Your cigar won't burn right.
And it might be your fault.
Look, sometimes a cigar just won't cooperate no matter what you do. Bad construction. Inconsistent filler. It happens.
But most of the time? It's something you're doing wrong.
Here are the four biggest mistakes that cause uneven burns:
Mistake #1: You didn't toast the foot properly
If you don't fully light the entire foot of the cigar, it'll tunnel and burn crooked from the start.
Take your time. Toast the entire foot evenly before you take your first puff.
Hold the cigar at a 45-degree angle about an inch above the flame. Rotate it slowly until the entire foot glows orange. Only then should you take your first draw.
Mistake #2: You're smoking too fast
Puff too quickly and your cigar will canoe—one side burns faster than the other.
Slow down. A premium cigar isn't a race. One puff per minute is the sweet spot.
When you smoke too fast, you create uneven heat distribution. The side you're drawing from burns hotter and faster, leaving the other side behind. The result? An ugly, lopsided burn that wastes tobacco and ruins flavor.
Mistake #3: You're not touching up the wrapper
Even the best-made cigars need maintenance. If the wrapper starts lagging behind, it won't catch up on its own.
Use your lighter to gently touch up the slow side. Keep the burn line even.
No matter how perfectly a cigar is rolled, environmental factors like wind, humidity, and your smoking cadence can cause the wrapper to burn slower than the filler. Don't just let it go—fix it. A quick touch-up takes 5 seconds and saves your smoke.
Mistake #4: Your cigars are too humid
If your humidor is running above 70% humidity, the filler will burn but the wrapper won't keep up.
Keep your cigars at 65-70% humidity. Use Boveda packs to maintain consistency.
Over-humidified cigars are spongy, hard to light, and prone to tunneling. The excess moisture in the wrapper prevents it from burning at the same rate as the drier filler inside. If your cigars feel soft or squishy, let them dry out for a week before smoking.
Final Thoughts
Fix these four things, and 90% of your burn problems disappear.
Most bad burns aren't the cigar's fault—they're the smoker's. Master the basics (proper lighting, slow smoking, touch-ups, and humidity control) and you'll enjoy clean, even burns every time.
Speaking of keeping cigars in perfect condition...
December members get 40% OFF our entire collection this month.
Here's how it works:
STEP 1: Join the Don Roque Cigar Society
Pay $4.99 and get 3 premium cigars shipped FREE to your door.
That's it. Just the cigars. No other purchase required.
After that, your membership is $9.99/month (100% goes to sending cigars to deployed troops through Cigars for Warriors).
Read about all the deets and join here
STEP 2: Shop our collection and save 40% automatically this December
Once you're a member, browse our full collection here: https://donroquecigar.com/collections/cigar
Your 40% December discount applies AUTOMATICALLY at checkout (members only).
Pro tip: If you place an order right after joining, we'll include your 3 free sample cigars WITH your order instead of shipping separately. Faster cigars for you, less packaging waste for us.
That's it. Join first, shop second, save 40% instantly this December.
One order at 40% off pays for months of membership.
Already a member? Shop now and your 40% discount is already active: https://donroquecigar.com/collections/cigar
P.S. The 40% December discount is only for members. Non-members pay full price this month. Which means this is the absolute best time to try the membership risk-free.
P.P.S. Want to save $20 on your next purchase? Share a $20 discount link with your friends and family using this link - they get $20 for their first purchase and so do you!