1973: first cigarette, probably Virginia or Sweet Afton. 1978: first dip Gold River. 1979: first snus Ettan. 1980: first snuff Gletscher-prise. Can’t remember first cigar, expect it was a proper one, smoked about 1980. No recollection of first chew either but that was much later anyway. I was born 1963.

born: 1977 first cigarette: 1987 I think it was a Marlboro stolen from my best friends mom first chew: 1988 Copenhagen Fine Cut, and I threw up lol first cigar: somewhere around 1990, and no clue what kind it was first snuff: December 2008, Poschl Apricot my last cigarette was 2 weeks and 4 days ago

ahch! An old man and a kid. First cigarette: 1984? picked from my parents ashtrays. First dip? 1991? bummed from a guy in my dorm in college. First cigar? shoved in my face at some celebration or another 199? hated it. First snuff? 1993: Bought in a proper store - by me - with money I earned - at a legal age: Three Thistle (I think) but I have blocked most of the memory… It smelled good though. First snuff as a proper snufftaker: 2009 (also first snus and pipe smoking: 2009 as curiosities after committing to snuff)

First cigarette: 1981 Alpine menthol a “buddy” swiped form his mom. First dip: 1983 Gold River, second can was Skoal, Switched to Cope in 84 First cigar: 1985 Swisher King Edward, grandpap gave me one of his for HS graduation First real (not Camel) snus : 2008, Ettan First snuff: 2008 Toque pom, still a favorite.

interesting thread. Born: 1974 First cigarette: 1989 - Marlboro Red from the “cool kid” Paul after school First Chew: 1990 - Apple Jack after HS track & field practice First Dip: 2004 - Skoal Straight First Snus: 2007 - General OP First Snuff: 2009 - W.E. Garrett - Almost made my eyes bleed Never really got into cigars or pipes and I don’t think I will at this point.

Born 1944 first cigarette: 1956 Lucky strike or Camel First Chew: 1960: some plug- almost puked First dip: somewhere in the 70s: Copenhagen First snus: 2009 First snuff: Don’t remember I think it was a menthol, definitely English First cigar: 1957-Roi Tan when my dad caught me smokin cigs he said next time he would make me smoke a cigar until I was sick. Next time he caught me I was smoking cigars. He didn’t give me one. First pipe: 1962 in college. Thought it made me look distinguished. How distinguished can you look at 18?

First cigarette: 1958 First Cigar: 1957 First Chew: 1962 First Dip: 1962 First Snus: 2005 First Snuff: 1966

First cigarette: 1951, a menthol Mimosa which only came in packets of 10 First cigar: 1962, Ritmeester Junior (real crap made in South Africa) First and only chew: 1957, almost killed me. First snuff: 1957, Singletons menthol First snus: 2009, Peter Stuyvesant (real crap) First pipe: 1959, Springbok STRONG tobacco First weed: 1962, made me laugh for hours.

Born :1972 1st Cigarette: 1982 Lucky Strike 1st Cigar: 1982, one toke on an old Ibold Black Pete- didn’t care too much for it. 1st chew: 1978 a ‘green’ twist fresh from a barn. I was a bit curious and my Dad thought he’d kill my desire for tobacco early on.Got sick I remember… 1st Dip:1987 Copenhagen 1st snus: other than Camel “monkey mints”, which I don’t count, I tried my first REAL snus three -four weeks ago. 1st snuff: W.e. Garrett Sweet about 12 years ago when I was in chickens. Never touched it again till about a year and a half ago. Now it’s my #1. 1st Pipe: 1984:missouri meerschaum, (the pipe of choice for respectable Dung- Smokers)

born 1978 1st cigarette a clove someone gave me in study hall. It made me puke but I loved the buzz. 1st cigar it was a honduran second pretty good actualy. The guy at the cigar shop sold it too me because I somehow conned my way into sounding like I knew what I was talking about and figured if I was already smoking cigars. 1st pipe was a corn cob that was also my bowl. not sure what tobacco I smoked out of it but a lot. 1st chew some stokers or other they sold at the cigar shop. 1st snuff a fruit dean swift. All of that was the same year I was 16 placing it sometime around 94. Yeah I jumped head first into tobacco alchool and some other things the same year. I guess boredom and adventure are a gateway.

