The moment has come to bring the cigar to your lips and proceed in the delicate operation of lighting it
Warm the foot very lightly, just for a few seconds before bringing it to your lips
This creates an entryway for the smoke.
The first puff you draw will then be free of various residual tastes
Avoid flames that are produced by a gasoline lighter or sulphur or wax match.
Use a wooden match, a gas lighter or wood shavings
The flame should be small and held at an angle at about a centimetre from the foot
With the cigar in your mouth, rotate it in the flame, while taking small puffs; the objective is to get a regular light around the end, an even burning surface several millimetres deep, a steady burning speed which should increase from the middle of the cigar to the under wrapper
If you use a match, keep a second one handy, as this will almost certainly be necessary to achieve the even lighting surface described. You may even need three matches, especially if the cigar is fresh.