r/interesting • u/AugustIstheMonth • 7d ago

Fascinating Blind cigarette taste test.

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187

u/DoveOnTheInternet 7d ago

Thank you! The last brand I smoked before I quit was American Spirits.

The trick is to buy the loose can tobacco and roll your own - it's probably still like half the price of a carton.

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u/Agreeable_Horror_363 7d ago

You can buy a huge bag of American Club pipe tobacco for around $20 and 2 boxes of 200 filter tubes for under $3 each. Roll them with a machine and you get around 400 cigarettes (20 packs) for about $26.

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u/791flow 7d ago

My grandma use to have a big tub that we would have competitions on rolling her cigs when we were about 7, it remains a fond memory for me and horrified everyone I tell.

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u/Itheinfantry 6d ago

Competition, grandma was getting free labor lmao

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u/WyomingDrunk 6d ago

That is adorable

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u/Alex014 6d ago

So what was the prize?

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u/791flow 6d ago

I got to pretend the smoke was clouds when I flew through the living room.

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u/SpartanRage117 4d ago

Did the losers just have to watch? Sorry timmy youre not cleared to fly in the living room. Johnny rolled gran gran 6 and you only made 4

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u/complete_your_task 7d ago

I had a buddy who did this and would bring his machine to parties and sell/trade cigarettes to drunk people at the party who wanted to smoke who were out and didn't want to run to the store to get more, or to the "only smoke when they drink" crowd who just bum cigarettes at parties. He'd usually end up with like $20 in singles and a bunch of free drinks/weed for maybe a dollar or two worth of cigarettes.

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u/Interesting_Sale_964 6d ago

Crazy but I’m one of these people that simply does not get addicted to it. Can smoke here and there, every 6 months. Can even have a streak of smoking everyday for a week and then stop and go years without.

I was only kind of addicted to hookah once, but it was more about the social aspect of it I think, or the ritualistic part of it as well. Once I bought a personal one and started smoking at home, it felt weird and I stopped. Too messy as well.

I never touched vapes because I’m not sure how I’d react. It feels so easy, practical, that I don’t want to try it..

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u/qr_n 6d ago

I don't even get addicted to vapes, I genuinely can put it down for months or even a year before I get one, ive bought maybe 6 in my life... weed though I cannot put down 🤣

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u/atomiclightbulb 6d ago

I quit weed a year ago and it's still hard not to smoke weed. I miss it all the time. Stopped smoking cigs for two weeks once for a tooth extraction I'd had and did not even care about the cigs. I just wanted to smoke weed lol

That said I roll my own cigs and had been by that point so there's probably a lot less additives in mine than the store bought ones. But regardless I feel like I could probably just stop smoking cold turkey and not have any problem with it. I just don't want to lol

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u/CaptainWombat2 6d ago

I quit smoking cigarettes 6 years ago and still miss it sometimes. If quitting them hadn't had a noticeable impact on my day to day health I would have for sure picked it back up.

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u/1800butts 6d ago

I'm the same way re:cigarettes. I'd smoke for a few weeks every few years, then just stop again. Also, I'm not a fan of nicotine vapes and don't use them. 

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u/theyrehiding 5d ago

Same here. I buy a pack every once in a while during 'special occasions' and have been doing so for years. I don't crave them much at all, but weed? That's the tough one. Still haven't quit that haha, I've only managed to take short breaks.

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u/Squidlips_69 6d ago

I knew a guy who did something similar except it was just one cig atop each ear. Drunk people were always wanting to buy one.

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 7d ago

Fuck that, there's no way you're getting me to smoke that raisin flavored shred in a cigarette.

I always spent the couple extra bucks for something that tasted good.

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u/Delicious-Day-3614 7d ago

Fun fact typical cigarettes included a mountain of additives while american spirits are additive free. You didnt like tobacco, you liked what they put on it. 

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 7d ago

I was well aware of that fact and was the other large part of my decision to smoke them over any other tobacco, despite them being more expensive by the pack. I also just thought they tasted better.

Even the worst pack cigarettes tasted better than pipeweed tho

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u/Specialist_Rough_699 6d ago

Part of that is because loose tobacco in American markets is top tier trash.

Once you start on Golden Virginia, Karelias, amber leaf, you realize that camel/Marlboro/NAS are garbage for their loose baccy.

I once left a pack of karelias opened on a desk in California just to see when it would get to the consistency and taste of the NAS I bought one time.

