I know we have some cigar smokers on here, so I have to ask what do y'all use to light them? I use to always hear never use a Zippo to light a good cigar. But I find those jet-flame butane lighters to always burn too rough,and started to use my Zippo cigarette lighter to light my good cigars.Does it really affect the taste that much, or is this some yuppie wives tale?

Taste is a subjective thing, but for me there's a discernable difference between matches, lighter fluid and butane. I prefer the "jet" lighters, personally.

You're right, though. They're easy to scorch the end of a cigar with. I hold it away just far enough to still light and turn the cigar while lighting to ensure it's being done evenly, taking a few puffs, then repeating the process once again doing it no more than 10 seconds each time.

Everyone has their own "ritual," though. In time, you'll find the one that works best for you.

I own no less than 50 or 60 Cigar lighters of just about every style and brand and STILL enjoy mostly use a long wooden Kitchen style match to light me stogies.

If I do use a Cigar Lighter my favorite is the old style Dunhill Butane model that is LIKE a standard flame, NOT one of those Jet lighters. I find the Jet lighters (even the expensive ones) never last very long and work poorly as soon as the temperature drops.

If you have cigars wrapped in thin cedar wrappers, strip the cedar into one half inch sections. Light the cedar strip, then light the cigar with the strip. No lighter fluid taste or burned sulfur odor.

Two words: Bic.

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Not in jail.

When I smoked, it was always either wooden matches or Monsieur Bic.

I agree about the jet lighters. It seemed a little too much for a stogie. Probably good for setting the woods on fire, though.

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Diddums

One word: FIre
Seriously though when I smoked I used either a kitchen match (be sure to let it burn off the sulphur first) or a butane torch. Zippos are a no no as they DO impart a nasty taste at least to me.

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Forum consigliere

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

And let the phosphorous burn off the end before you get it near the cigar. Fluid lighters are out unless you want your cigar to taste like Naptha. In a fix though, you can use the exhaust manifold on the car to get things going.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I've used a Zippo for years to light thousands of cigars.
Can't tell any taste difference than if I used a torch or a match.

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John

Most of the time I use a butane torch lighter. You want to hold the end of the cigar foot well away from the visible flame and toast the foot slowly. Some prefer a soft flame from BIC. Again hold the cigar foot well away and gentle draw the flame to the foot. We don't want to char broil the foot which causes a bitter start.

Cedar spills or three wood matches burn passed their head are the fancy way to light a cigar. Again holding the foot away from the flame and drawing the flame to the cigar as you give it turn to light the head evenly.

You might want to avoid old lighter fluid holdings lighters than can impart an off flavor to your smoke.

A stick lit on one end in a hunting camp fire after a day in the field might be near the top of this list of ways to light a cigar this time of year.

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Bill Bates

I use one of these...it is handy in my garage, what can I say?

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No good deed goes unpunished.

I use a torch lighter (for the most part): I've never found taste to be affected, but then perhaps I don't have as dainty a palate or sensibilities as some folks. I mean, it's a cigar, for Heaven's sake - even if it's a fancy snooty cigar, you're talking bold flavors and non-delicate nuances.

Maybe I'm a Philistine, but I really doubt that someone claiming to be able to discern the difference in taste between a cedar strip and a jet lighter could actually beat a coin toss for accuracy.

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Now go make God proud...

I use a torch for many reasons, get the end completely lit, good in the wind, bics get hot when fully lighting a 50 ring cigar.
The trick is you can't light a cigar like a cigarette, you need to spend a little time, toast it and slowly light it and done right it will burn nicely, done wrong and it burns like a poorly rolled homemade smoke.
After many many torch lighters the best one I ever had was also the cheapest, like 5 bucks cheap. No need to spend a lot of money.

Smoke em if you got em.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I watch for sales on Ronson Jetlites and buy a few at a time. Most of the time I'm paying about $4. They work well, they refill and are cheap...what's not to love.

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Bill Bates

Wooden matches. Not paper matches. Not a lighter.

Wooden matches.

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But then, what do I know?

I must admit that I use a jet flame lighter the most. I keep the lighter about 2" away from the cigar and let the very tip of the flame toast the cigar. It takes a little longer that way but you can toast the cigar pretty even thaat way and that also helps the cigar to burn evenly.

When I have the time and can relax more than usual, I love using a Corona Old Boy Pipe Lighter. It is Butane and has a spout for lighting a pipe. The flame is a soft flame and toast the cigar slowly.

Whatever you use, Enjoy!

I've used pretty much everything over the years, including burning embers from camp fires. Maybe I have a pretty poor palate, but other than zippo fuel (which has a rather distinct flavor) I've never sensed much difference between any method.

Personally I prefer a torch. I just like a torch. If you aren't sparking up a cigar with them, you can turn a penny into a pile of molten slag. Lots of ways to amuse yourself with a torch.

I generally prefer a punch as well.

Other people's opinions mean nothing. You are using the Zippo. Can you tell a difference? Does it bother you?

I have used a Zippo in years past, but found that if the lighter had been recently filled I could taste the fluid, but if it had been several days since it was filled and had been used regularly, I didn't notice the fluid taste. But primarily I used a Bic lighter, the flame isn't too hot, and you never put the flame directly into the end anyway. You hold the flame close to the end and inhale the flame into the cigar end, just like a kitchen match.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks for all the advice. I do not really notice a difference when using the Zippo, I have lit cigarettes with them since I was 18. I actually prefer one for cigarette use. Like many of y'all suggested I also like matches, when I can find the big wooden ones. I find that those long barreled charcoal lighters work well too. I guess I just prefer the soft flame, those jet flames burn everything!

I have a triple burner jet that will work in gale force winds. if it isn't windy, you can weld with it in your spare time.

What he said!!

I bust me off a piece of cedar slat from the box and light that, then use the cedar to light the 'gar.

Works every time.

I don't always smoke cigars, but when I do I use a torch lighter by LOTUS. Since the local Churchills store refills it at no cost, fuel is of no concern.

My favorite cigar is an AVO XO Intermezzo. It comes in a metal tube which includes cedar wrapping in the interior. It's true that using cedar to light the cigar is the most "flavor preserving" method, but when done properly the torch works well too. Butane lighters are the worst offenders, and when used to light a robusto length cigar the effects can really be tasted.

If you get the opportunity try a Quay Dorsay cigar. It's a Cuban that is made for shops in France. Outstanding!

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Stay protected my friends.

428SCJ, a good quarter mile run and the headers to start off a cuban .... yeah ... thats one of the more stylish ways.

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it just needs more voltage

protected one- I have tried them. a little to light for my tastes generally. my preferred is partagas sd-4 and partagas p-2. favorite lighter cigar is montecristo #2. test smoking some hoyo grand epicures when they are ready to go. maybe in jan. or feb. cohiba lancero if forced on me.

The predicted outcome...

http://www.mattfind.com/12345673215-...333_819209.jpg

when i go to the cigar shop in Nassau and smoke with the gang i use what they have and its usually a bic