 Giving respect to getting fired up
Los Angeles, July 16 – Ross Perot always maintains that "the devil is in the details." He's right, of course, and for cigar lovers, the act of lighting up deserves more respect and more attention . . . both to tools and technique.
I've rarely seen a sadder sight than a partially-lit cigar. It starts burning this way and that, creating a vastly different experience that it was intended to provide. And the flavor of any cigar which is improperly lit can be a far cry from what the blend could offer if correctly lit.
Although the elegance of classic butane lighters from Dunhill, S.T. Dupont and others is impossible to match, they are often not the best "match" for today's smoking conditions. Living in California, I'm smoking outdoors more often than not. Certainly in public and quite often on the terrace at home.
This creates considerable problems thanks to afternoon and evening breezes which make it hard to keep a flame going while, at the same time, turning my cigar to ensure an even burn. It has led me to put down my favored Dunhill Rollagas in favored of the new-fangled torch.
But which torch? Starting with a single flame, the inexpensive Nibo "Space" series pictured above offers a double or triple-torch flame capable of lighting any cigar thoroughly, easily and quickly . . . if you don't light anything else in the meantime. But as often as not, you get what you pay for.
After some use, many inexpensive torch lighters stop working consistently thanks to clogs in the catalyzer at the top of the unit. Then the lighter requires cleaning, which is much harder to do with an electronic-ignition torch than a flint lighters. So you end up throwing it away.
If you would prefer a more dependable lighter, my choice has been Colibri. The line comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and has a strong commitment to service behind it. They also make one lighter type which has saved me on more than one occasion.
The Quantum eXtreme brilliantly featured an altitude adjustment which allows the user to vary the performance of the lighter. Having been humiliated by being unable to use my Dunhill in the one-mile-high altitude of Denver, I carry this lighter every time I go on the road. The current Colibri line includes a model called the "Adventurer" in the eXtreme line and it also has an altitude adjustment feature. It's worth considering if you travel widely.
There's a lot of debate about how to light cigars and there's no orthodox method. Suffice to say, make sure the entire end of the cigar is lit before you start to enjoy. Check the evenness of your light by turning the cigar toward you and blowing gently on the end. You'll see how even your light is and be assured of the experience the roller hoped you would have when he or she finished it in the factory.
Turn the cigar as you light it . . . don't try to overpower the cigar with the amount of fire you expose to it . . . and you'll enjoy your smoke every time. I think I'll take my own advice right now!
Coming on Monday: our picks for the best in medium-bodied cigars, only for subscribers to our CigarWire service. Don't forget to subscribe before Monday!
~ Rich Perelman
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