Volta Quad-Jet Tabletop Lighter

Some tools are meant to be carried. This one is meant to stay put — on the study desk, the club table, the terrace rail where the evening actually happens.

The Volta is a tabletop lighter built around four jets rather than one, which is the practical difference between coaxing a cigar alight and simply lighting it. The oversized ignition button sits flush against a cylindrical metal body; the burners live behind a lid that irises open like a camera aperture with a quick twist of the top, keeping dust and ash out between uses. A red fuel window tells you where you stand before your guest arrives, not after.

At roughly 1.2 pounds it has the heft a tabletop lighter needs — it stays where you set it and doesn't skate across the desk when you press the ignition.

• Quad-jet torch flame, wind resistant
• Metal alloy body, black finish — approx. 1.2 lbs
• Camera aperture-inspired lid protects the burners
• Ratcheting oversized flame adjustment wheel
• EZ-view red fuel window
• Refillable; altitude tested to 12,000 ft
• Ships dry — butane sold separately

A word on flame. In A Cigar, Counselor? we make the case for soft flame as the civilized indoor default. The Volta is the other argument — the desk-and-terrace instrument, where speed and wind resistance matter more than ceremony. Most practices eventually want both.

Warranty. Covered by Xikar's limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Claims are handled directly by Quality Importers, Xikar's distributor — no registration or receipt required. Normal wear, misuse, and consumables are excluded, as are lighters confiscated by TSA or another travel authority. Lighters must be shipped empty of butane. Xikar determines the remedy at its discretion and may replace an item with a refurbished equivalent.

A note for travelers. Torch lighters are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage. Plan accordingly before a deposition or conference — and note that confiscated lighters are not covered under warranty.

Ships without fuel in compliance with hazardous materials requirements.