Share This Post

Have you ever had to put out a cigar and come back to it later? Maybe an important phone call interrupted you, or perhaps you simply ran out of time to enjoy the entire smoke. It’s a common scenario that leaves many cigar enthusiasts questioning the proper etiquette and techniques for relighting.

While conventional wisdom suggests that cigars are meant to be enjoyed in one sitting, life doesn’t always allow for that luxury. This guide will explore everything you need to know about putting out a cigar and relighting it later, covering the basic mechanics and the best preservation methods to ensure a satisfying experience.

Can You Save a Cigar For Later?

It’s a common problem—your cigar goes out, and you’re left wondering whether to light a new one or attempt to relight the existing one. The truth is cigars can go out for a variety of reasons:

• Taking a Break: Maybe you’re chatting with friends or attending to something else, and your cigar has been sitting idle for too long.
• Environmental Conditions: Wind, humidity, and temperature can all affect how long a cigar stays lit.
• Imperfect Lighting: If a cigar wasn’t appropriately lit to begin with, it may not burn evenly and could go out on its own.

What Happens When a Cigar Goes Out?

When a cigar goes out, several things happen. First, the burn line becomes uneven, and the cigar may start to dry out. When a cigar is allowed to go cold, the flavor and aroma also degrade. Moreover, if it’s been out for a while, relighting could lead to bitterness or even harsh smoke, as the remaining embers and tobacco may not burn evenly anymore.

Is It Okay to Relight a Cigar?

Yes, you can relight a cigar, but it’s not always ideal. The main issues that arise from relighting are:

• Flavor changes: The biggest risk with relighting a cigar is a shift in flavor. When you relight a cigar, you’re reigniting the tobacco, which can cause some bitterness, especially if the cigar went out due to being neglected for too long.
• Uneven burn: If you don’t relight it correctly, the cigar may burn unevenly, causing one side to overheat while the other remains cool. This can lead to a harsh taste or a subpar smoking experience.

Best Way To Put Out a Cigar And Relight It

While it’s not always the best option, it’s perfectly fine to relight a cigar if you’ve just finished smoking it. The key is to act quickly and prevent the cigar from drying out. Also, high-quality and well-constructed cigars last longer.

If you’ve only rested your cigar for a while and it hasn’t been crushed, relighting it won’t do much to the cigar. However, if the cigar has been in storage for a long time, it’s better to start over or just enjoy the moment as it is.

Do All Cigars Taste Terrible When Relit?

Now, the question we’re all here for is—does relighting a cigar ruin the taste?

While some might say that relighting always ruins the experience, it’s not that simple. Several factors are at play:

Type of Cigar

Milder cigars are generally more forgiving than full-bodied ones when it comes to relighting. If you’re smoking a mellow cigar, the flavor profile is less likely to shift dramatically after relighting.

How Long It’s Been Out

The longer a cigar has been out, the more likely it is that it’ll taste off when relit. This is due to the drying out of the tobacco and the increased chances of uneven burning when you try to relight.

The Relighting Technique

A skilled relight can save the day! If you use the right method, you can preserve much of the flavor and still enjoy the cigar. Heat distribution is key to flavor retention. When a cigar goes out and is then relit, the combustion process can release harsh chemicals that weren’t present during the initial burn. These chemicals can give the cigar a bitter or “off” flavor. However, careful relighting using a gentle flame can minimize this issue.

Why Is It Such a Bad Idea to Put Out a Cigar and Save It for Later?

While it’s tempting to put out a cigar and save it for later, there are a few risks to consider:

• Cigar drying out: Without proper storage, the cigar can dry out, losing its flavor and smoothness. This is why it’s not recommended to just let it sit.
• Flavors fading: Over time, the oils in the tobacco start to break down, and the cigar loses its rich taste. The longer you leave it, the more you’ll be sacrificing.
• Uneven relighting: The longer you wait to relight, the more likely the cigar will burn unevenly, affecting both the flavor and the smoking experience.

Factor	Impact	Risk Level
Drying out tobacco	Loss of moisture, flavor, and smoothness	High
Flavor degradation	Bitter or off-tasting smoke after relighting	Medium
Uneven burn	Uneven smoking experience and harsh flavors	Medium
Time without proper storage	Potential overall degradation of the cigar	High

When you put out a cigar, combustion byproducts—including ash, tars, and oils—settle back into the unburned tobacco. The longer the cigar remains out, the deeper these compounds penetrate the remaining tobacco. From a health perspective, reignition increases exposure to tar and carbon monoxide.

Flavor compounds degrade rapidly through oxidation, tars concentrate in the remaining tobacco, structural integrity is compromised, and potential health impacts increase, all contributing to a diminished experience when relighting.

How to Properly Relight a Cigar

If you’re determined to relight your cigar, follow these simple steps to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible:

• Tap the ash: Before relighting, gently tap the cigar to remove any loose ash. This helps you avoid harsh, burnt flavors.
• Use a soft flame: A butane lighter or match is ideal. Avoid torch lighters as they can overheat the cigar and cause uneven burning.
• Evenly light the cigar: Gently toast the end of the cigar to get an even burn, rotating it as you light. Don’t puff too hard right away—slow and steady will help preserve the flavors.
• Draw slowly: Once lit, take slow, deliberate puffs to ensure the cigar re-burns evenly. Avoid inhaling too deeply, as this can cause the cigar to burn too quickly.

By following these steps, you can often get your cigar back to its former glory.

The Humidor – Your Cigar’s Best Friend

A humidor is a game-changer for cigar enthusiasts. It helps maintain the ideal humidity and temperature, ensuring that your cigars remain fresh and flavorful, even if you need to step away for a bit. With a humidor, the need for relighting becomes less frequent because your cigars stay in peak condition.

Types of Humidors

There are different kinds of humidors to suit various needs:

• Portable Travel Humidors: Compact and designed for on-the-go storage, perfect if you like to take your cigars with you.
• Desktop Humidors: Larger models that can hold a more significant collection and offer more control over humidity and temperature.
• Walk-in Humidors: For serious collectors, these are essentially cigar rooms that provide an optimal environment for storing a large quantity of cigars.

Why It’s Worth the Investment

Investing in a humidor ensures your cigars are always ready to smoke, meaning you’re less likely to face issues with relighting. Proper storage also preserves the flavor profile, making your cigars taste better for longer.

Conclusion

While putting out a cigar and relighting it later is possible, the experience will rarely match that of a fresh cigar. The chemical changes during combustion and cooling fundamentally alter the tobacco’s composition, leading to increased bitterness and diminished complexity when relit.

Ultimately, investing in a proper humidor represents the most logical solution for cigar enthusiasts. Beyond preserving partially smoked cigars, a humidor protects your entire collection, enhances aging potential, and ensures that every smoking experience—whether fresh or relit—delivers the best possible flavor.

Remember, the best approach is to set aside enough time to enjoy your cigar in one sitting whenever possible. After all, cigars are meant to be savored as a complete experience, from the first light to the final third.

Ready to step up your cigar game? Explore our recommended humidors and never worry about relighting issues again!