I’m just finishing up Allan Brandt’s Cigarette Century, and it got me wondering. I’m a nonsmoker with nonsmoking friends, but now that I have a passing familiarity with cigarette brands, I want to know more.
So, what do you smoke? Why? I’m genuinely curious, no “gotcha” setup, promise!
When I smoked it was Winston Light. I started with Marlboro, like every kid does, but my mom’s cousin (who I worked with) convinced me that Winston wouldn’t give me a cough.
He was right. I never developed a cough. I also never enjoyed different brands as much.
Dad is a Camel man. He used to smoke Viceroy but I think when he started making more money and getting out of debt, he switched.
Bro is Marlboro and sometimes Basic when poor.
Alas, after 20 years of being smoke-free, I have chosen to smoke again. This time it’s Marlboro Light’s. 20 years ago it was Salem.
I’ve smoked Winston Light for most of my smoking history, which is almost 30 years now. In the first several years I smoked Djarum Cloves (very briefly), Marlboro Red, Merit, Camel (filter and light), Newport Light, Drum (roll your own), Winston Red and finally Winston Light. “Light” is no longer an acceptable word in cigarette branding, so it’s officially “Gold Box” now.
Drum is nice (surprisingly mild for filter-less) and I can roll a damned fine cigarette with their long-cut leaf, but hand-rolling cigarettes became tiresome. As for why, I tried a bunch of cigarettes and never really felt the need to find one better than Winston Light. I smoke because I enjoy smoking. It’s an insanely stupid and expensive habit, but as long as I keep it up, I’m not going to smoke cheap cigarettes that taste terrible and I have no need to seek a “better” brand.
I will add that I almost quit burning tobacco a couple years ago with an e-cig (that I set down and went back to full time smoking) and I just very recently started up with that again. I’m smoking and vaping now, but my cigarette use is way down. Maybe I can make it stick this time. I doubt I’ll ever give up nicotine, though. I won’t deny that I’m addicted to it but at the same time, I’m not a self-loathing smoker. I really do enjoy it.
For years it was Parliament Lights, then I switched to Marlboro Light 72’s (thinking the shorter sticks would deter me from smoking as much).
My preferred brand, when I can find them, is Dunhill. They use a significantly different tobacco blend (straight Virginia, I believe; no Turkish or oriental) and so taste and smell quite a bit different than the standard domestic ciggie.
When I was a smoker (last year), I preferred L&M’s. They’re the poor man’s Marlboro.
After smoking for 19 years I quit about 18 years ago when I got married. In college though I was a Winston Light and Camel light guy, then when I was out drawing a paycheck I upgraded to Dunhill. They were the blue pack, which I think was ‘Milds.’
Marlboro Light 100’s. Although it doesn’t say “light” on the pack anymore. But I still say “light” when I buy them, and the clerk knows to give me the gold pack, not the silver.
related: Really looking forward to data from the plain packaging thing in Australia. The UK almost went ahead with it as well but the Gov bailed at the last minute saying they want to see what happens in Oz. Fascinating experiment imo, implications for the whole marketing industry:
When I smoked, mostly Camel Lights. Winstons were the backup brand if Camel Lights were unavailable. Occasionally I liked to buy a pack of Kool Lights, and sometimes I would buy a random brand for no reason.
When I started it was More Lights, I tried Marlboro Lights for a while, but settled on Doral. I had quit for about a year, then started back on on Camel Wide Menthol, which are fantastic but have too much nicotine for me. I now smoke PallMall Menthol shorts and I’m happy with them. Smoking is one of my indulgences.
Pall Mall non-filtered when I can afford them. But mostly R-Y-O with Top or Gambler or whatever’s availale.
SS
I was a Lucky Strike Lights guy, followed by Camel Lights and Gauloise Yellow when I was in the mood for ultra lights. For non-lights, it was Marlboro Reds and Lucky Strikes. I did not much like Marlboro Lights. They always tasted stale and musty to me.
“A classy way to commit suicide,” according to Kurt Vonnegut. I smoke like 1 pack/3 months max, situationally, but that’s what I’d buy. Non-filtered are harder to find, so I never really bothered. Are they that much more expensive? Pall Mall is usually > Basic but much < than Marlboro et al. I think those get decent street cred. I couldn’t get into Parliaments, so my hipsterism lacks some.
Weed.
I think it’s funny that Parliament seems to be the default brand for hipsters these days.
Parliament was my mother’s brand, about 30 years ago.
I’m mostly ecigs these days but when I light up it’s with Marlboro Red Labels, which used to be their “Medium” brand.
I was a Winston Light and Camel light guy but now I am getting into E-Cigarette thinking I might be able to quit tobacco. I wish someone could tell me the name of a vendor from where I could get a E-Cigarette starter kit.
My brand as well. Tough to bum one when I’m out and about, though. And I have extreme brand loyalty.