I also make sure the cigar is completely lit by torching/blowing on it and then do a purge before taking the first puff.

I've also found that purging before the first puff is a good idea.

 

I usually hold the torch about 1/2" from the foot and toast the edge around the cigar first, so it makes a thin white "ash" ring but the middle is still unlit. After this I hold the flame about 1" away and turn the middle black, let it sit for about 30 seconds to burn out before slowly lighting. Maybe this process just builds my excitement but it usually always lights perfect.

 

I can't use this method exactly. I smoke outside, we almost always have a stiff breeze of some sort here. It literally blows out my torch unless I have it up at least to a med flame. Soft fire is just simply not an option.

What I do is try my best to follow the instructions given, but hold the cigar about 1.5-2 inches from the visible flame tip. It works OK like this, but it is usually the 2nd puff after lighting before my smoke is the taste the cigar is intended to have.

Gary, Thanks for that tip on not cutting it..I'm gonna have to give that a try. Perhaps it may help, if I can keep some of the heat from going up into the cigar.

 

I've doing this for the last 6 months..I don't make the cut/clip until the cigar is at its firey orange.

This is an old school approach to lighting ones cigar...the book on this is that not clipping the cigar will keep any smoke from drafting up towards the head because if you cut the head and light smoke rises...it will infiltrate upwards thru the length of the cigar. How much goes...I dunno but the purists say you can tell the difference and they are right...I can tell a difference because I do this now without fail. Does it give you a better taste than not drawing while lighting..I think it does even if it is negligible and I'll take any positive course of action when it comes to the quality of my cigars. I've also been lighting the foot with my soft flame vertically as well...lower the flame to about half an inch and let the heat from the flame light the cigar and it lights up quicker and you don't have to move the flame all that much to get it to light evenly.

I have tried this a few times and can't say that I have noticed a big difference. Clipping the cap after the stick is lit is no problem, but if you prefer to punch, you may have some issues.

After the first 1" your stick is what you got anyway, so like it or pitch it. IMHO, lol.

 

i do basically the same thing except i hold the cigar and lighter paralell to the floor so i can watch the tobacco begin to burn. i move the lighter in a circular motion arond the foot making sure to toast it entirely. once there is a good 1/16" burning i do a gentle purge as mentioned earlier. i let cool for a minute or so and enjoy

 

I can't use this method exactly. I smoke outside, we almost always have a stiff breeze of some sort here. It literally blows out my torch unless I have it up at least to a med flame. Soft fire is just simply not an option.

What I do is try my best to follow the instructions given, but hold the cigar about 1.5-2 inches from the visible flame tip. It works OK like this, but it is usually the 2nd puff after lighting before my smoke is the taste the cigar is intended to have.

Gary, Thanks for that tip on not cutting it..I'm gonna have to give that a try. Perhaps it may help, if I can keep some of the heat from going up into the cigar.

All the articles I have read over the years and talking to those fellas who've been smoking cigars almost as many years as I have keep telling me that keeping the draw of lighting up to a minimum ( keeping the heated smoke from the foot from drawing up to the head ) is the secret. I know plenty of people who clip and light and they don't draw until the foot is lit properly then will purge or start drawing on it...this is fine as well. My mistake in the past was drawing on the cigar while lighting which brings in heated smoke all the way thru the entire length of the cigar thus "contamination" ( emphasis mine while it isn't really contaminated but it changes the taste of the tobacco to me ) of the tobacco with heated/torched smoke.

 

Damn, really good tips for a newbie like me. I really appreciate everyone sharing the knowledge.

 

I toast, then light the entire foot until a gentle blow shows it all burning orange. Before I take the first puff, I do a gentle purge.

This has worked brilliantly for me since the Carter administration.

+1 here

 

All the articles I have read over the years and talking to those fellas who've been smoking cigars almost as many years as I have keep telling me that keeping the draw of lighting up to a minimum ( keeping the heated smoke from the foot from drawing up to the head ) is the secret. I know plenty of people who clip and light and they don't draw until the foot is lit properly then will purge or start drawing on it...this is fine as well. My mistake in the past was drawing on the cigar while lighting which brings in heated smoke all the way thru the entire length of the cigar thus "contamination" ( emphasis mine while it isn't really contaminated but it changes the taste of the tobacco to me ) of the tobacco with heated/torched smoke.

Great post Gary i also tried your trick today on both cigars i smoked. I toasted the foot till cherry. Did not clip the head till i was done. Like it much better thanks!.:wink:

 

Everyone seems to have their own method.

I use a torch to heat things up and try to get the full edge of the foot going first and then if needed will finish it off with a wooden match.

 

Great post Gary i also tried your trick today on both cigars i smoked. I toasted the foot till cherry. Did not clip the head till i was done. Like it much better thanks!.:wink:

I can only begin to give you tips of which I have received a boatload from you. When I did this technique about 6 months ago ( after viewing the thread of the 3 match technique ) it brought back what I did about a decade ago and just got away from it probably because I wasn't smoking premium cigars then. Getting back to it I noticed right away that it made a significant difference where I light my cigars this way all the time now. Anything that will make my cigars taste better I'll pretty much do...glad to hear your experience was good, too.

 

Got some great advice from this old thread so I figure'd I'd revive it.

 

Got some great advice from this old thread so I figure'd I'd revive it.

Thanks for finding this thread. +RG for you. There's some good advice for the newb smokers here...including me.

 

3 Match Technique = Awesome, but trying.

 

3 Match Technique = Awesome, but trying.

The only way to go IMO. I actually went and bought some wood chimney matches from Walmart and they are the perfect length. One match and my cigar is lit beautifully right as I have to blow the match out. I'll try and put a video together and post it on here.

 

It's always worth your time to light a cigar slowly and properly.

Here, Here!

A cigar should never be rushed.

 

I just discovered this thread using the search function. I cant wait to try this!

 

I toast, then light the entire foot until a gentle blow shows it all burning orange. Before I take the first puff, I do a gentle purge.

This has worked brilliantly for me since the Carter administration.

That is precisely how I do it; however, I wasn't yet alive during the Carter administration.

 

That is precisely how I do it; however, I wasn't yet alive during the Carter administration.

Yep, works for me as well. (Meant to double quote with Herf and Turf's method.) Silly me.

Oh you crazy whippersnappers, don't know what you missed. :razz:

 

The description that started this thread doesn't seem to be about "toasting" but a technique for "lighting". I toast too, but it means something different to me...

1. short torch flame, held under cigar which is more-or-less held vertical. But this step only darkens the foot of the cigar like making very-dark toast, and it takes no more than 4 or 5 seconds. Remove flame, let cool for a few seconds. This is the "toasting" step.

2. Next I light the cigar holding it horizontal a half inch from the flame and draw lightly.

Step 1 makes step 2 go faster. The toasted foot lights more easily requiring less flame (less heat), less time, and less fuel. That's the essence of it all...

 

nothing else

you are best!

 

Great post, thanks!

 

It's funny... I've been lighting cigars incorrectly for years! Thanks for posting this!

I lit my first stick last night using this method... Toasting, blowing, then cut, purge, and finally... Smoke!

It changed the flavor of my cigar... It was smoother, less acrid, and burned perfectly!

Thanks so much for posting this!

 

"Cigars, They're Toasted" new campaign slogan?