Born 1989 First Cigarette: A very badly made rollie a girlfriend gave me when I was 14 so that would’ve been 2003. She was a bad influence and could probably be credited with everything that came afterwards First Cigar: Summer 2006, probably either a Romeo y Julieta, Punch or H.Upmann. Whatever it was it was a petite corona in a tube and I loved it. First Pipe: Roughly the same time as my first cigar, I had fallen in love my my local tobacconist (the shop, not the girl behind the counter although I might have if we could’ve spoken a bit more LOL) the pipe is a Briar bent which I still own and my first smoke was some Erinmore Flake which I still have the empty tin of. First chew: Probably early in 2007 but that habit didn’t last long. First Hookah (!): Winter 2007, I moved into a flat with a few friends of mine and we were kings of our own domain, real modern day playboys. First Snuff: Same time, I bought a tin of Wilsons of Sharrow. I don’t remember the exact blend now but it was quite strongly medicated so it was more than likely something in the SM range. We were doing it totally wrong but we felt damn classy doing it. Never mind, 2 years later my interest in snuff was rekindled and I’m glad to say I’m enjoying it alot more.

Born 1986, First drag from my first cigarette was a USA Gold, and it was horrid, 13 days before my 18th birthday. My first cigar was followed shortly after that at some point, probably also my first dip, which was more than likely cope. My first “snuff” was sometime during 2005, I (very coarsely) crunched up some Bugler and snorted it with a straw after reading about snuff on the internet, during college. My first proper snuff was Gletscherprise, I believe in late 2008. My first chew was last summer. I’ve never had a proper snus, unless one counts american pseudosnus, which I don’t, but I’ve tried several of those between last year and this year.

Born 1974 First pipe: June 1990 Clan, because I loved the smell of my dad’s pipe. First cigarette: August 1990 Marlboro Red in Southampton - because I was bored, and how I regret it now. First cigar: 1992, a very short lived habit, and haven’t touched them since. First snuff: 2005, Gletcherprise (not a good introduction) First UK chew: 2009, Gawith Hoggarth Black Cherry (ended up putting it in my pipe) First snus: 2009, General White Portion First (and only) dip: 2009 Copenhagen Wintergreen (nice, but it didn’t feel too good on my lip) First US chew: 2009 Stokers Wild Cherry (great!) I’ve given up the fags for over a year now, and there is no going back. Snuff, chew and snus are my only tobacco vices now.

Good idea AllanH First cigarette: '91 Marlboro Reds First cigar: '98 Garcia Vega First chew: '96 Levi Garrett First snuff: '08 WE Garrett Sweet First snus: '95 Skoal; '09 General Wintergreen First pipe: '98 Cherry Cavendish in a Corncob ehhr… just turned 30.

Born 1958 I can’t remember dates. I was arrested for shoplifting cigars from 7/11 when I was thirteen, which was the first adverse experience I had with tobacco. I think they were White Owls. I started smoking seriously when I was 14 because that’s what all the “hoods” did, which I was at the time (if you’ve ever read The Outsiders, you know what I mean; I was one of the “bad” kids who usually got sent to “Reform School” eventually) except I was the only Menthol smoker in the group like “Dally Winston” in the book, who only smoked Kools, and was the role model for all wannabe, bad ass white juvenile delinquents who lived in small towns. I smoked Newports or Kools and everybody else smoked Marlboro Reds or Camel Filters. I remember the intense sense of accomplishment I felt when I was able to inhale an entire cigarette without feeling ill. Nobody would have been caught dead with a Winston, and my dad smoked Raleigh 100s for his entire life. I’m old enough to remember every cigarette jingle before cigarette advertising on TV was banned in 1969. You just had them drilled into your brain forever because of how frequently they would advertise. For example: Parliament (or was it Tareyton?): I’d rather fight than switch (always stated by someone with a fake black eye). Camel: I’d walk a mile for a Camel. Wouldn’t you? Benson and Hedges: A silly milimeter longer. Lark: Have a Lark, have a Lark, have a Lark today (to Rossini’s William Tell overture) Marlboro: Come to where the flavor is; come to Marlboro Country (to the theme of The Magnificent Seven) Virginia Slims: You’ve come a long way, baby, to get where you got to today. You’ve got your own cigarette now baby, you’ve come a long, long way. I remember when everyone had an ashtray in their house, whether they were smokers or not, and nobody would have dreamed of asking you to go outside for a smoke. I remember smoking on airline flights. It seems like people were happier back then. I remember trying Copenhagen back in 8th grade, when only the “Cowboys” used it (I grew up after 1970 in Northern Colorado) and having to run to the bathroom to throw up. Fond memories.

