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Direct Flame?
I have always heard that it is very important that one doesn't let the flame of the lighter touch the foot of the cigar when lighting. How important is it really?
CA Editors
Posted: April 23, 2012
Submitted via CigarAficionado.com
Very important if you want to ensure your cigar’s flavor profile remains unspoiled.
Too much flame on the foot of your cigar increases the odds of burning it, which means the first few notes will likely taste charry. An overtoasted cigar is also more prone to bitterness.
There’s a good rule of thumb to remember when lighting a premium cigar: Use the least amount of flame possible. Hold the cigar about a quarter inch over the flame—not in direct contact. Rotate the cigar slowly. Start a burn around the perimeter. When it's thinly blackened around (but not charred), bring it to your lips and puff gently. The flame will jump to the center of the cigar.
The same less-is-more rule should be appled when using lighters with torch flames, too.
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Comments 6 comment(s)
Taylor Franklin — April 28, 2012 8:36pm ET
Keifer Hickey — April 29, 2012 11:06pm ET
I could not agree more with Taylor. When first starting off smoking cigars, the lighting of the cigar was always almost like an art form. It was something very precious about it, the lighting is something that should be done with as much care as possible.
Kevin Feteira — Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, — April 30, 2012 11:29am ET
I prefer my classic zippo to light my cigars, 1 it never malfunctions like my torch lighters do from time to time, 2 lifetime warranty, 3 you just look cooler when you pull out a zippo.
Sydney Liquete — Philippines, — May 23, 2012 9:26am ET
if you're smoking cigars just to look cool, you're missing the point.
Patrick Morales — covina, California, usa, — June 1, 2012 1:51pm ET
Never light a cigar with a zippo. It ruins the flavor profile.
georgegavito@hotmail.com — June 12, 2012 10:49pm ET
Unless its a Zippo Blu -butane lighter. Taylor, 300 people handle a single cigar? How you figure that?
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I prefer to use a torch only when absolutely necessary, usually out of doors.
I recently admonished cigar pal for cooking the foot of his cigar. Immediately the room smelled of burnt toast or popcorn, a very distinctive smell and his cigar was sub-par; too earnest.
A hand rolled cigar has passed through about 300 different people and taken four or five years to make it to your palate. The least we could do it respect the leaves and the good folks who handcrafted the cigar. I encourage folks to honour it and them with an extra minute or two.