Stogie Tips: Pass the Wooden Matches, Please

Last June, I published one of our first Stogie Tips: a short article on how to properly light a cigar. Aside from the ever-important “toasting the foot” strategy, the bulk of piece dealt with various means with which to light a stogie.

I came to the conclusion that “due to their resistance to wind and perfect flames, the best tools for igniting cigars are butane lighters.” This is a commonly held principle among seasoned cigar smokers, but I’m here to tell you that I was wrong.

I’m sure many out there – especially lighter manufacturers and retailers – will disagree, but, truth be told, I’ll take a handful of wooden matches over the best butane torch any day of the week.

“But wait,” you ask, “don’t matches take a lot longer to light a cigar than a torch?” I won’t disagree with that. If you light a cigar properly, it could take three to four wooden matches – and upwards of several minutes – to establish a good light.

But, as Mike Copperman of Bethesda Tobacco so graciously taught me, that’s all part of the cigar-smoking process. You see, taking time to properly light a fine stogie is a ritual that shouldn’t be rushed. Before the first puff, take in the aromas as the flame dances off the tobacco. Build the anticipation. After all, the cigar hobby is meant to be enjoyed in a relaxed, slow-paced environment.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen friends, acquaintances, and video bloggers butcher their cigars by flash-frying the foot. Where’s the ceremony or nostalgia in that? Besides, it’s hard to build anticipation in .02 seconds. Like I wrote before, please take time to smoke.

Another critique of wooden matches is that, once struck, they exude sulfur, an odorous element that can alter the taste and smell of a cigar. While it’s true that modern match heads contain antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate, their effect on tobacco taste is negligible. Besides, you can easily bypass this risk by waiting one to two seconds after the match is struck before touching it to the foot.

Finally, many butane torch fans cite their method’s excellent resistance to wind as the coup de grậs. I won’t oppose that point. I’m not going out on a limb when I say that lighters are much better in a stiff breeze. Most of the time, however, I find the wind is not a major factor. Save for those occasions when I’m on the golf course, I’ll still take my matches over a lighter.

Please note that I write this not to offend or irritate, but only to prod. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I’m really turned off by all those fancy gadgets that have flooded the industry.

Besides, why spend $470 on a torch that you’re just going to loose between the couch cushions – especially when you can pick up a pack of wooden matches for free every time you hit up a bar or restaurant?

-Patrick A

Tags: cigars