Viceroy (cigarette)

Viceroy cigarettes are made by Brown & Williamson, which was owned by British American Tobacco, and, since 2004, by Reynolds American Inc., a joint venture between the U.S. branch of British American Tobacco and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.

Viceroy originated in the U.S. in 1936 as the world's first cork-tipped filter cigarette. In 1952 it was the first brand to add a cellulose acetate filter which established a new industry standard. In 1953, Viceroy Filter Kings were introduced. In 1990, Viceroy Box Kings and Lights Box Kings were introduced on the U.S. market, followed by Viceroy Ultra Lights Kings and Ultra Lights 100's in 1992 and New Viceroy 100's box styles, and Viceroy Menthol in 2000. All Viceroy styles changed to a more contemporary packaging on packs and cartons without changes to the product blend.

After the Brown & Williamson merger, the brand has been played down, continuing to be sold on the markets where demand is strong, like Romania, the Middle East, Turkey, Argentina and Chile.

ponsorship

When Viceroy sponsored USAC auto racing in the 1970's, their performance on a circuit sponsored by rival Marlboro led to both NASCAR and the NHRA having deals with Winston imposing a ban on rival tobacco companies. The rule is still in place by both NASCAR and the NHRA with wireless telephone companies in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, insurance companies with the Nationwide Series and beverages in the NHRA with the Coca-Cola sponsored NHRA Drag Racing Series, although there are grandfather clause exemptions currently in the NHRA. There had been a grandfather clause in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but both sponsors were forced out at the end of 2008 because of corporate takeovers. The NHRA ban was originally with sports beverages from 2002 until 2008 with the Powerade brand, but will be enforced on energy drinks in 2009 with the Full Throttle energy drink brand with a grandfather clause permitting any drink that sponsored a car as of April 24, 2008 (Rockstar, which has a distribution deal with Coca-Cola distributors, and Monster are grandfathered).

The Andretti family helmets are based on a Viceroy design used by Mario Andretti when he drove a Viceroy-sponsored Parnelli in the USAC series.

Trivia

*The Tom Waits song "Big Joe and Phantom 309" from the album "Nighthawks at the Diner" mentions smoking Viceroys.

ee also

Hong Kong Viceroy Cup

External links

* [http://www.bat.com/OneWeb/sites/uk__3mnfen.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/AC182AE7022BAAD380256BF400033185?opendocument&SID=&DTC= British American Tobacco page on international brands]
* [http://www.brownandwilliamson.com/company/brandsPortfolio.aspx R.J. Reynolds page on brands]
* [http://www.archive.org/details.php?identifier=upu03f00 Viceroy commercials compilation (1964)]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/ixu03f00 Viceroy commercial compilation (1968) part 1]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/ixu03f00b Viceroy commercial compilation (1968) part 2]