Toasting the foot: is it really necessary?

[ApexAZ]

I got an email from one of the major online retailers and it featured a segment on how to properly light a cigar.

It went something like this:

Toast the foot by holding the cigar above the flame and rotate. Then light the cigar by rotating it 360 degrees while puffing. This is simplified, really, but the thing that caught my attention was how they emphasized the point that if you do not do it correctly, it will lead to tunneling, canoeing and other burn issues. In a video, Nick Perdomo event went so far as to say that most of the complaints they receive concerning burn issues can be attributed to "Operator Errror".

Do you guys think this is reasonable? Sure if you don't light the whole foot you might get an uneven burn. But to blame burn issues solely on the lighting technique seems like a diversion from a potentially poorly rolled and/or kept cigar in my view. It seems like even the environment can affect burn, such as outdoor RH and temperature.

Sometimes I'll toast the foot, sometimes I'll just plunge the foot deep into the center of the blue flame without giving it much thought. But I always try to ensure the entire foot is burning with a cherry. Usually when I have burn issues it's some kind of tunneling or canoeing and I usually have to touch up several times throughout the smoke, so I attribute it to moisture problems.

I'm just curious what others thoughts are on this? Is it really fair to blame burn issues on the lighting technique? I'm sure it happens, but seems like an overgeneralization to say lighting technique is usually to blame.

[pnoon]

I'm with you, Brian.

[Solafide]

My favorite way to light a cigar is with a long cigar match and slowly toasting the foot. I don't know if it makes a difference if I were to just put it under a flame and start puffing, but it is more of a ritual for me now. I really enjoy slowly lighting the cigar and smelling the initial light and the beginning of a relaxing evening smoking a cigar.
Most of my problems I've noticed from a bad burn, unless construction is bad, is due to poor storing conditions. Or lighting a cigar straight out of the box after shipping when temptation gives in lol

[CigarNut]

Those cigars that I smoke that have burn issues would probably have burn issues regardless of whether I toasted the foot or not.

I tend to toast the foot -- but more as a ritual than anything else.

[Dude Here]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

Those cigars that I smoke that have burn issues would probably have burn issues regardless of whether I toasted the foot or not.

I tend to toast the foot -- but more as a ritual than anything else.

Same here, it's more ritual to me than anything else. I was at an even last night and the shop owner offered to light my smoke for me. He shoved the big table torch about an inch from my face and I just lit the cigar that way. Burned just fine and required zero touch-ups. I tend to attribute burn issues to either poor storage or poor rolling/construction.

[stevef2005]

I initially did not toast the foot but I also used a BIC lighter when I first started smoking. So was a complete noob. I toast the foot now more out of ritual like other people. I still have burn issues sometimes even toasting the foot so I don't think it really matters. To each there own though. If you like just lighting it up, do that. If you like toasting the foot, do that.

[T.G]

I subscribe exclusively to the three match technique.

[RevSmoke]

I have seen too many people who do not get a full light of the foot to begin, and they have had serious burn issues later.

I am not sure I buy the idea that you have to toast the foot before lighting though.

Sometimes it is a cigar issue.

[icehog3]

I toast the foot. Personal preference. Do as you please......but I don't buy Nick Perdomo's opinion at all.

[YankeeMan]

I toast the foot and I also blow across the foot once the cigar is lit to make sure the entire foot is ash. This has eliminated most of the burn problems I've come across.

[Porch Dweller]

Opinions vary. I smoke outside so have to deal with the breeze when lighting, thus use a torch. I toast when I can, but sometimes I have to get the flame up close and personal to get it lit. Either way, I don't notice any difference as long as it's evenly lit and fully burning (like Rick, I blow gently on the end to make sure the whole foot is lit).

It's funny the opinions that people have about lighting a cigar. I get FSS posts in my Facebook and once there was a picture of a guy lighting a box-pressed cigar. He had a torch right up to the foot and there was flame all around it. Some of the comments from people were ridiculous. Many were in the vein of "Well that cigar is completely ruined!" It was Churchill sized, I think a little purge after it was lit and it would be just fine. My favorite exchange was someone said "Might as well throw it out and grab a new one" to which someone responded "Do it anyway, it's box-pressed so no loss." The cigar was a Padron 1926.

