Kent Mintek: Review

A very weird cigarette, I must say. Kent is, in South Africa, the old B&H. This is one of their latest offerings.

I could not locate a pic of the SA packaging, but this one is close enough.

As one can see the packet has rounded edges which is all the rage nowadays. The overall design is pleasing to the eye.

The design of the cigarette is a little different, with the name branded with a "technical" looking graphic design. The filter paper is white, which would suggest this cigarette is aimed at the female market.

Now the weird part: if the bottom of the filter is observed, you will notice a small green dot. This is the menthol flavoring! they place it in the filter instead of flavoring the tobacco with it. Weird.

The taste is strange. Menthol cigarettes normally taste like exactly that.... menthol CIGARETTES!! This doesn't taste or feel like smoking, despite a mild nicotine content and a minty type flavor. No after taste, no smoke taste, nothing!

Also draws too easily, feels like sucking air.

Despite being good looking, this cigarette offers nothing to the smoker. If these were the only cigarettes available 15 years ago, I wouldn't have been a smoker today.

Rembrandt van Rijn: Review

As mentioned in the first post, I theoretically started smoking with B&H Special Filter. Why I say that is because that was the first packet of cigarettes I purchased. The B&H was then my second cigarette, even though purchased on the same day as my first.
THIS one was my first! Stolen from my unsuspecting mother!

This one is everything a cigarette should not be. Its in an ugly package, and its strong. Don't get me wrong, I prefer a stronger cigarette, but this one knocks the wind out. It leaves a bad after taste, and the overall taste is not good.

The design of the actual cigarette is acceptable, with a single gold band around a cork design filter paper. I dont prefer this, but its fine.

Ease of draw is not bad, but thats one of the few good things I can say about this cigarette

B&H Special Filter: Review

My first review. This week I will review Benson & Hedges Special Filter, as seen in the picture. This cigarette is no longer on the market, at least not in South Africa. In fact, the Benson & Hedges brand doesn't even exist here any more. It has been taken over and re-branded as Kent.

Why I want to review a cigarette that doesn't exist anymore, is because this particular cigarette is partially responsible for the fact that I started smoking! My mother smoked a brand called Rembrand van Rijn, which I disliked at a young age due to the packaging, but my aunt smoked the B&H Special Filter, in the beautiful gold pack, as seen on the blog picture. (The one in the picture is the 20's, whereas she had the 30's, in a flat box that was even better looking) Also, even in her current old age, she is still the most elegant smoker ever, and I guess my urge to start smoking was caused by me wanting to be like her.

The B&H Special Filter was a strange combination of a feminine packaging, coupled with a massive nicotine content, usually found in cigarettes marketed to men. (1,5mg pre '93, and 1,4 mg until discontinued) Despite being a strong cigarette it was remarkably smooth and easy to smoke, and this made it dangerous for experimental and social smokers. I started smoking with these, and became nicotine dependent in a frighteningly short time.

Besides the flamboyant gold packaging and the high nicotine content, everything about this cigarette was neutral. They tasted exactly like cigarette smoke should, with no surprises, and none of the sometimes sharp, unpleasant fragrances of the American cigarettes. The aftertaste was completely acceptable.

The cigarette design was also plain, with a cork design filter paper, and no gold band. (The way I prefer a cigarette should look, no funny business) The only thing that stood out was the red writing in an eye catching font stating "Special Filter"

Most of all this cigarette was surprisingly easy to draw, And I can categorically state that this is my favorite cigarette of all time.