular motion so that the burning end is made to glow from outside to inside.

When lighting a cigar, there are actually only two things to be aware of:

First: We want to create the most even glow possible.

Second: Under all circumstances, we want to avoid charring the outside of the wrapper. That’s it. Should the cigar go out during smoking, simply remove the loose ash and repeat the lighting process.

The Instruments

Matches: The head of a match contains sulphur, which releases sulphur dioxide when it burns, which then smells quite strong. If you are going to use a match, then only use those made from wood, and please wait until the head of the match is completely burning.

Candles: Ninety percent of the candles are made from “paraffin and release substances such as toluene, benzene and above all carbon” – all of which are substances that we don’t want in our cigar because they smell terrible. That’s why cigars and candles don’t mix!

Cedar shavings: A harmless instrument, albeit somewhat complicated and tedious to use.

Lighters: It doesn’t matter how nice the lighter sounds, there are numerous types of gas lighters that are constructed for all kinds of imaginable situations: so called soft flame lighters and jet flame lighters. Both kinds come with one, two or even three/four flames. Gas lighters are the best to light a cigar properly and their functionality and lifespan of a lighter are closely linked depending on the quality brand of the lighter.

Lighters We Offer

We at Taylors Tobacconists of Bond Street in Brighton offer a vast and comprehensive range of quality lighters, some of which are listed below. To find out more, please feel free to contact us today.

• Dunhill Lighters
• S.T Dupont Lighters
• Zippo Lighters
• Colibri Lighters
• Porsche Lighters
• Cartier Lighters
• Clipper Lighters