The fuel used on one’s lighter goes a long way toward determining both the performance and the longevity of the device. When one purchases a high-end refillable lighter, such as a Colibri torch lighter or a liquid-fueled refillable such as a Zippo, it makes sense to protect that investment by making certain only the highest-quality materials are used to actually fuel the device.

Making certain that one gets the best flavor starts with how the cigar is lit. There are various means of doing this and some cigar smokers have very strong preferences for and against certain means. The most controversial way cigars are lit is with liquid-fueled refillable lighters.

The nozzle on a can of butane is designed to fit perfectly with the receiver on a refillable lighter. Anything that doesn’t quite fit is most certainly not the correct fuel and one should not attempt to make it work by force. This can ruin the lighter as much as can using the incorrect fuel.

Butane torch lighters have rapidly become the most popular way to light cigars among aficionados. These lighters impart no taste at all as the gaseous fuel is consumed very efficiently by the lighter. There are different grades of fuel available but, where butane lighters advertise no impurities, it’s not so much a question of whether or not the fuel will be tasted as it is a question of reliability and taking care of the lighter itself. These lighters are available in exotic designs which feature double and triple flames, upscale styling and beautiful finishes. They have become favorites among dedicated cigar smokers.

Lighting a cigar, for some smokers, should only be done in the most traditional way possible. This means either matches or cedar strips are employed. Matches obviously burn no fuel which may lend a taste to the cigar and cedar strips have a pleasant smell all their own. These methods, of course, lack the inherent convenience of a lighter. Given that lighting a cigar is a complex process, it may take several matches to get the stogie burning. Cedar strips have the disadvantage of being poor choices where portability is concerned and, of course, they can crumble in one’s pockets.