Nil is a German brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by Gallaher Group, a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco. Nil is German for Nile.
History
Nil cigarettes were launched in 1901 as so-called oriental cigarettes and have been very popular among artists like Otto Dix. Originally, it was a product of the Austrian Kaiserlich Konigliche Tabac-Regie, now known as "Austria Tabak". In Germany, it is one of the oldest brands that are still on the market. Until the end of the 1920s, Nil contained, like most oriental-type-cigarettes, cannabis (8%).[4] In addition to the classic, filter-less Nil, with the characteristic oval cross-section came in 1957 a filtered version of the cigarette on the market, which was available until 1976.[5]
In addition to the classical, non-filter Nil with a characteristic oval form, in 1957 a version of this cigarette with filter was introduced, which was available until 1976. Since 1998, the brand has been positioned in a new way by Austria Tabak, and strongly promoted again. In addition to the reintroduced filter-cigarette, a light-brand and rolling-tobacco were introduced.