John Middleton, Inc Prince Albert Choice Blend

Certainly among the best pure burley blends you can find anywhere.

I always did like PA but this refinement kicks things up a notch.

I think it is richer, more buttery, than normal PA and perhaps I should have rated it "medium".

There are certain negative qualities OTC (i.e., drugstore) tobaccos often seem to share: ashy taste toward the bottom of the bowl, annoying unnatural toppings, a plastic/chemical aftertaste. This has none of those. It is rich, gently and unobtrusively cased (all burley is cased) with excellent smoking properties.

Two negatives: 1)extremely hard to find; 2) Deserves to be put in something better than a cheap plastic bag.

I have found it! I grew up and remember the smell of a pipe from the older gentleman around. Fast forward 30 years later, and here it is. I’m actually surprised that it is this good, the notes are subtle and not overwhelming. I get hints of cocoa from this blend, also be sure to take your time with this blend. I’ll go out on a limb to say that I enjoy this more than the pricey blends online. My only hit on this is that it burns fast. Also, this has a pretty nice room note.

Prince Albert is one of my all time favorites. I smoke it daily. This is not the same stuff as the regular PA as some have claimed. There are no casings or flavors added. It's a nice, smooth, straight burley smoke. It doesn't get harsh at all as the bowl progresses. This is definitely a higher quality than my old standby. I usually pick up a bag once a year. It's worth trying if you like burley, especially Prince Albert.