More specifically, the brand of State Express 555 cigarettes celebrated its 127th anniversary this year. Three Fives were once one of the varieties of this famous brand, which was finally incorporated into its illustrious name in the second half of the 20th century.
Today, the brand still exists as State Express 555, although some of the other numbered varieties have disappeared.
The brand was first produced 127 years ago by Ardath Tobacco in the UK. The “donor” of the brand name was the Empire State Express, the fastest passenger train in the United States at the time, which covered the 702-kilometer route in seven hours and six minutes. The express had an average speed of 98 km/h and a top speed of 132 km/h, a breathtaking speed.
Each tobacco “number” on the State Express represented a particular variety and its blend. Of all the varieties, only “555” has survived to the present day and become the name of the entire brand. Originally, State Express 555 was a traditional English Virginia blend and was the most popular of the others.
State Express 555 cigarettes became almost the only brand to sponsor the army. During the Second World War, the manufacturer (then Ardus Tobacco) sent boxes of 555 cigarettes only to General Montgomery’s Eighth Army.
In the 1920s, the brand enjoyed its greatest success in China, where it was supplied by British American Tobacco. The brand played an important role in this market. It is said that State Express 555 was Mao Zedong’s favorite cigarette.
What are 555 cigarettes?
State Express 555 cigarettes are one of the few brands to have received two Royal Warrants from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. What’s different, however, is the blend itself. The bag is darker in color and based on dark yellow leaf fragments, while the finer fragments are included only as additives and account for less than a quarter of the total volume. Tar and nicotine are declared at 10 mg and 0.9-1 mg respectively. The aroma is very specific, with lots of woody notes and a resinous bitterness. On closer inspection, a deep smell of bread, or rather sweet pastry, can be detected in the background.