Bic Lighters?

S

solafid3

Gorilla
So... whenever I read an article about Cuba and cigars, or a biographical article about cigar company owners, I always find people lighting their cigars with bic-type lighters. My querstion is, how bad, if it is at all, is it to light your cigar with a bic? Like, does it impart some taste or something. Having tried it myself a couple of times, I couldn't tell, but at the same time, I'm no cigar tasting expert.
 
I use a Zippo, which has far more potential for fumes than a BIC. If you get fumes or taste, then just lightly blow back thru. The lighting part is a bit slower than with a butane torch.
 
Most cigar smokers (myself included) will tell you that there is a definite, although not significant, taste imparted from the gas in the Bic lighters. Ideally you would light with a cedar stick, but your best bet is going to be head over to wal-mart or wal-greens and get a cheap Butane Torch lighter. The advantage to butane is that it is tasteless and odorless, so there should be no taste imparted on the cigar. Get a Ronson if you can find it - theyre about $3 and are one of the best torch lighters on the market! This from a guy with a Xikar! Hope this helps!
 
Aren't BICs filled with butane as well? Butane in pureform is colorless and odorless, but I believe commercial products have other gases mixed to impart a smell so you know if the lighter is leaking or for cost reasons.

The butane I use to fill my torches have an distinct aroma. I believe torches may burn the butane more efficiently/completely.
 
I've used my Bic when I didn't have my torch handy. I never really noticed much difference as far as taste, but my noobish palate is weak anyhow. I prefer my torch mainly because it's easier to toast the foot and light outside. :tu
 
:tpd:

Things that one shouldn't light a cigar with...

Citronella Candles
Zippo Lighters
People

Things that are O.K. to light a cigar with...

Bic
Matches (wooden preferred, paper O.K.)
Thin Cedar strips
Creme-brulee torch
Ronson Jet Lites
Opus X Limited Edition S T Dupont lighter (but only if you've grown tired of lighting your cigars with $100 bills)

Those things KILL me... $1,500 for a friggin lighter...
 
Oh cool, well, I really was just asking out of curiosity, I've already spent way too much on my torch. Ideally, I'd cut with my xikar (can't afford a palio because of the stinky gb) and light with my torch (Just the easiest way to do it).
 
688sonarmen said:
HMMM 7 year old Madascar Vanilla? :tpd:
Click to expand...

To me, and of course I am sure I am a member of a select few who feel this way, that if you lit two of the same cigars, blind taste test style, you could not tell the difference using a BIC. Some folks get real caught up in some of these particulars. I do use a Ronson when I have one around because I found them to cheap and refillable. I don't like the idea of throwing away a lighter when its done, seems wasteful to me. But I would light my cigar with anything available if I needed to.

Now, if you were an editor for CA, I'm sure you could tell what brand of butane was used to fill the lighter just by the "taste"....
 
tedrodgerscpa said:
:tpd:

Things that one shouldn't light a cigar with...

Citronella Candles
Zippo Lighters
People

Things that are O.K. to light a cigar with...

Bic
Matches (wooden preferred, paper O.K.)
Thin Cedar strips
Creme-brulee torch
Ronson Jet Lites
Opus X Limited Edition S T Dupont lighter (but only if you've grown tired of lighting your cigars with $100 bills)

Those things KILL me... $1,500 for a friggin lighter...
Click to expand...

I find $100 bills leave my mouth with a slight cotton flavour, do not recommend.
 
Other than the fluid, I like the control I have when using a torch, I can get a clean light, It's nice to start it off with a nice even burn. Hey a bic may work just as well, I've never tried it... If bics are working for you, it's all good!
 
Dgar said:
Other than the fluid, I like the control I have when using a torch, I can get a clean light, It's nice to start it off with a nice even burn. Hey a bic may work just as well, I've never tried it... If bics are working for you, it's all good!
Click to expand...

Nah... I think most people would rather use a torch than a bic...

But there ain't nothing wrong with using a Bic in a pinch!
 
tedrodgerscpa said:
:tpd:

Things that one shouldn't light a cigar with...

Citronella Candles
Zippo Lighters
People

Things that are O.K. to light a cigar with...

Bic
Matches (wooden preferred, paper O.K.)
Thin Cedar strips
Creme-brulee torch
Ronson Jet Lites
Opus X Limited Edition S T Dupont lighter (but only if you've grown tired of lighting your cigars with $100 bills)

Those things KILL me... $1,500 for a friggin lighter...
Click to expand...


Thank God I'm safe using my car cigarette lighter plug. I find the nice round shape lights the foot of the cigar evenly and perfect everytime. Also, it never leaves a gasy taste in the cigar. :chk Ok thats a joke but seriously....has anyone ever done this before? Obviously I'd never do it with a quality cigar, but I was FORCED to do it once with a cheap memories cigar from the tin of 10 that Montecristo makes. No form of lighter anywhere. Just a car, cigar and a dream.
 
Whats the deal with the cedar strip? I always heard that this was more of a social maneuver or pompous gesture that did nothing for the cigar and in most cases imparted negative flavors into what would otherwise be a quality tobacco.

I don't want to hurt anyones feelings if they do this its just what I've always heard. Especially on the Dog Watch. :)
 
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