Some cigar smokers enjoy nothing more than getting out on the water, in the woods or to the campground and lighting up their favorite brand of cigar. Being outside, there are no concerns about the aroma and one is free to puff to their heart’s content. Of course, lighting a cigar is a particularly intricate affair and doing it incorrectly can ruin a fine smoking session. There are several ways in which one may overcome this though some of them carry some concerns about influencing the taste of the cigar in a negative way.

Lighting a cigar with a Zippo has been a debate in the cigar aficionado community for a long time. These lighters have been around since World War 1 when they were offered to soldiers as a way of generating light without the position-betraying flare characteristic of a match. While matches may have been a liability in the trenches, many cigar smokers prefer them for lighting up in modern times, claiming that it is the best way to get a cigar burning without adding any unpleasant taste.

A butane lighter is oftentimes used by individuals who don’t want the hassle of matches but who want the convenience of a Zippo without the lighter fluid. Butane lighters combust very efficiently and the fuel does not at all affect the taste of the tobacco. There are several models of these lighters available and many are refillable. The very advanced models are almost as reliable in the wind as are their fluid-filled rivals.

As is the case with everything concerning cigars, whether or not to use a Zippo is a matter of personal preference. These lighters are often heirloom items and using them is something of a ritual for some people. If one should detect an unpleasant chemical taste fouling that of their favorite cigar, the solution may be to purchase a higher-end fluid. Some fluids advertise that they give no taste to the tobacco at all and, even among very discriminating smokers, these fluids are a popular option.

Cigars are a very personal thing. If one wishes to use their Zippo then, by all means, they should do so. While some smokers may wince at the sight, a cigar is meant to be enjoyed in a way that offers the best experience possible and, given some people’s attachment to their Zippos, there is no reason that they should feel that using those lighters is out of bounds when enjoying a fine cigar.