I have found that I often get a strong metallic taste when I first light up a cigar. This seems to be more pronounced with full-bodied smokes and goes away after the first 5-10 puffs.
I know certain brands have been mentioned and associated with this taste but, for me, this seems to be related to the first few puffs and not any particular brand as far as I can tell.
Could this somehow be associated with the gases from the lighter?
Anyone else have this experience?

DED 

All the time until I started to blow out after lighting. After doing that I did not get the bad taste anymore. And I have two lighters one you can see the flame and the other you cant. The one that I can see the flame works best. Trying blowing the smoke out before smoking the cigar. Anythings worth a shot.

Brad

Take it out of the tube 1st, that works for me...hehe!

Mag

The way you light your cigar may influence some cigars to PU an off taste. Also what you use to light your cigar,may influence taste. X

i believe everyone assumes yoiu are using butane and not a zippo with lighter fluid.

does the same thing happen when you use a wooden match.

more info needed before a thorough diagnoses can be forthcoming.

magnafide is on the right track.

RICKAMAVEN,
Good question. I will have to test two lighters and try matches to see if there is a difference. Of course this will entail alot of smoking but anything for science.


DED

For what it's worth... When lighting, I try to avoid as much carbon deposit around the foot as possible. Beyond that I agree with the purge (blowing out) after applying the flame either when lighting or touching up.

Jim

I had a New York this evening, which normally tastes very good, but I noticed this one had a metallic taste like you described.

It was part of a five-pack from CBid, and the one before it tasted great, so maybe it has something to do with the lighting.

I think I'll start purging when I light up from now on.

I was introduced to a new lighting style that I was not accustomed to and MAN what a difference it made in the smokes. using a torch lighter, burn the cigar around the end until it starts smoking ( just like you were drawing in ) then start smoking this makes for a much smoother smoke on all my gars. If this guy had not shown me I would never have beleived it

You mean burn it around the edge and don't light the center of the foot?

Hmmmmm...might hafta try that

burn around the edges first and then go for the middle and when it starts smoking then start you inhaleing. Basically what your doing is starting and finishing the lighting process before it ever touches your lips.

One: Your butane fuel could be the problem. LAVA is the best I've used; for reliability of the lighter and absolutely tasteless light. Two: How you light can influence the smoke. Personally I go to considerable effort to heat/burn the foot evenly before I ever put the cigar in my mouth. Then I move the tip of the flame in a circular motion around the foot without actually touching it until I get an even ember/glow covering the entire area of the foot. Utilizing this technique, I haven't had the problem of aftertaste (it also minimizes an uneven burn, although that occasionally still happens).

Good luck with your experimentation.........

Yep - what arwings said - let the flame kiss the outer edge of the foot - don't "burn" it, and don't light the middle, then your first breath should be an exhale on the cigar. It takes a little bit of time to light a cigar properly, but it's part of the whole experience.

deadeyedick

we want to know the results and we want them now. or as soon as you can. you don't just read all our advice and not tell us if we have helped you.

we're not a bunch of whores that you can use and walk away without fulfilling our needs.

we want to know.

Sorry to not post back sooner. I have been trying all recommendations and here are my notes so far:

1. Cheapo lighter from convienence store is a likely culprit. I have used this as well as matches and butane in the past with little thought. I always assumed any off taste was the fault of the cigar.

2. Using a match seems to give the metallic taste if you do not wait until the head of the match is completely burned off. (Maybe some of the taste noted was just in the air from lighting the match. (acrid smell)

3. Have not had the metallic taste using the "purging" method.

4. Toasting the foot prior to puffing using a torch lighter seems to be the best, but I have not tried this on many different brands yet.

This whole research thing takes time since I normally smoke only 5-6 per week. Thanks to all for your inputs.

DED

I torch the foot along the outer edges then move up to the center until the cigar is "smoking itself" then inhale. This makes for a whole new experience in herfing. If I had not been a part of the demo at my local shop I would not have beleived it. I lite all my gars this way now. HUGE difference.