Can you ruin a cigar with bad lighting?

[monkey66]

A funny thing happened to me on Saturday.

Out walking with the family. Got the chance to have a little smoke and selected a Monte PE from the desktop.

This was the first from an '08 box that I have had for a while and though time to try one. The box has always looked/smelt great so a few month ago I took a stick out of storage and put it in my desktop to acclimatise (this is my usual routine).

Cut and draw was a bit loose but not too bad. Now here is the interesting bit, instead of my usual toasting of the foot I just stuck it in my mouth, fired up the maxi-jet and sucked as I walked to get it lit.

The cigar tasted horrible and acrid. I managed to smoke about a third of it before chucking it. I could taste a good cigar under there but just couldn't stomach the acrid nastiness on the top.

So my question is was this self-inflicted by uncharacteristic ignition laziness or was this a bad stick?

Of course when I try another I will now if the box is odd but anyone else experienced anything like this?

[Bad-Yeti]

I don't believe so, I hardly ever toast them, maybe that's wrong but I just cant see the point in it, maybe, like you said it's just a "wrongun".

Yeti sits back and waits for the flaming about how not toasting makes him a neanderthal

[Watkins]

I've had the exact same experience many a time when in a rush, certainly don't rush the lighting process any more.

[SmokeyDave]

It is possible that you overheated the cigar when drawing, the extra hot smoke heats the unlit tobacco on the way through and causes them to release fumes, usually resulting in a nasty taste. Because tobacco absorbs foreign flavours very quickly this results in the taste of the whole cigar changing. I would say that this was the most likely outcome.

I've noticed this a few times when I tried to 'encourage' a stubborn smoke with my triple flame jet lighter, pure overkill I have come to realise, which resulted in a very bitter taste which failed to go away.

Dave

[Bad-Yeti]

It is possible that you overheated the cigar when drawing, the extra hot smoke heats the unlit tobacco on the way through and causes them to release fumes, usually resulting in a nasty taste. Because tobacco absorbs foreign flavours very quickly this results in the taste of the whole cigar changing. I would say that this was the most likely outcome.

I shall start to toast from now on, thanks for the advice, I never knew that.

[Moon Dancer]

I came to realise many, many years ago, that a soft flame, (just lightly toasting) was preferable with not too much flame or bitterness can creep in. That said, moreover humidity and high heat just steam?s the bloody thing-IMHO

[Puff Scotty]

Yo Monkey!

I looked to you as being a C.A:

a man of limitless cigar knowledge:

a man of infinate patience:

Now look what you've done....

Overcooked it, that's what you did, superheated the bugger.

Released dozens of nasties 'n sucked 'em straight back through your stogie..

Self flagellation for two hours & don't do it again!

[monkey66]

There's a first time for everything Puffy ....and a last time

[daverave999]

I find it's worth giving the cigar a good purge if you find yourself in this situation. I'm pretty sure I've ruined a cigar from lighting it incorrectly.
The problem is that some of us need to use a torch lighter as using a 'soft' flame to light outdoors is virtually impossible!

[Bad-Yeti]

I went out and bought some nice long matches tonight to aid with my lighting, no bitter undertones for me

[snooky]

We never stop learning , when drawing keep that flame away, keep it cool . Aside, ive found recently a couple of smokes where the cap uravels during a smoke so i'm using my straight cutter less and using the V or whole cutter to avoid an untidy smoke.

[Deano]

I find the gas in a lighter makes the difference. I've used a Dupont with normal gas and it cooks the cigars - using Dupont gas there seems to be a much softer less-harsh flame.

Am sticking to Dupont/high quality gas from now on.

[HabanoSy]

You 'NEVER' rush the lighting process...!!!

C'mon Monks you know that...!?!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[snooky]

You 'NEVER' rush the lighting process...!!!

C'mon Monks you know that...!?!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

EE should bloody know, tsk tsk !

[TJCoro]

Purge Perfect!

I find it's worth giving the cigar a good purge if you find yourself in this situation.

Good Idea, Senor Dave69, although I've never noticed much a difference when I lightly draw as I spark up one of donTJ's fine puros. Having said this, when I don't have time to slowly "toast" my sticks, I use a technique I learned at JJ Fox many years ago - blow torch the foot without drawing. joint.gif

This has become my standard practice for lighting my everyday sticks. When I'm about to enjoy one of don TJ's finest - such as his extensive collection of Cohiba Sublimes - I tend to take my time "toasting" with a Montecristo soft-flame lighter.
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Perro, el Perro