Stogie Tip: Pass the Wooden Matches, Please
Thursday, May 10th, 2007Last 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?
Tags: cigars
Great post. I was thinking about picking up one of those really nice torches, but you’ve convinced me otherwise.
Although, like you said, there are times when a trusty torch comes in handy…
Beattie,
My advice to you is to pick up the Ronson JetLite from Wal-Mart. As we wrote in previous posts, it’s under $3 and it works just fine. That way, you’ll have something available when you need it.
Otherwise, stick to the matches.
Patrick -
You’re absolutely on target. We should all take a vow to remember that smoking cigars is about smoking cigars, not about accumulating gadgets and doo-dads.
P.S. The other great thing about that Ronson lighter is it works just fine on cheap Ronson butane. No triple-refined gas needed.
Hey, I’m not one to knock a good wooden match, but sometimes even the best piece of cedar is no contest against a strong wind. I was at a very windy and rainy Virginia Gold Cup on Saturday…and my very fancy lighter came in very handy for the many of us who were smoking cigars. No one had to huddle in corners or attempt to suck the life out of our cigar to get a decent even burn going.
For me, cigar smoking is the same as drinking good wine. Part of the appeal - as I see it - can be the gadgets and doo-dads. I like setting my cigar in a nice ashtray, or snipping it with a a fine cutter nearly as much I as enjoy opening wine with a great corkscrew or drinking it from a great glass.
Smoking cigars is a pleasure…why not try to get as much out of the experience as one can?
Scott — Well, I’m a firm believer in “to each his own” and I likely overstated my case. If those things bring you pleasure, I say that’s fine by me.
George -
No worries, pal…it’s a conversation, not an argument. God knows I’ve drank my share of wine from a paper cup or from the bottle…haha
But that $470 Dunhill lighter looks so good with new box of CAO Vision! LOL
In all seriousness, I will try the match approach the next time around. I like the intentionally unhurried time I spend smoking a good cigar. Elaborate rituals and extra fire could only stand to make it better!
Patrick did I miss something? I really didn’t read one strong compelling point for matches over butane lighters.
You can find cheap butane lighters.
Lighter the cigar faster only means you get to enjoy the cigar sooner, what’s wrong with that? I take my time pre-light. I inspect it thoroughly and cut it, that’s enough ceremony for me.
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[...] After carefully cutting the head of this rare American puro, I was greeted with more of the cedar and sweetness. The Dutch Masters lit easily with three wooden matches. [...]
[...] Zippo to the ultra-premium Dupont. And of course, you’ll probably already have read the Stogie Guys‘ post on why matches are the way to go for the discriminating cigar enthusiast. I like both [...]