Maybe he remembered that someone had told him that it's cool to smoke an expensive cigar with the band still on (not the foot band you dumb ass).

Maybe he was on his 4th Calahan's and just didn't notice the foot band. At least he lit the correct end, unlike many cigarette smokers I've seen.

Maybe it was the blonde down at the end of the bar.

Maybe the 3 guys over at the corner table (about to bust a gut) had told him that was an
"igniter band" that creates an even burn every time.