Reader Dave N. writes:

I have been handrolling almost exclusively since my freshman year of college (~8 years). Most important tip for rolling is to spend the most time getting your tobacco right on the paper. The lion’s share of the time it takes to make a cigarette should be spent getting it evenly distributed and kind of fluffy. It usually is kind of compressed in the package, or it will shortly be compressed after you stick it in your back pocket and sit on it. Pull all the clumps apart and pull it around until you get a nice even distribution. Makes rolling a nice cigarette-looking cigarette way easier. This knowlege was imparted to me by a professor in college, who would spend the entire elevator ride down from the classroom arranging his tobacco on a paper. Elevator doors open, and he finishes it one-handed in the blink of an eye. It was amazing.

In terms of getting the proper “tuck” where the paper actually rolls under (this is where most beginners fuck up their cigarettes) having a nice solid (even!) cylinder of tobacco will help a ton, as will applying a small amount of pressure by the thumbs towards the ends of the cigarette. This will keep everything parallel. Just don’t roll it too tight, especially if the tobacco is fairly moist. Usually new rollers progress from too loose messes to too tight cigarettes that look ok but are impossible to pull from.

Quick note to those readers in and around Boston: The best cigarette tobacco in town is made by Peter Stokkebye and found for sale at the Gloucester St Cigar Co. off Newbury St. Very good tobacco is also available at Leavitt and Pierce in Harvard Square. Actually, I bet that is where you got your smoking jacket.