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Welcome to Codger Country, the series where we'll be smoking every Codger blend — commonly found over-the-counter tobacco blends — we can find and ranking them in an effort to find the "definitive" Codger blend. From Carter Hall to Super Value, we're giving them all a fair shake. Today, we're smoking a very recently revived Codger: Royal Comfort, which offers "A distinctly cool smoking pipe tobacco."
The original Royal Comfort came from John Middleton Co.'s portfolio, who were known for a variety of retired codgers like Kentucky Club, Sugar Barrel, the original Carter Hall, and countless others. The original John Middleton Co. was founded as a small tobacconist in Philadelphia in 1856, notable for their early adoption of mail orders. The company rose to prominence in the 1950s when they started producing pipe tobacco and cigarettes. By the 1980s, the company bought the above mentioned pipe-tobacco brands.
Royal Comfort was introduced to the market in 1981 with the tagline, "If it's a cool smoke you seek....take comfort." The blend was regarded as mild and bland. The Tobacco Review page for the blend has a majority of one-star reviews, with some very strong opinions on its quality.
Which brings us to the 2025 revival: Arango Cigar Co., an importer and distributor for many classic OTC blends like Prince Albert and Carter Hall, is responsible for its return. Their goal was to give a new generation a taste while also pleasing classic fans with an updated recipe that captures but refreshes what was beloved about the original. Royal Comfort is composed of aged "Red Virginias, softly Toasted Cavendish, and a hint of spicy Perique, gently blended with notes of crisp fruit, cask-aged whiskey, and earthy vanilla."
But enough dilly dallying, let's find out if the new Royal Comfort is a king among codgers or a court jester wearing the crown.
First Impressions
First thing you're bound to notice about the new Royal Comfort is that this is a tinned 2oz tobacco as opposed to a pouch, though there is a 16oz bag variety if you end up loving it. Crack open the tin and you're greeted with the lovely smell of vanilla and jammy fruit. No notes on moisture, it's ready to go straight out of the tin and it packs nice and easy. It takes to flame quickly. The first thing I noticed while smoking is that it's incredibly smooth and creamy. It's easy to settle into a rhythm with it. I can taste a little whisper of the whiskey but it's not prominent, in my opinion.
The Perique is very much a hint but it still provides a nice edge on the back after every puff. The room note is pleasant. I enjoyed its lingering after I finished every smoke and it got approval from those I smoked it around. As I've discussed before, I can be a fast smoker depending on the day and activity but Royal Comfort held firm on cool smoking through even the most intense puffing.
While the tin note offers a lot of those jammy fruit notes, I never really got that throughout my smoke. The nicotine hit is mild. I never felt overwhelmed even if I smoked several bowls in a row. As an added bonus, Royal Comfort paired nicely with both my morning coffee and afternoon tea.
Is Royal Comfort Worth It?
I did not have high hopes for Royal Comfort based on the original's reviews but I must say, the new and improved blend was a surprisingly satisfying smoke. I don't think it'll shake the very foundations of the tobacco world but it is a competent and satisfying blend. Since this is a more premium Codger, I definitely think that with some aging this could really get some legs with more of those fruit and peppery notes becoming more prominent. I'll definitely pick up a few more tins for the future, and this is already becoming a safe all-day smoke for my work days.
Royal Comfort also brings with it a hope for future revivals. In a time where a lot of codgers seem to have faded away due to corporate restructuring, it's nice to see the return of one, even if it's a more premium option. My hope is that Royal Comfort can signal to Arango that there is a market for these discontinued blends. Personally, I would love to see Sugar Barrel make an appearance in the future.
Royal Comfort is available both in 2oz tins and 16oz bags. I'd recommend picking up a tin if you're interested.
Leave a comment down below sharing your thoughts on Royal Comfort. I'd love to hear from some folks who smoked the original and how it compares to the 2025 edition. Join me next time as we continue our journey through Codger Country together.
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Comments
I don’t think ‘codger’ is quite the selling point you think it is when you want us to pay such a premium on a tin.
I agree, it's royally expensive and ridiculous.
I saw the price and assumed import fee and batch size. I just have no more room for jars, otherwise I'd be interested in trying it. Told myself I have to work through my hoard first!
Added to wish list.
I remember this when Middleton made it. The new incarnation is ok, but definitely not worth the price. It says that it's distributed by Arango Cigar Co. but I have a sneaky suspicion that this is made by C&D. I can absolutely identify the Cornell and Diehl Vanilla Black Cavendish in this. It has that chocolate cake thing going on with it. And the 2oz can with the paper puck is a dead giveaway. I'm not buying this again. I thought it was going to be like the original but this is an overly topped strong aromatic. Captain Black original blows this out of the park.