Lighting and Smoking a Cigar
1. The Cut
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Use a sharp guillotine cutter (or V-cut/punch depending on preference).
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Cut just above the cap line — about 1/16 of an inch.
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Clean and precise. A sloppy cut ruins the draw and the experience.
2. The Toast
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Hold the cigar at a 45° angle over a flame (wooden match or butane lighter.
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Don’t jam it into the fire; rotate the foot gently, letting the heat toast the tobacco evenly.
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You’re warming it, not scorching it. Patience here sets the tone.
3. The Light
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Once toasted, bring the cigar to your lips and draw gently while rotating over the flame.
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The cigar should glow evenly around the rim.
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After lighting, blow lightly on the foot - it should be an even orange ember.
4. The Smoke
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Take slow, measured draws - about once a minute.
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Never inhale; savor the flavor, roll the smoke across the palate, and exhale.
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Let the cigar rest between puffs; it should burn cool, not hot.
5. The Ash
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Don’t tap constantly like a cigarette.
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Let the ash form naturally, 1 to 1.5 inches before gently setting it in the ashtray.
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A firm ash shows quality construction.
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You can also let the ash fall on its own, longer the ash, the more to brag about.
But remember it can fall anywhere. So try not to make a mess.
6. The Finish
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Never crush a cigar when you’re done - let it die with dignity.
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Place it in the ashtray and allow it to extinguish naturally.
The boss's note:
A cigar isn’t just tobacco - it’s presence, patience, and ritual. The cut shows precision, the toast shows restraint, the smoke shows control. A gentleman doesn’t rush a cigar; he lets it tell its story, one draw at a time.
🔹 The Cedar Spill Method
This one’s old-school, and many younger smokers don’t know it. It’s about ceremony and respect for the cigar.
1. Prepare the Spill
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A cedar spill is a thin strip of Spanish cedar (the same wood lining cigar boxes).
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You light the cedar spill first, not the cigar.
2. The Flame Transfer
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Hold the cedar spill at an angle so it burns evenly.
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Use the spill’s flame to toast and light the cigar instead of a match or lighter.
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This gives you a clean, wood-scented flame that avoids any fuel taste.
3. The Smoke
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Same rules as always: rotate the foot, draw gently, ensure an even burn.
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The cedar imparts a subtle aroma that complements the cigar’s natural flavors.
4. Why It Matters
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It’s more about ritual and tradition than necessity.
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Old-world cigar lounges often kept cedar spills for this purpose.
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It shows patience, class, and a deeper knowledge of the craft.
The boss's note:
A man who lights with cedar is showing restraint and ceremony. It’s slower, yes. But not every fire needs to roar. Sometimes, the quiet burn is the one remembered.
🔹 The Gentleman’s Guide - The Three Match Method
This is The Boss’s method. A ritual of patience, steady hands, and respect for the cigar.
The Ritual
Unlike the standard method, you don’t cut the cigar first. That comes last. You’ll need three long wooden matches, box matches are best. Short ones will do, but it takes more time and even more patience.
Line up all three before you start. This is about control, not fumbling for fire. And remember, this only works when there’s no breeze.
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First Match: Light it and hold the cigar just above the flame. Do not touch the flame to the foot, you’re using heat, not fire. Rotate the cigar continuously, warming it until the match burns out.
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Second Match: Do the same again, rotating steadily, letting the heat toast the tobacco evenly.
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Third Match: Continue the ritual. Keep the flame close, but never let it lick the foot. If you see flame on the cigar, you’re too close — you’re burning off oils you want preserved. Patience here is everything.
Once the cigar is ready - only then do you cut it. Use whichever cut you prefer. After that, take a slow, measured draw.
The Result
The reward is immediate: the fullest flavor you’ll ever draw from that stick in its opening minutes. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes of richness you won’t get with any other method, expensive cigar or cheap.
The reason? No airflow was forced through the cigar until the moment it was ready. You haven’t scorched oils or overheated the leaf. The cigar has been prepared, not rushed.
Practice this method with lower-end cigars until your hand is steady, then bring it to the higher tier. When done right, it never disappoints.
The boss's Note:
Most men toast and light. Few men wait. The Three Match Method isn’t about speed, it’s about patience, control, and drawing out the cigar’s true voice.
Written by The Boss, Founder of DapperChaz.
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