[Ashcan Bill]

I'll toast the foot on rare occasions just for grins, but usually I just apply fire and draw on it in a strong manly way to get her started. I've used wood matches, paper matches, soft flames, hard flames, cedar strips, and blazing branches from camp fires. I've reached the conclusion that the lighting method has zero influence on my ultimate enjoyment of the cigar. The only truth I've discovered through sad experience is that you never, ever attempt to light anything you find stuck in your mouth while riding in a top down convertible if you sport a moustache. This is an inviolatable truth.

As far as the method of lighting affecting the burn, if you don't get the complete foot lit than obviously you'll likely have a problem. But some cigars are just fated to burn in a way to irritate you. Doesn't matter how well you've cared for them, loved them or lit them - they're possessed.

[Oshay]

[Oshay]

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

I'll toast the foot on rare occasions just for grins, but usually I just apply fire and draw on it in a strong manly way to get her started. I've used wood matches, paper matches, soft flames, hard flames, cedar strips, and blazing branches from camp fires. I've reached the conclusion that the lighting method has zero influence on my ultimate enjoyment of the cigar. The only truth I've discovered through sad experience is that you never, ever attempt to light anything you find stuck in your mouth while riding in a top down convertible if you sport a moustache. This is an inviolatable truth.

As far as the method of lighting affecting the burn, if you don't get the complete foot lit than obviously you'll likely have a problem. But some cigars are just fated to burn in a way to irritate you. Doesn't matter how well you've cared for them, loved them or lit them - they're possessed.

[AdamJoshua]

I'd say that in some ways "toasting the foot" has changed, with more and more people using torch lighters, it's less about rotating the cigar / holding the soft flame (match, cedar strip, etc.,) and more about holding the the stick still and moving the flame around the foot, just an updated method.

That all being said I'll still rarely just put flame to stick and take a few big puffs, I don't know if it matters but seems like drawing that much heat and flame into the stick will change some of the basic flavor profiles of the tobacco. I know that when you puff puff pass sometimes the stick get's too hot and it can turn tannic, of course it's only my opinion.

[shark]

I always toast the foot and very rarely have burn issues. That just seems to me to be the most efficient way to light a cigar

[shark]

Originally Posted by AdamJoshua

I'd say that in some ways "toasting the foot" has changed, with more and more people using torch lighters, it's less about rotating the cigar / holding the soft flame (match, cedar strip, etc.,) and more about holding the the stick still and moving the flame around the foot, just an updated method.

That all being said I'll still rarely just put flame to stick and take a few big puffs, I don't know if it matters but seems like drawing that much heat and flame into the stick will change some of the basic flavor profiles of the tobacco. I know that when you puff puff pass sometimes the stick get's too hot and it can turn tannic, of course it's only my opinion.

I guess I got stuck in that habit since I still rotate the cigar when lighting. Never does me wrong by using that technique!

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Oshay

Originally Posted by Oshay

Shoot for three?

[WaRevo]

I have tried it many many times. I have to say I get the odd looks when I am doing that while lighting up away from the house. Some have said it is a waste of time. Honestly I at times feel it was a waste of time. When I cut my cigars and take a pre Draw I can tell what kind of Cigar it will be. If it is hard to Draw it will be nothing but a nightmare of a smoke. There are a few that get in the mix that has a Perfect draw and lights/burns perfect 1/2 through the thing and then it gets nasty and tight. I avoid them in the future.

However to say that Roosting your foot before you light your cigar for me is BS. There are just some Cigars that have issues no matter how you light it. I just try and keep an eye on the cigar and play touch up if needed before it gets out of hand.

James

[Tidefan73]

I don't really 'toast' the foot, it's the way I light all my cigars. I don't puff them when lighting, I simply 'toast' them until they're lit, then puff away! One thing, I ensure to keep the flame far enough away so I don't burn anything.