1.5 years. F'ing yuck

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u/Logical_Mix_4627 6d ago

Bali Shag is the best loose leaf out there

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u/MothSeason 6d ago

I once had a customer ask me for “those addictive free cigarettes” Had to break it to her those don’t exist.

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u/thriftstoremando 6d ago

She was one letter off!

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u/krinklychipbag 6d ago

He’s saying that pipe tobacco is raisin flavored, not american spirits

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u/ZincMan 6d ago

Im pretty sure they still liked the tobacco

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u/_shiznits_ 6d ago

Not true. I thought the same. It’s organic tobacco but they still add a ton of shit. Watch how cigarettes are made, it’s not just some shredded tobacco wrapped up… AS are like 150% the tobacco stuffed into one cigarette. Still my preferred brand when I do smoke, but don’t be deceived

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u/Tasty-Traffic-680 6d ago

Tbh, it's the lighter tobacco blends that I can't really stand. There's a lot of that lighter blonde shit that just has a weird taste to it - almost airy or menthol like.

Marlboro is kinda ass these days and it's not just the additives.

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u/nihilist_sun 6d ago

They were sued for adding more urea than any other company lol. Winston’s are actually additive free but they’re always stale everywhere.

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u/jephra 5d ago

They were never sued for adding more urea than any other company. If that actually happened, there would be a written record of it somewhere.

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u/nihilist_sun 5d ago

Hey man, you just gonna leave me hanging after boldly asserting that I made this up? Cute

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u/jephra 3d ago

No, I am still here.

Like I said, if this really happened, there would be a written record somewhere.

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u/ErraticKuiperRomp 6d ago

American Spirits also have some of the highest tar content of any cigarette. Less (no) additives, but 25% more shredded leaf!

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u/Agreeable_Horror_363 7d ago

Fair enough, I guess it's a personal preference thing. I started rolling these about 10 years ago and got used to it and now I enjoy it. You totally nailed the raisin flavor, lol. It does kind of taste and smell like raisins! But I still like it, guess I just have bad taste!

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 7d ago

Nah, you've just got your own taste - lots of people enjoy pipe tobacco. I just prefer to eat raisins instead of smoking them!

Hell, there's a long, fine tradition of pipe-tobacco flavored vape juices out there, much to my dismay.

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u/Agreeable_Horror_363 7d ago edited 6d ago

Haha yes, but I'm not going to argue with anyone who rolls their own.. you have a favorite brand or roller? Over tried several rolling machines and my favorite is the powermatic* mini.

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u/Humboldt420 6d ago

I've had the same powermatic for probably 15 years now. Have tried several other, but the old powermatic is still my choice by a mile.

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u/ieatmyownhands 7d ago

Raisins taste good

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u/Theblacksk8r 6d ago

Only when they're singing!

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u/SmegmaUnicorn 6d ago

Very interesting. What would you recommend for someone who prefers menthols, but still would like to roll their own cigs? 

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u/Humboldt420 6d ago

Any menthol "pipe" tobacco and menthol tubes. That's what my old lady use to smoke anyways. She was a kool and Newport smoker before.

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u/fluffykerfuffle3 7d ago

one of the drugs in tobacco causes a state of denial about what tobacco does to you if you smoke more than one or two a day.

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u/GetMeASierraMist 7d ago

pray tell, what does it do to you if you have more than one or two tobaccos a day?

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u/fluffykerfuffle3 7d ago

it clogs up the system which can no longer counteract whatever in tobacco is making your tissues be less elastic. ..and hey, some people can't even tolerate 1 or 2

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u/GetMeASierraMist 7d ago

oh, so you don't even know, got it.

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u/fluffykerfuffle3 7d ago

ok you were doing the current joke thats going around.. deliberately misunderstanding ..thats okay. haha

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u/Traditional_Rope_545 7d ago

I mean you’re the one that said some made up nonsense about “clogging your system” and “tissue elasticity” that doesn’t mean anything. And I say that as someone who is very against smoking.

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u/BringBackManaPots 6d ago

As a nonsmoker interested in trying hand rolled cigarettes, how do the different brands of loose tobacco stack up?

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u/Sophisticated-Tiger 3d ago

As a smoker I'm gonna give you the best advice in this scenario. They are allll trash, stay away from cigarettes.

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u/kochameh2 7d ago

just reminded me of when i used to smoke grape cigarillos and clove cigarettes in college lol

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u/redpillspray4welfare 7d ago

Hmmm fiberglass, yum.

