Huh?
Not my preferred method, but I've used a Bic hundreds (thousands?) of times and have NEVER tasted anything that I might consider having any odor or aroma. What is the difference in the fluid in a bic and the fluid in a torch...other than pressure?
The reason that I (and most, I believe) use cedar splints is not for the aroma of the cedar! I like the way my cigars taste...I'm not so presumptuous as to think that I can improve upon what Pete, Matt, Arturo, Carlos, Jon, Dion and others have blended by adding a cedar flame.
A bic, or a match or a splint will all give you a softer flame and is far less likely to scorch/burn the foot than a torch. That will affect the taste. Obviously, you need to burn the tobacco, but if you have the patience to light it much slower with a softer flame...AND light it EVENLY, you're going to have a better cigar experience. For three reasons off the top of my head: even burn; more attention and concentration on the effort/cigar; better initial taste. That first is key -- slower, careful lighting is likely to give you a much better burn for the first inch or two of your cigar.
The drawback to the soft flame methods is wind....and time/patience. It is time consuming and it doesn't work well in even a light breeze. Thus, many of us use a torch. You can get a gentle, even light with a torch, but it does take a bit of practice for some of us.
dstieger wrote:
