Premier was an American brand of smokeless cigarettes which was owned and manufactured by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR).

[4][5] Lighting a carbon tip on the end of the cigarette would heat the tobacco and the flavor beads, allowing the inhalation of a nicotine aerosol with minimal smoke and no tar.

[10] In 1989, after spending an estimated $300 to $325 million to develop and deploy Premier, R. J. Reynolds pulled the device from the market after only months.

[16] Wilson argued that the project would help take back the lead in the tobacco industry from Philip Morris, who had recently overtaken Reynolds.

Due to the growing health controversies related to tobacco, Wilson hoped Premier would keep smokers from quitting and draw ex-smokers back to Reynolds.

Hundreds of employees, including the chairman's driver, had known about the project, an ad agency was being consulted, outside scientists and suppliers were in the loop.

"[16] At this point Wilson had authorized $68 million for the development of Premier, an amount he was not allowed to approve without consent from the audit committee.