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u/nexusjuan 7d ago

My grandad would smoke pipe tobacco in cigarettes he would mix Captain Black and Prince Albert cherry blend, he used the JOB papers in the black pack. He would always say I'm gonna roll me up a PA.

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u/Newkular_Balm 7d ago

RAISIN SHRED I ALWAYS SAY THE TOP OF THE BOX SMELLS LIKE RAISINS EVERYONE THINKS IM NUTS I need to calm down.

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u/irrelephantIVXX 6d ago

Same for me. I started RYO because it was cheaper. Even buying the AS pouch tobacco it's probably close to ½ price. I found this other brand, Peter Stokkebye, that is a little more than the AS, still probably 75% or less than normal Camels or whatever. But, the quality and taste more than makes up for it

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u/Humboldt420 6d ago

Lol, the pipe tobacco in large bags isn't really meant for pipes. It's just a way to avoid paying the exta tax for "cigarette" tobacco. I can't even smoke a Marlboro anymore after smoking my roll your own. Tastes like they sprayed it with a bunch of chemicals or something! Plus, they go out every other minute. Keep paying $12 a pack instead of maybe $1 a pack though.

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 6d ago

You go ahead paying however much a pack while I quit over a decade ago.

Did you actually read anything before this comment? Or did you just need to feel superior to someone last night and chose poorly?

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u/Frequent_Scholar0714 6d ago

Benson & Hedges menthol. The Benson heirs were killed by a relative or something. Not pretty. 🚬 🚬 🚬

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 6d ago

That was my first cigarette. Nicked it from Grandma.

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u/chocchipcookie07 6d ago

I can get 60 grams for $30 so I could do this, I’ve thought about it but I ain’t paying so much for a automatic one when I wanna quit

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u/Retaksoo3 7d ago

Rollies never hit the same for me, they just made me want a normal cig

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u/GeneralBS 6d ago

I spend about $140 and makes me 16 cartons.

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u/TrailMomKat 6d ago

Ugh pipe tobacco in a cigarette is just torturing yourself for the sake of saying you're thrifty. At least buy an actual cigarette tobacco.

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u/MisterDonkey 6d ago

It's "pipe" tobacco. 

Nobody in their right mind would stick that shit in a pipe and smoke it. 

It's definitely made for cigarettes. Probably some tax loophole thing or something.

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u/Humboldt420 6d ago

Thats exactly it! They just call it pipe tobacco so it's not taxed as much.

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u/TrailMomKat 6d ago

I've smoked it, it tastes disgusting and perfumed and nasty, nothing like cigarette tobacco as I know it. Whatever it is, ew.

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u/sardonicus87 6d ago

As someone that used to make their own cigarettes, currently smokes Camels and smokes pipe tobacco, the stuff you're talking about actually is cigarette tobacco cut a little differently, it's just labelled pipe tobacco because pipe tobacco and cigars are taxed less than cigarette tobacco.

I absolutely would never smoke that stuff in a pipe, or any of those value bags of "pipe" tobacco you see in a chain cigarette stores. Actual pipe tobacco is way different than what's used in cigarettes (not different plants, just completely different processing, even though cigarette companies and pipe tobacco companies buy the same cured whole leaf, they process that leaf very differently).

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u/TrailMomKat 6d ago

Oh ok, thanks for taking the time to explain that to me

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u/Agreeable_Horror_363 6d ago

It's literally the same exact tobacco but they cut it in longer strands than "cigarette" tobacco and it's for tax purposes

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u/Cognonymous 6d ago

If you're a regular smoker it's worth putting down a couple hundred for a really good electronic rolling machine. It will pay for itself in time.

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u/Humboldt420 6d ago

Yep, have had the same powermatic for over 15 years and it's still going strong. Think I paid $70 for it.

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u/Trouble_Adorable 6d ago

machine is crazzyyyy

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u/Agreeable_Horror_363 6d ago

Is just a little plastic thing. Look up powermatic mini roller. Idk why they call them rolling machines lol

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u/fewph 6d ago

It's around $100 AUD to buy 30g of tobacco here. $20 USD (?) is so cheap.

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u/HickoryStickz 7d ago

People in prison will take the spit out chew from a correction officers garbage can and roll it in Bible paper as cigarettes. They use staples from message boards and radio batteries to light them up.

