Cigar smoking, like any other gourmet activity, is one where every aspect of the endeavor matters. This includes when one should ash their cigar. The ash does do a bit of work for the cigar smoker and maintaining the proper amount affects the quality of the smoke.

Figuring out how much of an ash gives the best flavor will depend not only on the smoker's preference but on the cigar in question. Some cigars will burn hotter than others and, thus, need more of an ash. Remember that the first few puffs of a cigar will be the point at which the ash is at its hottest. Cigar lighters, such as Colibri lighters, oftentimes have a very hot flame and the first few puffs are not representative of the overall flavor of the cigar owning to the heat. Once an ash is generated, the real flavor begins.

While a cigar is certainly hot, it should not be so hot that it affects the taste of the tobacco. This is why very powerful lighters, such as the various Lotus torch lighter models, are held a bit away from the cigar during the lighting process. To burn, fire or embers require fuel, oxygen and heat. The ash regulates the amount of oxygen the cherry receives and, thus regulates the overall temperature of the burn. As any smoker is aware, the first puff off of a cigar is usually the hottest. The temperature of the smoke mellows as ash is generated.

The ash also affects how easily one can draw off of the cigar. Of course, a thicker, heavier ash means that it will be a harder draw for the smoker. No ash means that the draw will be very easy but also may mean that the ember will be burning too hot to ensure quality flavor. The art of cigar smoking involves finding a happy medium between the two. It may take some time but, then again, all worthwhile things have that quality to them.

The only other concern of which one should be aware has to do with being outdoors. If one flicks their ash too early, it may pull the cherry, or part of it, off of the cigar along with it. This can result in a fire hazard and should be something toward which one should give proper attention. A longer ash will tend to drop off under its own weight. Let it detach a bit on its own before ashing to make sure none of the burning tobacco is pulled away with it when one is in a dry area.

Dave Sabot is the owner of an online specialty lighters store featuring windproof lighters and cigar reviews.

It's true that some things just get better with time. Pain, wine and yes Cigars also are enhanced by the ageing process. A well aged cigar displays subtleties in flavour, the mellowness. It's the reason why some people will pay high sums to enjoy a vintage cigar that has been aged in the right way. But don't worry, you won't necessarily need to hand over all your cash to enjoy the flavour and complexity of a well aged cigar, with a little care, the right tools and some patience, you can get started ageing your own cigars at home.

First of all, as with all good recipes, high quality ingredients are needed in order to achieve a high quality finished item. Therefore it is necessary to spend a little more on buying a quality cigar to start with. If you buy a cheap cigar, your enjoyment after a year of ageing (which is about the minimum time you need to allow) wont be realised as ageing a cheap cigar will not enhance the cigar very much at all. It's true that if you find a high quality cigar that is perhaps too strong for you, then this is probably a good candidate for ageing.

You will be ageing your cigar for about a year, but in order to do so, you need to buy a good quality cigar humidor. The humidor is needed so that you can store the cigar(s) in a suitable and stable environment. Storing the cigars using the 70-70 rule is best. That is at a constant humidity of 70% and a temperature of 70 degrees fahrenheit.

Buy a good quality cigar humidor that will keep your ageing cigars in a stable environment. If you don't and the cigar humidor doesn't maintain temperature and humidity, it can cause the contents to dry out or become moldy, thus destroying it. Either way you will lose the contents over time and be very disappointed.

When buying your cigar humidor, try to buy one with a cedar lining. The oils in the wood are aromatic and these mix with the oils in the tobacco over time. Ideally the space in the humidor should be about twice the volume of the cigars that it holds. Getting the mix right will help the ageing of your cigar will result in a quality cigar once the process is finished, one that you can enjoy, and one that won't cost you the earth.

Find out more about quality new and used antique cigar humidors and other smoking accessories.

Butane lighters are available in models which are made for use in rugged environments. A wind resistant lighter used to mean fluid-filled but today's gas-filled lighters can provide reliable service in conditions which would make a cheaper lighter useless. Making certain they work as intended does require that one pay attention to the proper maintenance of their lighter and that starts with the fuel one uses.

A Nibo lighter is a good example of a high-quality, refillable butane lighter. They produce a characteristically compact and hot flame that enables them to be used in conditions where a regular butane would stand little chance of functioning. Caring for these lighters is a combination of looking after the mechanical elements and the cosmetic parts of the lighter.

The mechanics of a butane lighter are enormously simple and, so long as they are kept clean, they should hardly ever prove subject to failure. Keep them free of debris, especially around the jet and the flint wheel. Most often, any stray lint or grit that makes its way into the lighter may be removed by simply inverting the lighter and tapping it, gently, on a hard surface. Obstructions are one of the most common causes of lighter failure but there's no reason that one cannot remedy this situation very easily. If the obstruction is particularly stubborn, a small pick or a tweezers may be used to remove it.

