You and me both!1. admire & appreciate the cigar
2. carefully snip the cap
3. take a few draws
4. gently toast the foot (30-60 sec. depending on gauge)
5. slow even draw (no puffing)
6. shut the world out and enjoy
thats my routine
To add a bit of nuance, the answer would be no. I've simply found lighting before cutting to be a good way to force myself to be patient, which you touch on next...Honestly does anyone really think that cutting or not cutting the cap when lighting impacts how a cigar tastes???
Torching away and sucking will get it lit faster, but then the cigar heats up too much for the first 1/2 inch or so. By not being able to suck air through (and very arguably taint more tobacco if you are using imperfect fuel), you force yourself to light more slowly.Now lightly your cigar gently by toasting it first rather than torching as you suck like a porn star can make a difference, but you can do this with out with out cutting the cap.
I have seen a video last year sometime, the guy was using three long matches and said that exact thing. That is pre light draw pulls contaminates into the foot. I do this except using a torch lighter. Make sure the flame doesn't touch the foot. It works great, made my cigar smoking experience more enjoyable.Been doing this for years and learned this from the ole timers in S. Florida. The reason is this.....you 'cook' the end of the cigar w/o drawing on it and the end of the cigar never touches the real flame...just the heat from the flame. When it is lit this way the reasoning ( proof ) is that you aren't drawing on the heat from the flame all the way through the entire cigar...this sometimes can taint the overall taste of the tobacco because you are drawing contaminates along with the heated flame thru the cigar. Doing it the way that is posted gives you a cooler draw...ensures that you don't contaminate the overal character of the tobacco. For those who don't care then flame away...I want to smoke my cigar the way it was intended...the best way possible.