BAT recently released updated products, which we’ll be reviewing, studying, and, of course, tasting. We’re talking about Kent cigarettes. There are two variants: Kent Crystal Blue in a compact format, and Kent Silver in a nano format.

A reader might object, saying that both Kent Crystal Blue and Kent Silver Nano were produced before. I confirm – they were. But we’re talking about a specific new series, launched this summer. You can distinguish the new cigarettes from the “old” ones by both significant changes in the pack design and the production date.

For example, the previous Kent Crystal Blue cigarettes featured a crystal in the lower left corner of the front of the pack. This design element is now gone, replaced by a stylized tobacco leaf in a square, next to which is the inscription “Premium Tobacco.” This clearly indicates the use of premium tobacco varieties in the blend. On the back of the packaging, you’ll also find three “icons” with useful information: premium tobacco, progressive filtration, and signature flavor. As far as I remember, these weren’t included in previous batches. Additional information is also located under the lid of the pack, including a QR code linking to the brand’s website.

I think those familiar with the Kent brand will immediately spot at least ten other differences in the packaging design. The most important of these is the change in the brand’s spelling. More precisely, only one letter has changed. Remember, the letter “K” used to scream, opening its mouth, from which three other letters flew out. Now, all four letters of the name have been standardized. And this design, in my opinion, looks more stylish. Moreover, as far as I remember, before the 2000s, the Kent brand had roughly the same spelling as the new series.

Personally, I find this design fresher. Maybe I’m being conservative? But many associate Kent with classic styles. And the new Kent is clearly closer to that. Now let’s move on to the tasting.

The aroma from the pack is pleasant and vibrant. In fact, the nano-sized Kent Silver pack smells even more intense than the Kent Crystal Blue pack. This is likely due to the natural aroma of premium tobaccos.

The design of the cigarettes themselves has also changed, similar to the pack. The filter features a longitudinal inscription—the brand name—with the classic “K.”

We know from history that Kent cigarettes were the first cigarettes released with a filter. Some brands dispute this, but most sources still favor Kent.

Over time, the filter design has been refined. Today, we have a complex filter consisting of three sections, one of which is carbon. In my opinion, this is the most successful design, combining convenience and functionality. It softens and evens out the tobacco flavor, and makes the smoking process more comfortable. I’ll also note that both the compact and nano versions have a single perforated ring on the filter.

Let’s move on to the tasting. Here I’ll say a few words about each product separately.

Kent Crystal Blue. Compact format. A decent strength is noticeable from the first puff. Just right for me. The flavor is smooth throughout. The tobacco quality is high. I didn’t experience any discomfort while smoking. There’s nothing to complain about.

Kent Silver. Nano format. The flavor seemed brighter and more intense. At the same time, it’s soft and smooth throughout.

Theoretically (or so I thought), the nano version should be lighter. But after just one cigarette, the nicotine saturation set in. I can’t call them light.

I consider both versions of Kent cigarettes successful. As they say, it’s a matter of taste. Some people like compacts, others nanos. That’s all I have for today. We’re waiting for the manufacturer to improve other brands.