I'm a Camel Lights man, myself and they do indeed go well with beer. Lucky Strike filters are good, too, as are this West Indian brand (who's name escapes me) that I bummed off a security guard the other day.

I'm not a smoker myself, but I think that if the recommendation comes from jonmc, it definitely has a certain cachet.

non-mentholated

Why even bother? pfff...

That said, I suppose Dunhills or American Spirits.

I liked (sigh) Camel Lights and I guess they go well with beer (do NOT ash into the beer, then drink it, as this seems to upset one's tummy). I also liked Marlboro Reds. My friends would get Nat Shermans if they wanted to be fancy.

Sherman's if money's no object.

Saratoga 'cause they're elegant yet ungirlified (think Gatsby) and nobody else smokes them.

Winston Lights if you like additive-free. A little mellower on the palate than Camel Lights.

Ditto for American Spirit yellows, but be prepared to extend your ciggy break by at least five minutes. Slow-burning, ethereal, woodsy goodness. And your clothes won't stink (as much).

parliament lights+++

Nat Sherman New York Cut Originals (or mint. yes, mint. seriously.)

American Spirits, for that true blue granola cancer that isn't really bad for you. ;-) I smoke the yellow & whites, myself - ultralights, but they're all good and, bonus, useful for picking up hippies outside bars "Oh wow man, do you mind if I bum a spirit?"

Roll your own. Seriously, once you get the hang of it, it's really not that much of a hassle. I could roll a cigarette one-handed while walking in less than a minute after a week or so. Bonus points for looking even more like a badass. Plus the cops always look at you funny, which is nice.

Nothing smoother. Nothing better with beer. Far more options. Cheaper. There aren't very many good arguments against them.

Also, when I did smoke and when I was forced to purchase a pack of smokes, Parliaments, Pall Malls, and American Spirits (the tealish-greenish box) were the only things I would succumb to.

Parliament--definitely.

Yeah, I used to smoke American Spirits when I was in college Stateside (got the gas station next to campus to start stocking them - ended up converting a 1/3rd of the campus smoking population to AS). I remember them being really smooth, burning a long time, good flavour. After not having them for a long time, they aren't quite as enjoyable to me anymore.

Used to smoke Camel lights and Marly reds. I liked Parliaments, too, - very mild.

Dunhill (internationals), albeit "old man cigarettes," are really awesome. Good flavour, burns slow, silky smooth.

Occassionally got a pack of Gitanes or Gauloise (dark French tobacco) or a pack of Yeheuyeans ("Double [Easy, actually] Happiness" - Chinese tobacco).

Now that I'm back in .ca I'm back to smoking DuMaurier kings, and occassionally buy a pack of Dunhills (can't find the internationals here) or a pack of John Player specials. Used to smoke Export A greens in HS.

If you do roll your own, your fingers may end up really gunky - I used to clean those stains by just rubbing my fingers on green nylon scrubbing (ie., dishwashing) pads.

(Planning on stopping smoking after I defend my thesis late Jan/early Feb)

I second the hand rolls. Bali Shag is some pretty tasty tobacco. Good with beer. Lasts twice as long as a Camel 100. Costs me about twelve bucks for about 200 smokes.

The main problem I have with them, though, is that I can't smoke 99% of the pre-manufactured "tailor mades" any more. Unless you're talking about Nat Shermans or something, they're all icky tasting - dry, crumbly, acidic sheet tobacco and floor sweepings. Even Camels. Seriously, break apart a name brand smoke and look at the tobacco. They're like 90-100% "sheet" or "reconstituted" tobacco these days.

Also with the American Spirits (yellow box) and Parliament Lights. Sometimes, I'll go for the Camel Turkish Jades. They're the only menthol I like.

I'm a cheap smoker, because I go for the Marlboro menthol lights. But the guy who started me smoking got me started using Peter Jacksons, out of New Zealand. Very nice stuff. I also recommend the flavored Dreams ones, especially the chocolate and mocha ones. It's a fruity choice, but they make great conversation starters.

I really want to quit, but I think I have to stop being friends with jonmc first. ^_^ He's such an enabler.

Winstons. Full Flavor.

Light Cigarettes are lousy.

Nat Sherman MCDs.

LS/MFT - Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco