Lighting a cigar is the final step in the preparation ritual, but it entails more than simply bringing a fl_ame to the foot of the cigar. Much like the cutting process we examined in the previous issue, you have to make choices and follow procedures to guarantee a great smoking experience.

The first decision is selecting the type of flame used to light the cigar. The fl_ame from paper matches is usually too small and inadequate. Candles, Zippo lighters, gas stovetops, and BBQ grills will introduce odd fl_avors to a cigar and should be avoided. A true cigar-smoking purist will insist on using a wooden cigar match with a sulfur-free tip. You can use wooden kitchen matches in a pinch, but only after allowing the sulfur in the match head to burn off. Some aficionados take the extraordinary step of using a lit cedar strip called a spill to create a _flavorless light.

The easiest and most popular lighting method is using a torch lighter designed for cigars that burns tasteless and odorless butane fuel.