How to Light a Cigar: Step-by-Step Guide for a Perfect Light

Lighting a cigar correctly is one of the most underrated skills in the hobby. Get it right and you'll have an even, cool burn from the first draw to the nub. Get it wrong and you'll fight an uneven burn, bitter flavors, and a cigar that burns faster on one side than the other.

The entire process takes about 45-60 seconds. Here's exactly how to do it.

What You Need to Light a Cigar

You don't need much — just the right tools. A butane torch lighter is the gold standard. It produces a hot, clean flame that doesn't impart any flavor to your cigar. Cedar matches are the traditional choice and work beautifully too. Long wooden matches work in a pinch.

What you should never use: a Zippo or any fluid-based lighter. The lighter fluid imparts a strong chemical taste that ruins the first third of the cigar. Even experienced smokers can taste it. Keep the Zippo for campfires.

Step 1: Toast the Foot

The foot is the open end of the cigar — the end you light. Before you ever draw, hold the flame about one inch below the foot. Rotate the cigar slowly so the heat touches the entire circumference equally.

You're looking for the outer ring of tobacco leaf to start to blacken slightly and glow orange at the edges. This is called toasting the foot. It pre-heats the tobacco so it lights evenly when you begin drawing. Spend 15-20 seconds on this step — it makes a real difference.

Step 2: The Charring Light

Now bring the flame closer and begin drawing on the cigar with short, gentle puffs. You're not trying to inhale — you're pulling air through to coax the tobacco to catch. Keep rotating the cigar so the flame touches different sections of the foot.

This phase takes another 20-30 seconds. Don't rush it. Puffing too hard or too fast during lighting is one of the most common mistakes beginners make — it overheats the tobacco on one side and creates the burn problems you're trying to avoid.

Step 3: Check for an Even Light

After your charring light, hold the cigar at eye level and look at the foot from above. Is the entire circle glowing evenly? The ember should be a uniform orange across the whole foot.

If one area is darker or not glowing, rotate that side toward the flame and draw gently. Touch-up the slow side until the entire foot is lit. Taking 10 extra seconds here saves you from fighting an uneven burn for the next hour.

Step 4: Blow on the Foot and Take Your First Draw

Blow gently on the foot. This fans the ember and reveals any spots that aren't fully lit. You'll see the unlit areas as slightly darker patches.

Now take your first full, relaxed draw. The smoke should be cool, thick, and flavorful. If it tastes harsh or thin, the cigar isn't fully lit yet — go back and touch up the foot. A properly lit cigar draws easily and produces generous smoke from the first puff.

Best Lighters for Cigars

Single-flame torch lighters are great for everyday use and work outdoors. Double or triple-flame torches light faster and handle larger ring gauge cigars more easily — a 60+ ring gauge cigar can take a while to light with a single flame.

Cedar matches are worth keeping on hand. The cedar burns cleanly and doesn't impart any taste. You get a large, soft flame that's easy to control. Light two at a time if you're smoking a thick ring gauge cigar — the bigger flame covers more of the foot.

How to Relight a Cigar

If your cigar goes out — which happens, especially with mild or under-humidified cigars — here's how to relight it properly. First, tap off the ash at the foot. Then blow gently through the cigar from the head (the end you smoke from) to clear out any stale smoke. This matters: stale smoke is bitter and ruins the first few draws after a relight.

Let the cigar sit for a minute before relighting. Then toast the foot again and follow the same process as the original light. If the cigar has been out for more than 30 minutes, the first few draws after relighting may taste bitter — that's normal. Give it 4-5 puffs to clear and the flavor should come back.

Common Cigar Lighting Mistakes

Holding the flame directly in the tobacco — keep the flame about one inch away from the foot. Direct contact creates a hot spot that burns one area faster than the rest.

Drawing too hard during the light — this forces air unevenly and causes the near side of the cigar to light while the far side stays cold. Short, gentle puffs only during the charring light phase.

Skipping the toast — the toast seems optional but it's what makes the difference between a cigar that burns perfectly for an hour and one that needs constant touch-ups.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should it take to light a cigar?

A proper light takes 45-60 seconds when done correctly. The toast takes 15-20 seconds, the charring light another 20-30 seconds, and the touch-up check another 10-15 seconds. If you're lighting in under 20 seconds, you're almost certainly rushing it.

Can you use matches to light a cigar?

Yes — cedar matches are a traditional favorite. Let the sulfur burn off the match head completely before bringing the flame to the cigar. The sulfur taste is very noticeable on the first draw if you don't let it burn off.

What does 'canoeing' mean?

Canoeing is when one side of the cigar burns significantly faster than the other, creating a lopsided groove that looks like a canoe. It's usually caused by an uneven light or uneven tobacco packing. Fix it by holding the flame to the slower-burning side without drawing until it catches up.

Does how you light a cigar affect the taste?

Yes, significantly. The lighter you use, how evenly the foot is lit, and the pace of your first few draws all affect the initial flavor. A slow, even light with a butane torch or cedar matches lets the cigar's true flavor profile emerge from the first draw.

Ready to put the technique to work? Browse our selection of premium cigars at Sun of a Gun Cigars — humidity-safe shipping nationwide from Yuma, AZ.