Colibri Vortex Torch Lighter Review

Colbri was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1971, Fred Levinger and his father purchased the company. Levinger went on to form the Colibri Group which makes and markets jewelry, lighters, clocks and accessories. Colibri sells its products through thousands of independent retailers and also large corporations, like Wal-Mart and Zales. The Colibri Group umbrella includes Colibri, Dolan & Bullock, Kreisler, Krementz, Linden, Princess Pride, S.T. DuPont, Seth Thomas (which happens to be oldest the oldest clock brand in America, founded in Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut in 1813). In June of 2005, Levinger sold a majority interest to Founders Equity Inc., and Main Street Resources. Levinger remained on as CEO and President.

I received my first Colibri as a gift from a group of fellow cigar smokers. I am fond of using a punch rather than a cutter, and this lighter offers a razor sharp punch integrated into the lighter itself, so that's one less thing I have to carry. It has survived numerous drops and scrapes against car keys, and always looked brand new and never failed to light. I did learn a trick from a tobacconist: before filling an empty lighter, lightly press the valve to release any air trapped in the lighter, then fill as normal. I lost my original lighter last year (or to be more accurate it walked away), and I replaced it with an identical model, and I have the same superior results. If you prefer a three burner model, check out the Colibri Tribeca (three burner). Colibri also came out with a TSA approved Lighter caseso you can take it in your CHECKED baggage (last I heard they're still swiping them out of carry ons).

See the Colibri Auctions, or the the lighter may be ordered here: Colibri Lighters

Sources:
Colibri