Here’s an old memory. I remember having to go outside and smoke because my mum " didn’t want her clothes to stink of pipe tobacco". She smoked cigarettes. I would sit on the porch and think “Some day I will have my own house and I will be able to smoke wherever I want” WRONG! Now my wife, She Who Must Be Obeyed, makes me go outside and smoke. I don’t think I will ever be big enough.

@Nachman: I know how you feel, from the age of 14 (when my mum found out that I smoked) I was forced to smoke outside. I moved out at 16 and after a brief interlude of living with a bunch of guys and smoking where ever I damn well pleased I met the love of my life who makes me take my shoes off in the hallway, shave every morning, eat vegetables I don’t like and worst of all; smoke outside! There are definite comparisons to be drawn there…

The first cigarette I ever had was a Gitanes Brunes. A friend and I found a half full pack in the street. I guess I was around 11 or 12. Everything after that is hazy.

I found a copy of “Oui” magazine in the weeds by the side of the road when I was 11 or 12. Everything after that is hazy as well.

One of my fondest memories is the first day it snowed every year. I’d go outside and have a cigarette…sometimes two in a row. It is always so peaceful and quiet on the first snow of the year. People are extra cautious and there are little cars on the road, the air is heavy and cold, but sharp nonetheless. There is a special quietness and serenity to the first snow. I enjoyed that time alone always. I think I did it 15 times and loved each and every one. Snus and snuff won’t equal that in my book but that’s Ok. The fact that you can’t get them back is part of what makes memories so great.

@streetcarp: We married our mums.

Born 1958 first cigarette: 1964 at the farm of my uncle, wervikse tobacco, one of the strongest in the world, I live in the area where it’s grown. First Chew: never tried it First dip: never tried it First snus: 2004, I still enjoy some now and then First snuff: more then 35 years ago, while in Germany training with the dogs these guys where snuffing Pohls and I tried it, fell in love instantly First cigar: 1970 for me it’s a occasional thing First pipe: 1976 while in army, enjoyed pipe smoking a lot but had to quit last year, no more smoking for me.

@ wickedkitchen Beautiful essay! The one thing I miss most about living in the South is the intense silence that follows a heavy snow. Unfortunately, the first snowfall of the year is usually a lot more beautiful than the last snowfall of the year.

Born 1960 First snuff 1970, before a class test in school, i failed completely and abandoned snuff for the next 37 years. First cigarette 1972, i became a more or less heavy smoker 1980. Stopped smoking 2007 with the help of snuff. A half year later i also started with Snus. I m using both, snuff and snus now, and have a lot of fun with it

Cool thread: Born 64 First smoke of any description: 1973, my Dad’s pipe First snuff: 1973, found in my Dad’s workshop (He’s got a lot to answer for) First cigarette: 1979 (Benson and Hedges) First chew: 1982 First cigar: 1982

Born 1977 First Smoke: West 1990 First Snuff: Gletscherprise 1987 First Pipe: 2007 (after my son was born) still smoking pipes First cigar: 2004 ( Bolivar Royal Corona/not the american, the cubans) my 2 humidors are filled with about 400 cuban puros First chew/dip: 2004 /still chewing and dipping a few times a year First snus: 1995 / still snusing regularly Stopped smoking cigs 2005 after a 12 year smoking career and started again 2009 but I’m stopping again

Most of the guys here are older than me (I’m nearly 26 now but I can say I’m a heavy smoker for many many years in a row and trying to quit as it damages my health badly. I’ve had the first cigarette when I was 4 years old, well just puffing having fun. Started smoking at the age of 10 and started inhaling at the age of 12, nothing really attracted me to cigarettes but their damn good taste, still I can tell today is the only reason I smoke for is to avoid withdrawal symptoms and I feel quite nervous when I don’t smoke. Anyways in 2009 I’ve tried my first snuff (Apricot Polsch’s) menthol, first time I didn’t really like the feeling in my nose but today i BECAME just another everage everyday snuff taker. I have tried most of the snuff’s out there, but the one I’m in love with is Lowen Prise, Polsch’s Apricot Menthol, President Ozona and Toque Rose, these are my daily snuff’s. the rest are just ocassional and I have tried most of them… I love yeah Cheese and Bacon as well, cherry, grape, the scotch’s are fine but a bit too mild for my taste. I ocassionally smoke cigars every week I suppose, I enjoy cuban and especially Josel Piedra and Cohiba. I have never dipped or chewed tobbacco and I’m aware of its dangers and that it’s highly addictive too, I think I’ll give it a shot someday but I’m staying away from it … going to take some Polsch! You guys rule c’you

