John Middleton, Inc Prince Albert

Prince Albert is epic!!! What a awesome smoke straight up hands down no doubt about it. Its been years since I smoked Prince Albert I tried it a few times when I was about 19 years old and back then I did not really care for or appreciate it at all, I tried to smoke the stuff quite a few times and even tried to roll it and then gave up, I passed it up for years. I told my wife " hey I wanna buy some Prince Albert and try it again" and its funny cause I have smoked hundreds of blends including what I blend myself, how did this one slip by me all this time? The way I view tobacco and even taste it is very different now then when I was 19 because back then it was Lucky Strikes Captain Black Gold, White and Royal and Backwoods hell even some Copenhagen snuff when I was in the mood, that was then this is now. Later on down the road I gave up the toxic tobacco habits and became loyal to the pipe and sometimes cigars every now and then because there awesome as well, that's why so many of us love them in our blends as well right? Now on to my review with Prince Albert and I am honored to write out this one on a all American pipe tobacco that has stood the test of time and still stands strong in quality and taste. I was so excited to buy Prince Albert and I bought a pouch went right to my car and opened it up. The smell was one now I could really appreciate a nice burley with a hint and I mean a small hint of anise and chocolate which I thought at first was kinda a trip because my idea expecting a molasses or something like that but nope that's what I smelled. I shrugged my shoulders and grabbed my MM Marcus and packed her up. This was a easy light up job but still gave it a false light, tamped it down with my fingure and lit it up and like I said it lit up super easy. I was so happy with the taste of the burley because it was so smooth and sweet that was velvety, buttery and nutty, that's what I tasted. The taste of the light anise chocolate smell was not in there thank God so I kept on smoking and the more I smoked the more tobacco taste I got that remained nutty and sweet and I was really enjoying it so much. I puffed on it and inhaled it and repeated with great results remaining very smooth, by the time I got half way down the bowl it started to become very robust with depth and weight bit still remained smooth and the light bulb came on and quickly realized why Prince Albert has remained one of America's top pipe tobacco sellers easy. The natural burley taste is awesome and the topping does not get in the way of that and if anything compliments the blend all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I also love Carter Hall and the two are not the same in taste or constinincy but they both have one thing in common BURLEY!!! I think back and the only reason I passed it by for so many years is because I did not appreciate it when I was younger and later on didn't take the time to stop and try smoking it again, I really wish now that I did but hey! I am and have already burned through 12 pouches lol I'm buying a few tubs now. I also already have a few ideas for a couple blends I'm going to play with that will be fun but some deep thought will need to go into that cause this stuff has some serious potential in regards to blending. I would highly recommend this to any pipe smoker that has never smoked the stuff, it does not bite, it is very smooth, it stays lit up very easy and packs with no problem a very unique design in the cut of the tobacco that's for sure. I am smoking some Prince Albert right now to help me close this review that is one thing I love about smoking the pipe is that it really can help one go into deep thought and ponder on something, you cannot do that with a cigarette as that's more of a adult pasifier for nervous disorders known as anxiety. I will relax and continue to reduce the stress of this day with a bowl of Prince Albert and appreciate this fine old school pipe tobacco. I love the thought that our dads, grandpas and great grandpas smoked and we continue to smoke now for 2018. Thank you for taking the time to read this review and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it out, God bless all my fellow pipe smokers and have a good rest of your evening.

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- Christopher

There are nightmares lurking just beneath the seemingly refined and nostalgic surface of the pipe tobacco world. Not everyone arrives here prepared to face them. As a smoker who enjoys the taste of the leaf as much as its soothing effect on the mind, one should take note before venturing blindly into the field.

Let me start by saying that apart from buying a cheap bag of dry RYO and just smoking “cigarettes in a cob”, Prince Albert is the best way to transition to a pipe. It’s inexpensive, easy to get, stays lit, burns evenly, and tastes great. All cavendish burns a little wet - PA is no different in the stem, but it burns down to a fine powder in the bowl. There is a light flavoring in the casing, and it tastes a bit like the bourbon in Carter Hall to me. Some have said it tastes like anise, but it has a pleasant flavor and aroma that compliments the leaf nicely. Nevermind that, this is a Burley-flavored smoke, and the casing will all but burn off by mid-bowl - leaving only the nutty and tangy taste of the tobacco in its wake. It’s smooth, never bites, and for years I smoked Prince Albert every day.

But the truth of the matter is, I’ve also smoke those dry RYO tobaccos in cobs for years and still find many of them satisfying. I’m smoking one right now called Wild Horse - there’s some raw Burley flavor. It tastes like nutty raisins and cocoa, although I can taste some sweet Virginia hay in there. Nice, mild pepper on the retro. No chemicals that didn’t come out of the seed itself. It has a hearty nicotine kick, too; it’s half the price of PA, and it’s not even listed on this website. Sure, it also smells like cheap cigarettes, and the last half or third of the bowl can get really nasty, but I always keep a bag of it on hand. And not that it would deserve anything more than a “somewhat recommended” rating by any standard, really palatable only to cigarette smokers, but RYO is Prince Albert’s street-level competition after all.

Here is the singular problem with all of the OTC blends: additives. I went out and bought a pouch of PA recently and thoroughly enjoyed the bowl I packed sitting in the grocery store parking lot. I’ve smoked it on and off for the past two days, but today I’ve started to notice the strange and lingering sensation it leaves on my tongue. Now I’m sitting here an hour after having finished a bowl of PA and my tongue still feels coated. I’ve tried smoking it off with bowls of strong Perique and Kentucky blends, RYO, tried to wash it down with hot coffee and iced tea, but it persists! Carter Hall produces a similar effect on my tongue. Is it the bourbon in the casings? Or is it something else? PG, some other humectant or preservative, antifreeze? Liquor-cased tobaccos don’t coat my tongue like this, not any of the good ones.

