Canadian Classics cigarettes are made by Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (RBH), the Canadian company wholly owned by Philip Morris International. White Birch Post carries Canadian Classics in its brand-name range; the brand was introduced in the mid-1990s and is sold today as a value brand.
Who owns Canadian Classics?
Philip Morris International owns the brand, and RBH makes it in Canada. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges is one of Canada's three major cigarette makers:
| Company | Parent | Example brands |
|---|---|---|
| Rothmans, Benson & Hedges | Philip Morris International | Canadian Classics, Belmont, Next, Rothmans |
| Imperial Tobacco Canada | British American Tobacco | Du Maurier, Player's, Pall Mall |
| JTI-Macdonald | Japan Tobacco International | Export A, Macdonald, LD |
For the complete brand-to-maker list, see who makes Canada's cigarette brands.
When did Canadian Classics come out?
Canadian Classics was introduced by RBH in 1995. That makes it one of the younger names on the brand-name shelf compared with du Maurier, Player's, Export A or Belmont, all of which go back several decades further.
Despite the name, Canadian Classics wasn't a revival of an older brand — it was a new label created in the 1990s with a deliberately Canadian identity. Industry reports through the 2010s consistently listed it among RBH's most popular brands in Canada.
Is Canadian Classics a value brand?
Yes, it's positioned in the value segment. Canadian cigarette brands are often grouped by the industry into premium and value tiers based on price positioning, not on how the cigarettes are made. The value segment grew sharply in Canada through the 2000s, and Canadian Classics became one of RBH's main brands in it.
Being a value brand doesn't make it a different kind of product. Canadian Classics is a blended tobacco cigarette with a filter, sold in the same formats and plain packaging as any premium brand. Current prices are on the Canadian Classics product page.
How is Canadian Classics different from native cigarettes?
The manufacturer and tax treatment are what differ. Canadian Classics is made by a multinational-owned company and goes through the same distribution chain as other brand-name cigarettes. Native brands — like Rolled Gold, Deerfield or Yellowstone — are made by independent First Nations manufacturers.
Our guide to native vs brand-name cigarettes covers the differences, and GRE cigarettes explained covers Grand River Enterprises in particular. The maker or price tier doesn't change the health risks of smoking.
What other brands does RBH make?
RBH's Canadian lineup includes several names you'll recognise:
- Belmont — introduced in the early 1960s by Benson & Hedges (Canada). See who makes Belmont cigarettes.
- Rothmans — the company's namesake brand. See who makes Rothmans cigarettes.
- Next and Next Seven. See who makes Next cigarettes.
- Benson & Hedges.
RBH has also sold a Quebec-market sister label, Québec Classique.
What formats does Canadian Classics come in?
The standard Canadian formats:
- Regular and king size. Regular cigarettes run roughly 70 to 73 mm, king size roughly 83 to 85 mm. Our article on king size vs regular cigarettes has more.
- Packs of 20 and 25. Federal law sets the minimum at 20 per pack; see cigarette pack sizes in Canada.
- Cartons of 200. Ten packs of 20, or eight packs of 25.
Why does the Canadian Classics pack look plain?
Plain packaging replaced all brand designs in 2019. Every Canadian cigarette pack is now the same drab brown, with the brand name in a standard font and large health warnings. Logos, brand colours and imagery are no longer permitted. Warnings on individual cigarettes followed, phased in from 2023. See Canada's cigarette packaging rules.
Can I order Canadian Classics online?
Yes, if you're 19 or older. White Birch Post delivers the same day in Greater Sudbury on orders placed before the daily cut-off, with government-issued photo ID checked at the door. Orders to the rest of Canada, except Nunavut, ship by tracked Canada Post. See ordering tobacco online in Ontario.
The bottom line
Canadian Classics is a Rothmans, Benson & Hedges brand, owned by Philip Morris International and introduced in 1995. It's sold as a value brand in the same regular and king-size formats, packs and cartons as every other Canadian cigarette. Find it with Belmont, Next and the rest of the RBH range in our brand-name cigarettes section.
White Birch Post sells to adults 19 and over only. Smoking is harmful to your health. If you're thinking about cutting back or quitting, our responsible use page lists free Canadian support services.