Make certain to only use fuel which is specifically designed for use in butane lighters. The adapter on the can is generally the best way to determine if one has the right fuel. The adapter should slide into the receiver on the bottom of the lighter with little or no effort. If this is not the case, chances are that one has the wrong fuel for the job and attempting to make it fit by forcing the nozzle is dangerous for both the user and the lighter itself. Never use a fuel other than butane in any butane lighter.

The number one concern, however, is the fuel. Butane is used to fuel many different devices so make certain that any butane refill used is specifically for lighters. The wrong adapter may cause damage to the refill valve and result in a broken lighter. The butane can should fit effortlessly into the valve. If it needs to be forced, it is the wrong kind and one should never try to make it fit by pressing harder against the valve. Given proper fuel and cleanliness, these lighters are as durable and reliable as their fluid-filled brethren and a fine choice for outdoor life.

One may not realize it, but the ash on the foot of one's cigar does play a role in how well the cigar smokes and how it tastes. Most often, individuals give this little consideration. There are good reasons to maintain a certain amount of ash while smoking, however.

The ash is far more than a nuisance. It affects the burn rate of the cigar, the ease of draw and much more. Over time, a cigar smoker will develop the ability to determine exactly how much ash is the best on the foot of their cigar.

While a cigar is certainly hot, it should not be so hot that it affects the taste of the tobacco. This is why very powerful lighters, such as the various Lotus torch lighter models, are held a bit away from the cigar during the lighting process. To burn, fire or embers require fuel, oxygen and heat. The ash regulates the amount of oxygen the cherry receives and, thus regulates the overall temperature of the burn. As any smoker is aware, the first puff off of a cigar is usually the hottest. The temperature of the smoke mellows as ash is generated.

The ash also affects how easily one can draw off of the cigar. Of course, a thicker, heavier ash means that it will be a harder draw for the smoker. No ash means that the draw will be very easy but also may mean that the ember will be burning too hot to ensure quality flavor. The art of cigar smoking involves finding a happy medium between the two. It may take some time but, then again, all worthwhile things have that quality to them.

Don't ash too frequently. Not only does this cause the ember to burn too hot, it can pull filler material out of the wrapper and the entire cherry, if done too vigorously. Conversely, tapping off the ash too infrequently may result in a very difficult draw, a cigar that keeps going out and, of course, a bunch of ashes falling off the foot at an inopportune moment. Cigar smoking is an inherently social activity and one even may want to ask a very experienced smoker for their advice on the matter. A cigar is best enjoyed when smoked correctly and, to that end, the experience of an old hand is very much a useful thing. Remember to keep track of what methods give the best results!

Finding the best lighter for your specific needs is sometimes not an easy task. The marketplace offers a wide variety of styles, models and flame configurations.

While smokers of cigarettes can make do with nearly any type of lighter, even matches, pipe and cigar smokers need a specific type of lighter to ensure their smoking enjoyment. For this group of smokers, the preferred choice is some kind of torch lighter. But, there are variations even among torch lighters and discerning whether you need a single, double or triple flame lighter can be difficult.

While a torch lighter offers numerous benefits, you will need to determine which flame configuration is right for your needs. If you smoke cigarettes, a single flame torch is the best choice, as the double and triple flame models might produce too much fire and will use up unnecessary fuel. However, if you smoke a pipe or a cigar, you can easily make use of double and triple flame torch lighters. How can these be of benefit to you? Simply put, the wider the flame, the easier it is to light your smoking product.

For example, if cigars are your preference, double flame torch lighters provide an increased fire to tobacco contact, allowing for a more even and efficient lighting process. If pipes are your preference, triple flame lighters may be better. Triple flame lighters deliver a wide flame allowing you to ignite the entire pipe bowl. This lessens the chance of partial burns and tamping the tobacco repeatedly due to unburned contents. The use of these lighter styles is fairly easy and can help to make sure that whether you are smoking a pipe or cigar, that it is lit on the first try.

For example, torch lighters are able to be held upside down during the lighting process and the fire is still projected straight out from the lighter. This is unlike other lighter styles, such as a Zippo, where the flame moves to an upward position and would be unsuitable to be held any other way but straight up and down. Pipe smoker can be sure that they can light their pipe and not burn themselves or leave only half of the tobacco in the bowl lit. Cigar smoker can also benefit from torch lighters primarily because of the control over the flame that this type of lighter provides.