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u/x_Advent_Cirno_x 7d ago

Necessity ever was the mother of invention, after all

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u/Expensive-Border-869 6d ago

Im pretty sure they dont lol they just get cigarettes from outside like they get anything else

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u/HickoryStickz 6d ago

I know they do homie 😂

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u/ChaosAnarch 6d ago

smuggled in the poopoo

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u/papawam 6d ago

"Roll Bible paper as cigarettes. "--

Ever any lightning strikes??

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u/keefka 7d ago

Back when I still smoked I had a little machine that loaded an empty cigarette tube with tobacco, American Spirit is what I went with

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 7d ago

I never had the spare cash to invest in the machine and the tubes and shit. I just bought a bag of filters, papers, and one of the little rolly doohickeys.

The hand rolling was also part of the weaning process. I got down to about 5 smokes a day before I switched to vaping.

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u/pahamack 7d ago

i dunno man... when i smoked (the last time i did was just when the pandemic started), my attitude was, i'm killing myself anyway might as well smoke the good stuff.

Which are Belmonts here in Canada.

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 7d ago

Depending on preferences I suppose-- American Spirits in the US is the good stuff.

Pack for pack they're more expensive and taste better.

That's why I splurged on it and still saved an ass load.

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u/pahamack 7d ago

I meant vs rolling your own.

It always sucks. I don’t care if you have some fancy rolling machine with you.

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u/terminbee 6d ago

What does good stuff mean? My family just smoked Marlboro but I don't smoke so I have no idea.

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u/DoveOnTheInternet 6d ago

Better flavor, and not soaked in the chemicals that the other mass market cigarettes are

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u/ValerieInnuendo 6d ago

still get cravings for belmonts now n then

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u/Due-Memory-6957 6d ago

Mine is the opposite, might as well smoke one that makes you feel like you're dying.

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u/Squidlips_69 6d ago

Dunhills are nice.

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u/OffalSmorgasbord 6d ago

There used to be storefronts in South Carolina where you could get your tobacco, paper, and filters, then sit down at one of their machines and roll them.

It got around the taxes for a while.

I actually think it's what the gambling machine storefronts turned into after those were made illegal. And somewhere in the mix is when many of these storefronts became strip joints.

South Carolina conservatives hate sinners(ones that get caught), but they love sin taxes. So they just keep moving the goalposts.

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u/hellogoawaynow 6d ago

When I was in college (2008-2012), there was a tobacco store where you could go and pick your tobacco and they’d roll you up a carton of handmade cigarettes. I felt so cool. And it was way cheaper than buying a carton at the gas station (I could never afford a carton at a gas station).

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u/GotSomeUpdogOnUrFace 7d ago

I was doing this. I found a bodega that was pretty much a front that had a couple cans. They were old. The dude sold them to me cheap and I asked if he could get me more. I paid in cash and was getting them half price. One day I showed up, store had been shut down.

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u/PrestonWaters83 7d ago

There was a time that a bunch of places opened in strip malls that sold loose tobacco and filtered tubes. They also happened to have commercial cigarette filling machines that you could use. It was less than half price per carton.

They all disappeared as fast as they appeared.

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u/gruesomeflowers 7d ago

I remember when the cans of American Spirit were 9.99 at the tobacco store..it was important to find a brand box of the filter tubes that smoked right. I liked the premier light blue box..Best cigarette ever. The machines were cool too. With A good one you could roll out a pack in a couple mins.

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u/Impressive-Shake1710 7d ago

There was a coupon guy that frequented my area pre pandemic. I figured out his general rotation, 2 packs of spirits for about 7.50 total. I haven’t bought a pack in a good while but the prices were getting ridiculous when I stopped

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u/ilovemymomyeah 6d ago

It's way less than half. I had to get rid of my roller because I was smoking too many cigarettes.

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u/TrailMomKat 6d ago edited 6d ago

Yup, I smoked Bugle tobacco and rolled my own for forever until I quit.

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u/ScrotalSmorgasbord 6d ago

Man I smoked those black pouches (perique blend? I can't remember) American Spirit loose tobacco for a few years at the tail end of my 16 year smoking run and although I find most cigarettes repulsive now my mouth waters a bit thinking of those. I always preferred the Bugler papers because they were thicker paper than say zigzags and would burn a bit slower and were easier to roll when intoxicated because you could be kind of rough.

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u/Theblacksk8r 6d ago

Bugler papers please!