Kool cigarettes were introduced in 1932 by Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company. They made the decision to introduce Kool as a mildly mentholated cigarette as an alternative to the harsher cigarette brands that dominated the market at that time. They chose a unique character, Willie the Penguin, to signify the cool and refreshing taste of Kool cigarettes. Kool became and remained the #1 menthol cigarette for decades until Newport and Salem closed the gap in the 1980’s. Today Kool is still quite popular among menthol cigarette smokers.
