Lighting a cigar might seem straightforward, but subtle mistakes can impact the flavor, burn quality, and overall enjoyment. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced aficionado, avoiding these common cigar lighting mistakes can help you get the best from every smoke. Here’s a guide to the most frequent errors and tips on how to avoid them.
1. Using the Wrong Type of Lighter
Mistake: Using regular lighters or fuel with strong odors, like lighter fluid or gasoline-based lighters, can affect the flavour and aroma of the cigar.
Solution: Always use a butane torch lighter, which provides a clean, odorless flame. You can also use long wooden matches or cedar spills, which are gentle on the cigar and won’t impart unwanted flavors.
2. Holding the Cigar Too Close to the Flame
Mistake: Lighting the cigar directly in the flame can cause it to burn too hot, leading to harsh flavours and an uneven burn.
Solution: Hold the cigar about an inch above the flame. The goal is to gently “toast” the foot of the cigar by rotating it above the flame without letting the flame touch it. This slow toasting allows the cigar to burn evenly and prevents overheating.
3. Skipping the Toasting Step
Mistake: Jumping straight into lighting without toasting the foot can lead to an uneven burn or cause the cigar to go out too quickly.
Solution: Toast the foot of the cigar first. Hold the cigar above the flame and slowly rotate it until the entire foot is glowing and lightly charred. This step preheats the tobacco and ensures a more even light when you begin puffing.
4. Inhaling While Lighting
Mistake: Puffing too hard while lighting can overheat the tobacco, which leads to a harsher, bitter taste and increases the chances of canoeing (when one side burns faster than the other).
Solution: Take gentle, steady puffs while lighting. Rotate the cigar as you go to create a smooth, even burn. This way, you can avoid overheating the tobacco and enhance the cigar’s natural flavors.
5. Relighting Too Aggressively
Mistake: If a cigar goes out, lighting it too aggressively by puffing hard or using too much flame can produce a harsh taste.
Solution: When relighting, remove any loose ash and gently toast the end again before taking small puffs. This helps reignite the cigar without scorching the tobacco, preserving the cigar’s intended flavors.
6. Not Checking for an Even Burn
Mistake: Ignoring the burn after lighting can lead to an uneven or “canoed” burn, which detracts from both flavor and experience.
Solution: After lighting, take a look at the foot to ensure it’s burning evenly. If one side isn’t fully lit, hold that side over the flame briefly and rotate to even out the burn. Starting with a fully lit foot reduces the need for corrections as you smoke.
7. Using Too Much Flame When Correcting
Mistake: Overcorrecting an uneven burn by holding the flame on one side for too long can make the cigar burn hot and release unwanted bitter notes.
Solution: If the cigar is burning unevenly, lightly touch the unlit side with the flame while gently rotating the cigar. Using small corrections and patience helps keep the burn even without altering the cigar’s taste.
Final Thoughts: Make Every Light Count
Taking a bit of extra care when lighting your cigar can transform the entire experience. By avoiding these common mistakes and perfecting your technique, you can unlock the full complexity and flavor intended by the cigar maker.