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Classic OTC Blends: First Impressions of Prince Albert
Perhaps pipe smoking's most iconic and enduring tobacco, Prince Albert is a beloved over-the-counter (OTC) blend championed by both veteran and newer pipe smokers. It's also a tobacco that I've unfortunately overlooked since I began my pipe smoking journey. However, I've made it a personal goal to try as many classic over-the-counter as possible, Prince Albert was the next obvious choice. It's a blend that many non-pipe smokers know about, thanks to the practical joke that has survived over the years where someone asks, "Do you have Prince Albert in a can?" and once the other person responds "yes," the prankster replies "Well, then you better let him out!" Though it's a timeless joke, it also demonstrates Prince Albert's longevity, further exemplifying the historic tobacco's status and reputation within our hobby and beyond.
History of Prince Albert
Prince Albert was introduced by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1907 and was personally named by founder R.J. Reynolds after Edward VII, known as Prince Albert before eventually being crowned King. The image used on the packaging is based on a portrait of Edward VII that Reynolds acquired at a tea party where Mark Twain was also in attendance, according to the 1989 book Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco. Prince Albert was a major source of revenue for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco throughout the early 20th century and became a popular blend that has been enjoyed by generations of pipe smokers since its introduction.
Today, the blend is manufactured by John Middleton Co., which began in 1856 as a small tobacco shop in Philadelphia. Middleton purchased the brand and others in 1987 from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, after announcing it was seeking buyers for their pipe tobaccos and roll-your-own tobaccos to concentrate more on high-volume cigarette production. John Middleton Co. also makes Carter Hall, another classic, OTC blend consisting of Burley and Virginia tobaccos that has remained popular for decades.
Cut & Components
Prince Albert is a ribbon-cut mixture consisting of Burley and Black Cavendish with a subtle topping of cocoa and molasses. Like many other OTC blends, Prince Albert comes packaged in either a 1.5-ounce pouch or a 14-ounce tub (yes, Prince Albert is in a can but he has plenty of room and doesn't complain). I purchased the pouch to try in my Missouri Meerschaum Legend 5th Avenue Straight to see if I would like it without having to commit to a large quantity. The pouch comes encased in sturdy cardboard packaging and is small enough to bring along for on-the-go smokes, though I opted to transfer the tobacco to a mason jar after a few days to ensure it wouldn't dry out.
Tin Note, Moisture Content, & Flavor Profile
As I opened the pouch, the nutty notes commonly associated with Burley tobaccos were prominent but there were also hints of cocoa and molasses that were detectable and nicely complemented the base tobaccos. I found the moisture content was perfect directly out of the pouch, didn't require any drying time, and packed effortlessly into my corn cob. The moisture level was surprisingly ideal as it wasn't crisp and dry or sopping wet and goopy. I admire a blend that's ready to smoke after immediately opening the packaging and doesn't require any drying time or rehydration to enhance the smoking experience.
After lighting, the chocolatey/cocoa flavor was immediately noticeable and pleasantly accompanied the natural nuttines of the Burley. It readily reminded me of Carter Hall at first, but the more I smoked Prince Albert, I began to notice its more subtle flavors. What stood out the most to me is how soft, creamy, and smooth the tobacco tasted on each draw while still providing a medium-bodied smoke with sufficient strength. I also tried smoking Prince Albert in a few of my briar pipes and found that it packed easily into each pipe, no matter the dimensions or size of the chamber. Every time I enjoyed a bowl it, I needed only one light to last the entire bowl, something I've rarely experienced with any blend and that left me astounded at how reliable and easily enjoyable the blend can be.
Concluding Thoughts
Prince Albert is a pleasing and inviting tobacco that manages to offer understated complexities for anyone searching for them, especially when retrohaling, as I picked up hints of butter and spice. However, it's still a straightforward tobacco that can be easily enjoyed any time of day and is one I plan to have on hand as much as possible. It's affordably priced, dependable, and is ready to smoke right out of the packaging — all characteristics that make it even more enjoyable. Prince Albert is a classic, tried and true American Burley blend that every pipe smoker should try at least once.
Have you ever smoked this classic blend? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Let me know in the comment section!
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Comments
I am quite the fan, but I am quite worried about the change in country. Without the Prince I would have never gotten into pipe smoking.The tubs are also great, they keep stuff fresh. I have one I keep refilling with Billy Budd. I wish every company used them.
A traditional pipe tobacco blendthat has stood the test of time!Thank you for telling the historyof this classic.
Huge fan of PA for most of the last 40 years. Conventional wisdom says new pipe smokers start with low nicotine, bitey, cloying, sickly sweet aromatics. This never made sense to me. PA is Pipesmoking 101. It never bites, it's scoop and serve, always good, always satisfying, no technique required, just load and burn. It truly is a beautiful thing
PA is a great OTC tobacco. I wish they still used the metal cans. They are big sellers on Ebay.
When I tried Prince Albert a couple of years ago the tobacco was undercured. The primary result of this was a lingering ammonia scent in my mustache. I don’t doubt that Prince Albert was a great blend. John Middleton has not maintained the quality. I’ve had better luck with STG blends like Sir Walter Raleigh.
