Expert: James Yee - 9/15/2008

Question
What lighters are the most popular for cigar smoking?  Do you have any
experience of thoughts on the Zippo BLU lighter?

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

Cigar smokers will generally use both traditional flame and torch lighters.  Traditional flame lighters are excellent for lighting a cigar because it is a wide flame that can cover the foot of a cigar more evenly.  While a lighter with a traditional flame is considered too small for some cigars, some lighter manufacturers produce "double flame" lighters and this features two side-by-side nozzles that creates a wider single flame to specifically light larger cigars.

Torch lighters are also popular and usually used to even a cigar out when the burn becomes crooked.  The pencil thin torch flame is perfect for "trimming" a cigar.  The blue flame on a torch lighter is also incredibly hot so when lighting a cigar, it's important to constantly move the flame over the foot of the cigar to create an even light.  Letting the flame burn in one spot too long will cause the cigar to have a crooked burn.

It's not uncommon for cigar smokers to have numerous traditional flame and torch lighters.  Popular manufacturers of both traditional and torch cigar lighters include Colibri, Prometheus, ST Dupont, Ronson and Zippo.  A good quality cigar lighter can cost anywhere between $25 for a basic, traditional or torch lighter, to $2,000+ for a high-end ST Dupont lighter.  Most cigar smokers usually prefer to spend between $25 to $150 for a reliable, good-quality lighter.

In regards to the Zippo BLU, it's a good lighter.  Zippo has always made good, dependable lighters and it's good to see the company progress with a torch flame lighter for cigars.  For the price, it's a good, basic lighter.  Many cigar smokers however, prefer a higher-end lighter manufacturer such as Colibri because their cigar-specific lighters have more styles/designs as well as a variety of cigar features such as built-in cutter and punch that you won't find on most lighters.  

Hopes this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James