Thursday, September 22 2011
Q: When I light up a cigar (48, 50, 52, etc. ring size), I start out by toasting the "
foot," but lately I started to continue to hold my
butane torch lighter to the foot until it's glowing, I do not puff on the cigar while holding the lighter to it. Most times I get a nice even burn, and if I don't, I even it out with a further application of my lighter. Do you approve of this method ? If not what are your suggestions?
- Pat G. in Whitehouse Station, NJ
A: Yes, I do that sometimes myself. Thing is, you don't want to toast your cigar to death. If you keep the flame far enough away from the foot while it begins to glow, that's better. The one thing you might want to add is once you see the red glow, pull the flame off and blow until the entire foot is glowing. If the cigar is well made, it will catch and burn evenly, but try to get a good even light at the start without caramelizing too much of the tobacco up front. Another good method for toasting
cigars is to start from the outer part of the foot and work your way toward the center. It may help the ash form more of a cone-like shape.
