Lighting a cigar - what does science say?

[cigaraholic]

Always fun to watch Laurence take one to the flame!

[DoubleDD]

Good lord he lit that thing like a road fusee and gnawed on the end like a junkyard dog with a bone.

[wabashcr]

I definitely prefer a slower, cooler light. Torching it makes the first few draws taste bad until it cools down. I also think you can risk some of that bad light-up taste permeating the remainder of the cigar and impacting the flavor. I have much less experience to back that up, and certainly nothing scientific. But it's something I aim to avoid all the same.

[ck475]

That wasn't too bad I have seen him absolutely roast the foot on some of his other vids to the point of making me yell at the screen stop!! stop!! Love the reviews though.

[JohnS]

I definitely prefer a slower, cooler light. Torching it makes the first few draws taste bad until it cools down. I also think you can risk some of that bad light-up taste permeating the remainder of the cigar and impacting the flavor. I have much less experience to back that up, and certainly nothing scientific. But it's something I aim to avoid all the same.

Definitely charring the foot effects the flavour. I even effected the flavour of my last cigar by charring without meaning to. My cigar had a slight uneven burn and my attempts to fix it late at night led to a bitter smoke for 3 or 4 puffs...but thankfully the natural earthy, leathery notes came back and I smoked it to the nub.

[mgravito]

I normally like the low and slow method, but recently I've started lighting about a quarter of the foot and watching the burn slowly correct itself over the first few draws.

[Rushman]

Good lord he lit that thing like a road fusee and gnawed on the end like a junkyard dog with a bone.

This. Still enjoy his vids though.

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[Rushman]

I'm much more of a slow to medium toaster. Can't stand to burn the foot unnecessarily.

Did try to light a cigar with the flames coming out of my Harley's tailpipe once. Was not a success.

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[RijkdeGooier]

To me there is a big difference between slowly letting a cigar take itself to the flame with a soft flame or using a torch.

That first puff is a lot different. And, especially in small ring, milder cigars, the taste difference can linger for quite a while.

[Scroats]

Last weekend, I took out the torch, used the torch to light an entire paper matchbook ablaze and used that flame to ignite a piece of cedar to light my cigar. It was fun.

At home I actually do use a propane torch. Best lighter I've ever owned. I can light a cigar full blast and keep the char pretty well down. I do this with cheaper smokes and as long as I don't slip and char the side I'm good.

For nicer smokes, lately I've been keeping the flame low and the cigar out of the direct visible flame. I slowly build an even burn without an inhale. I then take a puff, check the backside to see if it took. If not, I will take 1 puff through with the gentle flame close to the middle. Again, no flame touch.

I feel the latest method is slightly better then the match

[aaron878]

I have my own ritual that's kind of a mix of slow and fast.

I use a torch to evenly char the foot I don't "toast", but unlike the video, I try not to burn the crap out of the wrapper, then I puff and light. The only "different" thing I do is after I get the light, I immediately flip it around and blow on the foot to make sure I have a nice even ember without puffing and hot boxing it.

[ethernomad]

I'm disturbed after watching Laurence Davis get the band soggy by taking a draw.

[hedgeybaby]

On 2/23/2015 at 4:12 AM, surly said:

To be honest, I recently started just putting the cigar right to the torch and lighting it up and I can't taste any difference. However I'm perfectly willing to admit I may be a barbarian.

Same here.

[Realmikemeadows]

I found that purging a cigar or blowing"out" over a flame really cuts down on the harshness and unleashed the flavors for me.

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[El Presidente]

I think Habanos s.a. should release a self lighting Guantanamera. 

......there is so little tobacco in them that it could work  

 

 

[Dougthesnail]

I always find it very entertaining when Sir Laurence cuts a quarter inch off of the cigar and brings out that comically oversized torch. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

At the other end of the spectrum, this is how I've been lighting and cutting for almost 4 years now. It always sparks conversation when people see me do it:

 

[irratebass]

At the other end of the spectrum, this is how I've been lighting and cutting for almost 4 years now. It always sparks conversation when people see me do it:

 

Sup' Surgeon!

[stunod]

On 2/23/2015 at 8:20 PM, Rushman said:

This. Still enjoy his vids though.

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You know so do I. It's almost like  you can't turn away.  I read how people think he's a fool and doesn't know how to smoke a cigar . That's a laugh. You light and smoke how you like. If he wants to burn up his cigar in 15 minutes, so what. It makes for good video.