The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company had a problem. How, they asked themselves, can we get these misanthropic twenty somethings to smoke our cigarettes instead of the ones they already smoke? Then, a light bulb Brooklyn. We’ll sell our cigarettes on the cred accrued by Williamsburg.

So they put the Williamsburg Bridge on the package, along with this cringe inducing commentary, courtesy The Brooklyn Paper

“It s about last call, a sloppy kiss goodbye and a solo saunter to a rock show in an abandoned building ” said the promotional material, possibly written by a team of marketers who have never been to Williamsburg. “It s where a tree grows.” (Groan.)

The marketing campaign promises its customers will earn “serious street cred” for trying the Williamsburg brand, and noted that Camel met with some “modern day pioneers” with “lighthearted angst and rebellion” in the neighborhood to try the brand out.

Well, attention solo saunterers, modern day pioneers and those harboring scads of lighthearted angst! You can buy these Williamsburg themed cigs right now. And the shocking part of all this? People are falling for the ads, even in Brooklyn.

“I smoke Marlboro, but whenever I see the Williamsburg Camels I buy it,” Abdo Hussein, a worker at a deli in Greenpoint told The Brooklyn Paper today. “I live in the neighborhood, so it s cool to have. We re selling out of them quick.”

Not only that, it seems there’s a bit of a frenzy going on here. Bodega owners smack dab on the mainline, on Bedford and Manhattan Avenues, say they sell out of “Williamsburgs” the day they come in, and customers sometimes buy every pack available.

It remains to be seen whether the association with Williamsburg will move units across the nation, but it seems blind neighborhood pride has superseded the crass advertising tactics of R.J. Reynolds.

How can this disgusting strategy create such a scramble for smokes? Is Williamsburg really such a powerful signifyer that people just have to buy these things? Or the better question Can it be possible that their ad guy sells cigarettes as well as Don Draper?

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nfreeman at nfreeman1234

What is the best rollie tobacco? – lifestyle

Marlboro maker to launch new electronic cigarette

When I smoke rollies I’ve always been a Dr Pat smoker. To the point that if I get a pack I often have family members say ‘Oh, Dr Pat, you always did like those’

These days, tho I try hard with the e cigs, I find myself in long phases, for whatever reason of being back on ciggies. Tho the price of tailor mades, has become exorbitant. I can afford it, but I also am finding tailors more and more harsh, dry and unpleaseant. Better part of $30 for a pack of 50, and the government laughs all the way to the bank.

Speaking of Bank, I’ve always enjoyed the nutty and unique flavour of them. But mild. So incredibly mild. Now if only there was a stronger variety, I’d be set. Which is where Dr Pat joins in. Somewhat similar flavour, but much stronger. I can do Port Royal quite well.

I find myself quite away from the ‘virginia flavours’ like Winfield , Horizon, Holiday etc. In a rollie, I seem to prefer the burley (dark) and virginia (bright) mix. Right this moment I’m smoking Drum classic blue.

Now reading this I am keen to try Log Cabin. My late grandad smoked those Log Cabin tins back in the day, for some reason I have a feeling it was pipe tobacco tho, and I have a few heritage tins I put my roll your own tobacco in. To be honest I thought the brand had been off the market for years, so I’m keen to try this one, for nostalgia reasons.

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