Born in 1991 (I might be the youngest member here). First “cigarette”: Probably around 2001-2002. My friend and I, despite his incessant worry that we would get AIDS, smoked some cigarette butts we found in the park, and then proceeded to build a small fire on an elevated platform in the middle of the jungle-gym there. First “snuff”: Oct. 2008, made from grinding up an Natural American Spirit cigarette a little bit. Very coarse. First “real” snuff: Two months later in Nov. 2008, Wilson’s Wallflower. First "proper"pipe smoking experience: March-April 2009.

I’m a 1991-er too!

• First cigarette: Around 2005. It was a menthol, not sure of the brand, got one hell of a rush from smoking the whole thing. Smoked a few unfiltered RYO’s from time to time and now I’ll smoke whatever’s going when I’m drinking and with someone who smokes.
• First snuff: Old Paris, in the spring of 2009. It took of pretty quickly from there.
• First chew: Late summer 2009 - An OT sample pack, think I started on the Royal. Certainly isn’t for me.
• First cigar: Smoked various cigarillos. The first was probably a Café Cremé in 2009. I doubt this counts as cigars really!
• First pipe: February 2010, a corn cob. Very nice.

About my early tobacco experiences: they were all quite pleasant from 1st fag at age of ten to 1st cigar at 17 and dip, snus and snuff between there. Somehow stuck to cigarettes and snus, when I could get it, during the years. Can’t remember the process I came a RYO smoker but financial reasons were part of it and about 1988 I was a skilled hand-roller. Still remember very well Gold River dip I got as American souvenir as 15-year old, that was good and strong! For a while Gold River was widely available in Europe as well. Nowadays, inter net says Gold River is a notorious cheapo dip. Wonder how that happened?

Born: 1964 first cigarette smoked directly by me (as opposed to the seriously smoke-fogged house I lived in with my two smoking parents): circa 1975/1976 (all I know is I was 11 and my birtday comes late summer/early Autumm) a Wintston light stolen from my father’s pack and smoked down by the creek with this goofy girl named Michelle Carpenter (who promptly managed to start a weed fire and was BLOWING on it trying to BLOW it out like it was a cake of candles… duh! I had to knock her big windied butt outta the way and stomp it out… duh and double duh to this day every time I think of it). really didnt start smoking regularly until I was made a ward of the court (long story) and put into what was called a “children’s home” ( place that had been an orphanage and converted to this just a year and a half before I got there)… I swear I wrote this somewhere on this forum already… I swear I did a long smoking history ensued with a few breaks/quits that lasted sometimes several months at a time, eventually working my way around to make my own and gambler tobacco first snus experience, getting ready for a big trip and first plane trip ever halfway across the coutnry to something big and important where no smoking at all of any sort would be allowed anywhere a friend who’s wife actually works for RJ renolds told me about Camel snus, this was about august of last year (2009) trip was cancelled (not by me) at the very last minute less than a day before we were due to leave (I lost alot of money on plane tickets and the hotel room and everything)… but I had this new way to not smoke (or smoke less) plus e-cigarettes… got online found swedish snus then the e-cigarettes (just before the trip, just in time to order a bunch of this stuff and have msot of it before the trip that never happened). first snuff experience, maybe about October of last year (2009).

Born 1983 1st Dip: 2000, Kodiak Ice. Later switched to Cope for about 9 years. 1st Cig: 2000, Chesterfield Unfiltered. Switched to Alpines and Salems for some time then to Marlboro Lights until quitting in 2007. 1st Chew: 2001, Days work. Took a big bite before getting in the shower, lost my breakfast about 10 seconds later. 1st Cigar: 2002, don’t remember what kind. 1st Pipe: 2004, Carter Hall. 1st Snuff: 2006, Packards Club. Later switched to 400 other types.