How to Light a Cigar Like a Pro
How to light a cigar properly starts with the right torch lighter, a sharp cutter, and a few patient minutes. Done right, the cigar rewards you with a smooth, even burn; done wrong, you'll fight bad draws and bitter flavors the entire smoke.
TL;DR: Cigar Lighter Types at a Glance
| Lighter Type | Flame Profile | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Torch | Concentrated jet, very hot | Quick, precise lights on most cigars |
| Soft Flame | Gentle, lower heat | Delicate wrappers and slow toasting |
| Multi-Flame | Multiple jets, wide coverage | Big ring gauges like Gordo and Churchill |
Choosing the Right Cigar Lighter
The flame you choose decides whether your cigar lights smoothly or fights you the whole way. Heat, precision, and how the flame touches the wrapper all matter. Here's how the three main lighter types compare in practice.
Torch Lighters
Torch lighters push butane through a narrow nozzle to create a concentrated jet flame. The narrow, very hot flame gives you precision and speed: you can zero in on the foot and get a full light in seconds. Keep the flame three to four inches below the cigar to avoid scorching the wrapper.
Soft Flame Lighters
Soft flame lighters also use butane, but without the high-pressure nozzle. The result is a gentler, lower-heat flame that takes longer to light a cigar but preserves the wrapper's character. They're the right tool for delicate wrappers like Connecticut Shade, where finesse matters more than speed.
Shop the Sparkwheel Flint Lighter
Multi-Flame Lighters
Multi-flame lighters fire two or three adjustable jets at once, spreading heat across a wider area of the foot. That makes them ideal for thick-ring-gauge cigars where a single torch flame would take longer to circle the rim. For a narrow vitola like a Corona, a single-jet torch still wins on precision.
Shop the Lucky Fantastico Torch Lighter
How to Light a Cigar in 5 Steps
Source: Pexels.com
You'll need: A sharp cigar cutter, a clean butane lighter, and a few quiet minutes.
- Cut the cap cleanly. Find the rounded cap on the closed end of the cigar. Place it in a guillotine cutter and slice just above the shoulder of the cap in one swift motion. Cut too shallow and the draw tightens; cut too deep and the wrapper unravels. If you're stuck without a cutter, see our guide on how to cut a cigar without a cutter.
- Toast the foot. Hold the cigar at a 30-degree angle just above the flame, never touching it. Rotate slowly so the heat hits the entire rim evenly. You're looking for a glowing red ring with a darkened edge, the same way you'd toast a marshmallow.
- Purge before puffing. Bring the cigar away from the flame and blow gently through it for a second or two. This clears the harsh smoke left over from toasting and noticeably improves the first few draws.
- Light with slow rotation. Bring the cigar to your lips, hold the flame just below the foot, and take slow, steady puffs while rotating the cigar so the burn catches evenly. Do not inhale; let the smoke linger in your mouth.
- Settle in. Once the cherry is even and burning consistently, set the cigar down for thirty seconds, then pick it back up and draw at a relaxed pace, roughly once every minute.
Watch out: Direct flame contact scorches the tobacco and turns the first half of the smoke bitter. Keep the flame an inch below the foot and let the heat do the work.
How to Relight a Cigar Without Killing the Flavor
Pausing mid-smoke is fine; long pauses are not. The tar and oils in a cooled cigar harden over time and turn bitter on the relight. The 30-minute rule decides which side of that line you're on.
If Your Cigar's Been Out Briefly
- Tap off the ash. Knock the foot lightly against the edge of your ashtray, then roll the foot along the side to brush off remaining debris. No crushing.
- Re-toast the foot. Use the same technique as the first light: 30-degree angle, flame an inch below, slow rotation until the red ring returns.
- Take a slow, steady puff. Draw gently. The goal is to revive the cigar, not overheat it. Done right, you'll restore most of the original flavor.
If It's Been Sitting Longer Than 30 Minutes
Skip the relight and start fresh. Cigar podcast host Rob Gagner puts it bluntly: past the half-hour mark, you're better off lighting a new stick. For shorter sessions where you know you'll get interrupted, reach for a quick-burning Robusto instead of a longer vitola.
Troubleshooting Common Cigar Lighting Issues
| Issue | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven burn (canoeing) | One side lit hotter than the other, or uneven puffing | Touch up the slower side with the flame while rotating until the burn evens out |
| Cigar keeps going out | Gaps between puffs over 60 seconds, or an under-toasted foot | Tap off the ash, re-toast the foot, take steady puffs every 30 to 60 seconds |
| Harsh or bitter taste | Flame held too close, scorching the wrapper and tobacco | Keep the flame about an inch below the foot and never let it touch directly |
| Tight or poor draw | Cigar over-packed, or the original cut was too shallow | Make a second deeper cut, or use a draw tool. If still plugged, switch sticks |
Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting a Cigar
Which end of a cigar do you light? +
You light the foot, which is the open end where the tobacco is exposed. The cap is the closed, rounded end you cut and place in your mouth. Lighting the wrong end ignites the part you should be drawing through and ruins airflow before you even take a puff.
Can you use a regular lighter to light a cigar? +
Fluid-based lighters like Zippos work in a pinch, but the fluid can taint the first few puffs. Butane lighters, whether torch or soft flame, are the better choice because butane burns clean. Wooden matches and cedar spills are also acceptable; avoid candles, oil lighters, and stoves entirely.
How long does it take to light a cigar properly? +
A proper light usually takes 30 to 60 seconds. Rushing scorches the tobacco; dragging it out wears your patience. Toast the foot until you see a steady red ring, then puff slowly with the flame just below the foot until the cherry burns evenly across the entire rim.
Should you purge a cigar after lighting it? +
Yes, briefly. Blow gently through the cigar right after the initial light to clear out the harsh toasting smoke and any uneven hot spots. It takes two seconds and noticeably improves the first few draws, especially on stronger or flavored cigars.
Do you have to cut a cigar before lighting it? +
Yes. The cap is sealed with leaf to keep the cigar fresh, so you have to open it for any draw at all. Use a sharp guillotine cutter for the cleanest result. If you don't have one, our guide on how to cut a cigar without a cutter walks you through the workarounds.
What's the best way to extinguish a cigar? +
Let it rest on the ashtray and go out on its own. Do not stub it like a cigarette; that damages the wrapper and stinks up the room. If you plan to relight within a few minutes, this method preserves the flavor far better than crushing the cigar out.
Light It Right, Every Time
A clean cut, an even toast, slow rotation, and patient puffs are all it takes to light a cigar the way its maker intended. Master those four moves and almost everything else about smoking takes care of itself.
Once your technique is dialed in, the next variable is the cigar in your hand. Browse our torch lighter collection to upgrade your flame, or explore how to smoke a cigar for the next step after the light.