As with everything else, technology & time take it's toll. Yes, at one time, Prince Albert was a good tobacco, but, now, there as so many blends that are superior to PA. It begs the question, Why would anyone choose an OTC blend that is so inferior to what is readily available today?
I recently wanted to try PA tobacco and have not been able to find it anywhere. The timing of this review makes me wonder if it has become available?
Prince Albert might be a good entry point for a newbie or someone who likes a very beige smoking experience. But horse races require differences of opinion, and de gustibus non disputandum est.
I keep a number of various tobacco blends on hand but without fail, every day starts with a mug of black coffee and a briar or cob loaded with Prince Albert. As often as possible (meaning weather permitting), in a rocker on the front porch.
Nice article, but we need a new blend now; I propose "Prince Harry", with generous deer tongue.
I smoke all kinds of tobacco's. I like English and Balkan and capers etc. However I really enjoy going back to Prince Albert. I think it's a great classic tobacco that has stood the test if time.If you haven't tried it yet...please do. It is just a good basic Burley!!
...i just purchased a can....i like it....but i detest the warning label that destroys the label art....
“I detest the warning label that destroys the label art....” I agree that it spoils the label art. The solution is to get a high resolution copy of the label and print it out on high-quality paper that you can then put spray adhesive on the back and paste it over top of the label that has the offensive warning information. To some people that might seem a little bit extreme and not worth the effort, but I think it’s worth doing. Especially because once you have a can (or “tub”) of PA with a unaltered label, you can keep refilling it with fresh PA. There’s a website out there (the name escapes me at the moment) that has high quality printable images of most tobacco tin labels
Nice review, sir. I wish we could get a definitive answer as to its production. I'm a fan of PA, but for a year or more I've heard it is discontinued. I know it takes time for rumors to spread, even in our small community, so I wonder if this rumor goes all the way back to when Middleton acquired the blend? I'm sure a lull in production as it changed hands is more than enough to cause a panic-based rumor, but someone in the industry needs to confirm or deny ...please! I bought a PA tub from a local B&M for $50 thinking it may be the last chance I get to buy some, then saw it available on smoking pipes for less than $40. Then your fine review comes along with questionable timing. What gives? I hope Middleton keeps some level of it in production. I really do. BTW, I agree about the warning labels ...like the old PA joke, it's not funny anymore.
@Smokebacca,Fortunately, despite the pause in production, Prince Albert is back and we should see the iconic blend available for sale for the foreseeable future. While the small pouches are no longer made, the large tubs are in regular production. It can be found here on Smokingpipes at the following link: https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipe-tobacco/prince-albert/Prince-Albert-14oz/product_id/274405Regards,Samuel
@Samuel B. Thank you. Even John David Cole said it was discontinued in the latest episode of The Country Squire Radio podcast. So, it's nice to hear it will still be available. Thank you for the reply.
Does anyone know how sensitive tobacco plants are to frost?
Prince Albert is my everyday smoke. I do smoke different blends throughout the day, but I have at least one or two bowls a day of Prince Albert. I can say that when the rumors went around about it being discontinued I panicked. I did have a few pouches and a tub and a half left but thats when I was smoking pretty much just PA. So I bought five tubs of Lane Limited Ready Rubbed in place of Prince Albert. LLRR is another favorite of mine. I found a guy who owned a pipe and cigars shop about 20 miles away who had a few cases of Prince Albert left in his inventory so I relaxed a bit about worrying if I would run out or not. Needless to say I bought four tubs. I was a little perturbed about Middleton moving production from Pennsylvania to the Dominican Republic but I figured hey, DR grows some mighty fine crops of tobacco down there. I did a side by side comparison of the U.S. made and DR made and to tell you the truth the DR made is superior. Has a way better nicotine hit for one thing, but the toppings and casing are toned down a bit so you get more of a cocoa nuttiness rather than the molasses taking center stage. The room note is identical to each other, just an old fashioned comfortable burley/cocoay aroma. I really wish Middleton would bring back Kentucky Club Mild though.
I have smoked the original (before Reynolds sold it off) as well as the current blend that comes from the DR. IMHO, this current blend is superior. I write this as I am puffing on some right now. Like another commentator, I enjoy it with coffee; it is my first tobacco of the day.
I bought a pouch a few weeks ago, liked it so much I bought 3 more. The second pouch I opened tastes a bit harsher than the first but maybe I've been puffing it too hard. I definitely tasted some interesting Burley subtleties from that first pouch...P.A. did not taste as good in a briar as it does in my corncob. When I hit the sweet spot it is an interesting smoke. I am till getting acquainted with the Prince.
Tired of tongue bite? Switch to Prince Albert.Enjoy a bowl without that after-feel like an army just marched through your mouth.Regarding the unsightly warning label on the can (required by the nanny state) -- I cover it with two layers of masking tape. The can, by the way, is well-designed to keep the tobacco fresh.