John Middleton, Inc Prince Albert

Prince Albert is a non-aromatic all Burley tobacco. I bought some of it on a whim, both to try something different from my usual rotation of English and Balkan blends and because I have pleasant childhood memories of my grandfather smoking it in his pipes as well as using it to roll his own cigarettes. While Prince Albert packs easily, burns well, and brought back the same tobacco smell I remember from being around my grandfather years ago, it's only okay as far as pipe tobacco is concerned. The flavor isn't bad, there's just not much of it, which isn't really a surprise from an all-Burley tobacco. As an inexpensive "drugstore" type tobacco, it's better than average, but with so many better pipe tobaccos readily available both online and from tobacco shops, life's too short to settle for this stuff.

What can I say that hasn't already been said, been around forever a decent solid all day smoke that's affordable. burns nice down to ash with no problems...

Prince Albert is a trip down memory lane for me like so many others. It was one of the two blends that my Grandfather smoked regularly and I remember the roomnote from my childhood.

When I started pipe smoking again in 2017, PA was one of the blends I started with both in the regular and the vanilla version. As I learned about "higher-end" blends it found itself shuffled to the back row and basically forgotten about.

Recently (2021) there has been rumors again that it might be going out of production, so I decided to invest in a 14oz tub for nothing else than "old time sakes".

The tub-note is the same as I remember, there is a slight smell of something sweet, but mostly just burley. The moisture content is perfect from the tub without needing any drying. The cut makes it easy to pack in a pipe and it usually burns fine from the first light.

I have found myself reaching for it for my early day smoke along with my coffee. This spot in the rotation is usually covered by Corn Cob Pipe by CD or their Burley Cube Cut. I've found that it likes slightly taller bowls such as my radiators and/or Country Gent corncobs.

It's a great early smoke as the burley plays well with the coffee, it burns great without having to be messed with and it smolders consistently allowing for a nice slow smoke.

There is a reason that this blend has been around so long and I'm glad to have it around stiil. My wife compliments the room note which is a plus and it's on the list of "approved" blends for smoking on road-trips. It's also fairly easy to find on the road in case you find yourself traveling and needing something to hold you over.

Welcome young ones, glad you found your way here! I have been smoking this old time burley since it was selling for 49 cents a pouch. It is for many MANY pipe smokers a retreat from their regular rotations of English blends, or aromatic aficionados. Sometimes a person just has to “go home” I have read the other reviews here, I have noticed this same feeling amongst many of them. It’s a burley, it’s monochromatic ( perfect description, look it up if you don’t know its meaning ) and if if want to experience what the old guys smoked years ago, you have it here. Mild, will not bite if you don’t tug on it, and should be tried by all new pipers to give you a burley jumping off point for reference in your pipe smoking experience.

Now now, not bad at all! Comes with perfect moister level in the pouch, no need to dry. I smoked my first 2 oz of this through a naked Missouri Pride. I loved it! It lights easy with voluminous smoke. I get a wonderful nutty, toasted almond note from the burley in every puff. The Cavendish adds a slightly sweet and buttery smoothness. Beautiful pairing. The burley develops darker coffee notes mid bowl. I loved the flavor. It has hints of cocoa and honey. Honestly it's very smooth, tasty and gentelman like. It's not the earthy, bitter natural tobacco flavors you get with C&D burley. Rather it's more in the vain of Solani Aged Burley flake. I'm always worried about tongue bite with an OTC. I find Prince Albert to be very, very forgiving. Much more so than Velvet for example. I'm really surprised. Honestly I've avoided the OTC blends for a decade. Completely blown away by Prince Albert. Its great! Super nice. This is my version of the quintessential all day smoke! Adding in the great price per oz, I'm giving this 4 stars!

This and Captain Black were my first pipe tobaccos. Eight or so years later, while I have since disembarked from the ship of Captain Black, a have remained a retainer at the court of Prince Albert.

Many reviewers have sung thoroughly enough the praises of this wonderful burley that anything I could try to add would be little more than fluff. But please, permit me to add some fluff:

The taste is simple, classic, and satisfying. It burns cool and slow and has almost single-handedly taught me the art of pipe smoking. Its a perfect tobacco for breaking in a new pipe as well as a new pipe smoker.

As a CRM archaeologist, I've seen more hundred-or-so-year-old tins of PA (sometimes with the labels in astoundingly good condition) in the wild corners of CO, NV, and WY than I can even remember. It reminds me every time that when I smoke PA I'm not smoking just another drug store tobacco, but rather a tobacco with a legacy of being rolled into the cigarettes and stuffed into the pipes of generations of shepherds, ranchers, cowboys, soldiers, miners, charcoal-makers, hunters, woodsmen, and other such colorful characters. If it was good enough for them, its good enough for me.

I first tried Prince Albert well over 30 years ago and only remember I didn't care for it much, finding it a bit ashy. I now blame that mostly on my novice technique. Well, I decided to revisit and purchased 5 sleeves of the boxed luxury pouch. These days I'm looking for a tobacco that can be enjoyed every day and at a good price; all the while trying to find "the" OTC that will satisfy. I've tried SWR regular, Capt Black (gravitating to the White mostly), Edgeworth and the reintroduced Lane RR, Half and Half, and Granger, and not being greatly satisfied. Granger came the closest but gave me a severe palate burn, and if not for that, I'd smoke it daily as I enjoyed it. Prince Albert seems to come the closest to Granger in taste but without the palate burn. The even brown crimp cut has a nice dark chocolate pouch note and is not only easy to load, but easy to keep lit. I also like the luxury pouch and find it easy to take with me when I go out and about. As a burleyphile I find PA quite satisfying. It certainly isn't Aged Burley Flake, but sometimes I don't want a strong smoke. It is way sweeter than ABF or Wessex BS for that matter and I do like it better than Mac Baren's HH Burley Flake. Plus as my daughter says, "it is very comforting" in the room note department. The after taste is pleasant as well. Only wish it would burn slower! All in all a good smoke and I'm happy to report the new-found change in my opinion from so long ago.

My grandfathers favorite and an annual Christmas gift to him by me since the 1940’s. First time ive smoked it in years...good stuff, easy packing, easy lighting, easy burn, no relights to the bottom of the bowl, dry cool smoke. No bite. Light nicotine kick near the end. All around good tobacco.

This is the ultimate comfort tobacco. When you need a break from complexity, bite, and nic-hits, this is the place to land. Whatever topping it may have, it is so light as to be virtually nonexistent. I taste burley, which is fine by me. This is just a plain, pleasant smoke, and for me, a great way to start the morning.

PS (Aug 28, 2018): If all I could have were Prince Albert and a corn cob, I'd still be a pipe smoker.