Avid readers of our Daily Batch Blog will remember something we wrote in 2018 asking the question: can cigars be saved for later? The answer is a definitive maybe, depending on how you want your cigar experience to be. I stand by my reasoning for warning you away from relighting a cigar that’s been extinguished for more than 30 minutes, and I’d recommend giving that article a read, but here’s how to relight a partially smoked cigar for the curious.

Pro Tip: You can perform all of these steps before you walk away from your cigar to give it the best flavor possible on a relight. Knock the ash, purge your cigar, clip any blackened tobacco off the end, and hope for the best. 

Assess the Partially Smoked Cigar

Start by taking a good long look at the cigar, coming to terms with the fact that it will never taste as good as it once did. The act of smoking and then extinguishing a cigar changes the composition of the oils and tars within the tobacco, often resulting in more bitterness in the flavor department. Sometimes this bitterness subsides after a few minutes, however, and you’re able to get maybe 60-80% of the original flavor back along with some unwanted friends. 

Click on the image above to read that article

If your cigar looks wet or dry from the elements because it’s been too long, don’t be afraid to toss it and grab another. There are few things worse than expecting a certain flavor from a cigar and getting a 180 degree experience. 

Prepare the Cigar to be Relit

Before relighting, gently tap off any loose ash from the cigar. Ash that's left on the cigar can have you chasing your tail on where to light the foot, and depending on how long it was left sitting it may make it harder to draw and cause an uneven burn. 

Next, you’ll want to remove the burnt end to expose fresh tobacco by cutting off the portion that is blackened. If I were doing this, I’d use my cigar cutter for a nice, clean cut. There is risk involved here of unraveling the wrapper leaf depending on how much glue the factory used and where. Be cautious while doing this to avoid unwrapping or damaging the cigar.

Click on the image above to read that article

Next, you’ll want to purge your cigar as much as you’re able by blowing on the head as hard as possible. On a cigar that hasn’t been relit but has turned a tad bitter by smoking too fast or was maybe over-humidified, purging can work very well by just knocking the ash and purging. On a cigar that’s been partially smoked, it all depends on how long it’s been left in the elements. 

Relighting a Partially Smoked Cigar

Relighting a cigar looks much like lighting it the first time: you’ll want to hold the cigar at a 45 degree angle, rotating it over a soft flame or torch to light the edges first and then work your way towards the center. Since we’re already dealing with a cigar that’s going to taste bitter (especially at first) we want to use less heat instead of more. Slowly toast the entire foot until you have white ash across the board. 

Click on the image above to read that article

Instead of bringing the cigar to your lips and finishing the lighting process, I’d recommend ensuring you have a good toast by blowing on it and watching the embers glow. Then, when you’re ready, enjoy your cigar like normal with deep, long puffs for the first couple minutes. 

Final Thoughts about Relighting Cigars

Relighting a partially smoked cigar isn’t like reheating coffee in the pot after lunch. The very same oils that providing a delectable smoking experience have now been exposed to heat and the elements, altering how they interact with our palates. Combusted tobacco, otherwise known as tar, has accumulated at the foot and has been drawn throughout the entire length of the cigar during the smoking process. Personally, I haven’t relit a cigar that’s been out for more than a handful of minutes in years because it’s an exercise in disappointment. 

If you’re trying to savor an irreplaceable cigar and know the risks, the above is how I’d do it to maximize my chances at bringing it back to life. But if you stoke the flames of hope and breathe fresh life into your cigar only to stare at it in disbelief, it’s ok to walk away from it and remember the good times.