Butane lighter. Often called “cigar torches,” using a butane lighter ensures a clean, odorless
burn. Butane evaporates almost instantly when lit, so you don’t get any of the off flavors
that can result when using a lighter fluid, like is required for Zippos. Butane torches also
provide far more heat and get the cigar lit much quicker and with less work. What’s nice
about this type of lighter is that it’s refillable and doesn’t need filling nearly as often as a
Zippo.
Cigar matches. Generally close to 4” long and without the sulfur head of a standard match
(which can cause off flavors), cigar matches are another good option for lighting your stogie.
It takes a little more finesse and speediness, but is considered the most natural option since
it’s just a small stick of wood.
After the proper cut, burn the cigar equally from outside and inside. You do not want to
burn just the inside, because the fire can get inside and ruin your cigar.
Light your torch or match and hold the cigar about an inch from the flame, turning it until
the tip is blackened, maybe about 10 seconds. You do this to ignite the outer layers of the
cigar; if you just held the flame up and started puffing right away, you’d only light the filler
and you’d have an uneven burn.
Puff like you’re sucking a straw. With the foot properly toasted, you can now actually light
the cigar. Hold the stogie closer to the lighter this time and take a few gentle draws just like
you would suck liquid through a straw. The flame will flare up a little and you should get
some smoke in your mouth — this is a good thing. Do that a few times, then feel free to look
at the foot to ensure an even burn. There should be a consistent, gray ashy look to the
whole thing. If one part is still cigar-brown, it means you have an uneven burn; try lighting
again, focusing especially on that part of the cigar.

Don’t puff too much; re-light as needed. You won’t always get the perfect light. Sometimes
the problem is with the cigar itself (if it’s not rolled just right or if it’s been stored at sub-
optimal conditions), and sometimes you just don’t get it quite evenly lit. It happens. Don’t
let it ruin your experience; just re-light as needed, as evenly as you can.
Also don’t take too many puffs, which can cause the cigar to get overheated. You don’t want
to constantly be drawing. Give it a break and puff a few times every 30-60 seconds. If it’s
overheated, the wrapper will burn black instead of the ashy gray it should be. At that point,
you’ll want to let the cigar die out and re-light it, though in some cases there’s not much you
can do, as it’s often dried out too much.