Letters from a Torch Lighter — Dispatches at 2,500 Degrees

My Name Is Torch, and I Bring the Fire

I live on the counter at Cigar and Smoke Shop, right next to the cutter. I'm a triple-jet torch lighter — butane-fueled, wind-resistant, and responsible for the single most important moment in any cigar's life: the light.

The humidor stores them. The cutter opens them. But I'm the one who wakes them up. Without me, a cigar is just a very expensive stick of leaves. With me, it becomes an experience.

I've lit thousands of cigars in this shop. And I've learned that how someone lights a cigar tells you everything you need to know about them.

The Impatient Puffer

This person cannot wait. They cut the cigar, stick it in their mouth, and immediately jam it into my flame while puffing like a steam engine.

No toast. No warm-up. Just fire and fury.

The foot of the cigar ignites unevenly. One side is charred black while the other is barely singed. The first few puffs taste like a campfire accident. Then they spend the next ten minutes trying to fix the burn line that never should have happened.

All because they couldn't give me fifteen seconds. Fifteen seconds! Toast the foot. Let the edges glow. Then — and only then — bring it to your lips and draw gently. That's it. That's the whole secret.

But no. They puff like they're trying to start a leaf blower.

The Rotator

Now this person — I respect this person.

They hold the cigar about an inch above my flame and rotate it slowly, evenly, watching the foot start to glow in a perfect circle. They don't rush. They don't puff yet. They just let the heat do its work.

Once the entire foot is evenly toasted — a nice white ash forming at the edges — they bring it to their lips and take one slow, gentle draw. The ember catches fully. The smoke is smooth from the very first puff.

That's the art. That's what the staff at Cigar and Smoke Shop teach customers every day. And when someone does it right, I feel like a concert pianist who just nailed the opening note.

The Soft Flame Argument

Every few weeks, someone comes in and asks if a soft flame lighter is better. A Zippo, maybe, or a cedar spill.

Look — I'm not going to trash-talk the Zippo. It's an icon. It has history. It sounds great when you flip it open. But a soft flame on a thick ring gauge cigar? You'll be there for five minutes trying to get an even light. And Zippo fluid can affect the flavor if you're not careful.

Cedar spills are beautiful. Traditional. The old-school purists love them. But try lighting a 60-ring gauge Perdomo outside on a windy Maryland afternoon with a cedar spill. Good luck. I'll be right here when you're done trying.

I'm a torch. I get the job done in any weather, at any angle, with surgical precision. That's not arrogance. That's engineering.

The "Is It Still Lit?" Panic

This one happens daily. Someone's smoking a cigar, gets into a conversation, and forgets to puff for a few minutes. The cigar goes out — which is completely normal and fine.

But they panic. "Oh no, it went out! Is it ruined?"

No, it's not ruined. The staff calmly explains that you can relight a cigar without any shame. Gently blow on the foot to clear the old ash, toast it again, and you're right back in business. Cigars are forgiving like that.

The only time it gets dicey is when someone tries to relight a cigar that's been sitting dead for an hour. At that point the flavors have changed. But twenty minutes? You're fine. I'll light you back up. That's literally my job.

The Wind Warriors

Arundel Mills Mall has an outdoor area, and Maryland weather does not care about your cigar plans. I've watched people try to light up in twenty-mile-per-hour wind using a regular Bic lighter. The flame dances sideways. The cigar foot barely warms. They cup their hands around it like they're protecting a baby bird.

This is my moment. Someone hands them a torch — maybe me, maybe one of the Xikar or Colibri models from the accessories shelf — and suddenly the wind doesn't matter. My jet flame cuts through it like it isn't there. The cigar lights in seconds.

The look on their face when it actually works is the same look every time: mild amazement followed by immediate regret that they ever bothered with a regular lighter.

The Staff's Technique

The team at Cigar and Smoke Shop in Hanover lights cigars the right way every time. They've done it so many times it's muscle memory. Toast, rotate, draw, check. The whole process takes about thirty seconds and the cigar is lit perfectly every time.

When a new customer asks for help, the staff will walk them through it step by step. "Hold it at an angle. Don't let the flame touch the wrapper — just the foot. Rotate slowly. Now draw."

I've been part of thousands of these little lessons. It's one of my favorite things about this shop. They don't just sell you a cigar — they make sure you know how to enjoy it.

My Fuel Light Is On

I'll be honest — I run out of butane. It happens. Someone picks me up, clicks the ignition, and gets nothing but a sad little spark. It's embarrassing.

But the staff keeps me refueled. They also sell butane refill cans, torch lighters, and everything you need to keep your fire going at home. Xikar. Colibri. Vertigo. Single jet, double jet, triple jet — whatever fits your hand and your habit.

Running out of fuel at home is preventable. Keep a can of premium butane in your cigar drawer. Future you will be grateful.

The Sacred Ritual

Here's what people don't realize: lighting a cigar is a ritual. It's the transition between whatever your day was and whatever the next hour is going to be. The toast, the first draw, the initial cloud of smoke — that's the moment you slow down.

I'm just a tool, but I'm the tool that marks the beginning. Every great cigar experience in this shop — every celebration, every quiet moment on a porch in Severn or Glen Burnie or Jessup, every Saturday afternoon at the Arundel Mills area — started with me or one of my kind.

That's a legacy I don't take lightly. Well, I do take it lightly. But you know what I mean.

Come Light One Up

I'm at Cigar and Smoke Shop inside Arundel Mills Mall. The staff will show you the perfect lighting technique, whether you're a first-timer or just want to refine your approach. And if you need a torch lighter of your own, they've got a whole display.

Bring the cigar. I'll bring the fire.

Arundel Mills Mall, Hanover, MD · 443-755-5141