Borkum Riff was named after a lighthouse in the North Sea. The lighthouse sits on the small island of Heligoland, part of an archipelago that is now a part of Germany.
This lighthouse is an integral part of the island's history, as it also served as the radio station for passing ships, and various seafaring men and women would note the weather reports for the area.
Founded in 1962, Borkum Riff pays homage to that lighthouse on the island with their logo, a ship passing safely through the water. The ship is also an homage to the Swedish explorers of the 1600s, who brought tobacco back to their homeland from North America.
Their original blend came to the United States in 1969, giving American smokers a taste of the Scandinavian take on aromatics. They saw a surge in popularity in only a few years' time, to the point that they claim to have been the leading brand in 1972.
In 2011, the original owner, Swedish Match, transferred ownership to the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Nothing has changed with this transfer, as Borkum Riff still releases their aromatic blends regularly.
