How to Light a Cigar

For inexperienced smokers, lighting a cigar can seem as intimidating as learning to choose a good one.  Here are four tips to steer you in lighting a cigar for the first time.

1.  Use cedar matches, whenever possible.  If you choose to use a lighter, be sure it's butane lighter to ward off strong odors. 

2.  Heat the open end of the cigar, which is the foot of the cigar, easy over the flame, without touching it to the fire.  Let a black ring form about the end.

3.  Put the cigar in your mouth and draw in easy.  Hold the cigar over the fire, about half an inch again without touching.  Continue to draw in until the cigar draws the flame.   Turn the cigar slowly, twirling it to establish an even burn.

4.  After your cigar is lit, take it out of your mouth and keep an eye on the burn you have made.  If the burn appears to be spotty, simply blow on the unlit parts to draw the burn, and then take one or two more draws from the cigar to restore the even burn. 

Now that your cigar is lit, you should know proper cigar smoking etiquette.