Cigarette rods include four segments of smokable material. First and second segments are positioned at the extreme ends of the rod. The first segment is positioned at the end of the rod to be lit. A third segment is positioned adjacent the first segment, and a fourth segment is positioned adjacent the second segment. The density of the third segment is greater than the fourth segment. The first and second segments can be "dense ends" or "loose ends" relative to the respective adjacent segments. The cigarette rods have a relatively uniform burn rate provided by treatment of the wrapping material of the rod with burn rate suppressants and burn rate accelerators in the positions thereof which overlie the third and fourth segments, respectively.

Filter cigarettes can be manufactured in a highly cost effective manner. Filter cigarettes include a tobacco rod having two segments of smokable material. The first segment is positioned at the lighting end of the cigarette and includes expensive, normally high quality tobaccos. The second segment is positioned at the filter end of the rod and includes cost effective smokable materials. A cellulose acetate filter element is axially aligned with the rod and is positioned adjacent to the second segment. Tipping material attaches the filter element to the tobacco rod. The second segment extends along the rod up to about 20 mm past the foremost point which the tipping material extends. The combined longitudinal length of the filter element and the second segment extends up to about 60 percent of the total length of the smoking article.

An asymmetrical trimmer disk/paddle wheel apparatus for trimming tobacco from a stream or braid of cut tobacco in a cigarette maker comprises a pair of counter rotating disks with a plurality of pockets arranged to coact with one another to trim off excess tobacco and create densified regions at the filter and lit ends of a cigarette rod product made in the maker. The pockets are constructed with different widths and depths to provide densified regions of different densities and lengths at the filter and lit ends of the cigarette rod product. The cigarette rod product formed by the asymmetrical trimmer disk/paddle wheel apparatus has an improved density profile that minimizes rejects at maker speeds up to about 8000 rods/minute.

Cigarette rods include four segments of smokable material. First and second segments are positioned at the extreme ends of the rod. The first segment is positioned at the end of the rod to be lit. A third segment is positioned adjacent the first segments, and a fourth segment is positioned adjacent the second segment. The density of the third segment is greater than the fourth segment. The first and second segments can be "dense ends" or "loose ends" relative to the respective adjacent segments.

Cigarettes having high nicotine content tobacco cut filler are rendered smooth smoking and palatable by incorporating an organic acid additive therein. For example, a cigarette having a cut filler with a blend nicotine content of greater than 2 percent has at least one organic acid additive incorporated into the cigarette in an amount of greater than 1 percent. Smooth smoking cigarettes yielding good tobacco taste and minimal off-taste are provided when the majority of the organic acid additive is levulinic acid. The levulinic acid can be in a dissociated and/or nondissociated form. For cigarettes having filter elements, at least a portion of the levulinic acid can be present in the filter element. Alternatively, cigarettes can have at least a portion of the levulinic acid provided in the form of nicotine levulinate. Cigarettes having high nicotine content tobaccos and levulinic acid and cigarettes having a salt such as nicotine levulinate incorporated therein can exhibit low FTC "tar" to nicotine ratios while providing a smooth, palatable and flavorful taste.