I don’t taste anything overly “chemically” in PA, but that could be partially due to my biased love of Burley. Compared to everything else I’ve smoke tonight I think that might ring true. It could also be due to the discretion Middleton uses in their mix. Early into my pursuit of this hobby I found a cheap bag of Super Value Cherry Cavendish at a liquor store that destroyed my first briar and almost ruined my love of smoking. That Christmas a pouch of Captain Black I bought to smoke around my family brought me even closer to the brink. Prince Albert does not even compare to the hellish concoction of chemical waste that comprises these two. At the very least, “Uncle Albie” always gives a consistent Burley taste and a relaxing smoke without breaking the budget, and without an overtly nauseating malaise of chemical goop. It’s just that now it seems to leave my tongue feeling lacquered and numb.

Here’s the bottom line - anything you buy from the grocery, liquor store, or gas station that isn’t as dry as Bill W’s medicine cabinet is going to have some chemical additive mingled in with the leaf. I love the taste of PA but it leaves my tongue feeling like I’ve sucked on a 9volt battery. If OTCs are the only thing available to you, and you love the Burley leaf as much as I do, consider this a highly recommended tobacco choice. If you’re used to puffing on Lane or Sutliff aros, how have you not tried this? Otherwise, it doesn’t deserve the three stars I’m giving it. If you want a valid alternative, I highly recommend Newminster No. 702 - that’s what PA would taste like without the chemical bath.

Nice cocoa smelling tobacco with a medium cut and some thicker strands. Catches fire easily no need for tamping and the burn is somehow slow. Taste wise, a light nutty, cocoa flavor with some Bourbon and sweet licorice.

The good thing is that the topping and tobacco while light, compliment each other. The bad thing is that if you puff fast, the smoke becomes harsh, ashy and gears towards a cigarette. The aftertaste is an unpleasant cigarette taste. All in all, a good OTC pipe tobacco, cheap and readily available in the U.S. A less topped Carter Hall if you will. I would give it 2.5 stars.

Virginia lover

Tobaccos like Prince Albert & Sir Walter Raleigh (SWR) saved me from another aborted pipe smoking quest. After I burned out on Captain Black white label, and could not taste it anymore, a bit of dry SWR left over in a pouch someone had sent me, refreshed me. And then I tried Prince Albert, and found it delightful.

I have moved on from Captain Black, and other drug store blends to some great McClelland Virginia-Periques, and Gawith, Hoggarth Virginia Flake tobaccos. But, I still keep a small Kerr jar of Prince Albert handy, because it's just plain good. I'd even consider it one of my desert island tobaccos.

Sometimes I think this is better than Carter Hall and sometimes not. It has some off notes to it, and the tobacco doesn't strike me as first tier. But, despite that PA just has something to it. There is more of an artificial cocoa/chocolate note here than in CH. The smoke doesn't develop, it's the same from start to finish.

Sometimes that simplicity is just the thing. I used to always keep CH and PA on hand. I've gotten away from them just because there are tastier alternatives from C&D and H&H that are priced similarly and are much better smokes.

This was my dad's pipe tobacco, always Prince Albert and always in a Missouri meerschaum. I too prefer the corncobs but differ in that I sample as many tobacco blends as I can, classic or new, OTC or small batch I will give it a try. Most of the time I come away happy but very few blends occupy a permanent place in my rotation, but Prince Albert is one I never run out of. Sometimes I go weeks without loading up a pipe full of Prince Albert, other times I smoke it every day for a week or more. It is consistently mild and comforting. Doesn't bite, doesn't have a heavy flavoring or aroma. It just is, someone on here said PA is like a cup of coffee at the diner and that is a perfect description. It is timeless and just about every pipe smoker has sampled this simple burley at one time or another. I do have one cob dedicated to only PA, I have found having a set pipe for this tobacco allows the simple flavor to shine (nutty is the best way to describe the flavor, with a hint of vanilla maybe? These are not added flavors, just the natural taste of the burley) the Prince will be in my tobacco rotation for good, just asithas been for so many pipe smokers over the decades

I've spent only a week with the Prince but having had about 14 bowls of it in 7 days I am a believer! It's charm is its simplicity. It's not much more than just some bitter Burley. There's sourness almost like Izmir going on. Occasionally there's some sweet chocolatey notes but they sure are subtle. PA is incredibly easy to pack, burns beautifully with one light, and is the definition of an all day smoke.

Earthy, light and awesome. Bought this tobacco because I heard it was great for building good cake. Fell in love. The first half isn't always great but after you pack it and dump it once, it comes alive. The second half of the bowl is where this tobacco shines. I smoke this almost exclusively. So good.

Wow, what can I add that hasn't already be said. Between Carter Hall and Prince Albert it is hard to choose which is better. They both are about the same price. Prince Albert to me seems to be a little stronger and has a tad bit more nicotene. Both are like a taste of OTC heaven. Nice sticky moist ribbon cut that packs easy. Just the right amount of moisture and freshness. Just light up and it's off to the races. All I can say is, after you have wasted your money on all the imported fu fu brands to look cool and feel like you are a connoisseur of fine exotic tobacco, come back down to earth and load your bowl with the lowly Prince. Then just kick back and relax. Very highly recommended!