John Middleton, Inc Prince Albert Choice Blend

I'm a guy who has smoked PA regularly for many years and there certainly are differences between the two: on PA and PA Choice:

1. Open a 5 ounce bag of PA Choice and a pouch of PA. The PA has a strong "wine" sort of smell and Choice does not. It has more of a "sweet" earthy smell.

2. Pour out a half ounce of each. The PA is of a much finer cut than Choice.

3. Smoke them both. PA is less refined in taste, the smell in the pouch transcends a little into the smoke, and it can indeed be a tad harsh, particularly as you get to the bottom of the bowl. PA Choice is smoother from top to bottom and does not ever present the pouch smell into the smoke itself (if it does, I can't tell).

I'm no Sherlock Holmes but if I was, I'd probably just call Middleton and find out for myself rather than take the word of cyber space posters that I don't know from Adam. (-;

Best, Pipestud

Update 5/3/2020

Smoking this now and decided to check out the reviews. Regarding the person that called John Middleton and was told this is the same as regular PA but in a bag instead, I imagine JM's response went something like this:

"Yes, it is just regular PA in a bag instead of the pouch or tin. However, we are a bit nonplussed to learn that someone noticed how we are duping our customers. We try very hard to be discreet about it. Granted, we're not doing anything that our competitors don't do, but it's still a bit embarrassing to be caught in a bald-faced fabrication. But since you've pointed it out, we freely admit our malfeasance to you so that you can advise the rest of the pipesmoking public of same. We believe this will generate more goodwill and profitable business".

ORIGINAL REVIEW

I took Pipestud's advice below and compared the look and smell of this and regular PA, as well as the taste. I came to an identical conclusion - the two are not the same. This is better.

Regular PA is a fine smoke, although not something I could include in my regular rotation. It starts off well enough but then turns harsh and ashy-tasting. PA Choice stays nutty and natural throughout the bowl. It burns cleanly and does not bite in the slightest. If you overpuff, it will turn sour - so don't overpuff! 🙂

Natural, unflavored burley taste. There are other OTC's I prefer but this one is where the "codger burley" starts. It's a step up from regular PA and I find it also preferable to Carter Hall. It's not that easy to find but when you find it, you'll very likely have bought your last tin of PA regular.

The very nutty, earthy, woody, mildly sweet and savory burleys also have a very light topping, though I can’t tell what it is. They also sport a touch of cocoa and a few grains of sugar. The strength is mild, while the taste is a step or two past that mark. Has a very mild nic-hit. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns fairly cool and very clean at a slightly fast pace with a consistent flavor, that unlike the regular PA, doesn’t change near the finish. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires few relights. Has a short lived, pleasant after taste and room note. An all day smoke.

The regular PA has bourbon and cocoa toppings, which this does not. They fade in PA toward the finish. This blend doesn’t get cigarette-ish as PA could do, and lacks the chemical note of PA as well. Plus, no PG, and this is a little smoother than PA. It’s been reported that Middleton says this is regular PA, but I respectfully disagree, and I’d need to see the respective formulas before believing otherwise.

-JimInks

I found this tobacco quite by accident while looking to read reviews here of regular PA. Since I love Prince Albert and all burleys, I decided I just had to track this one down and fire it up. Well, I'm sure glad I did!! (And BTW, this blend was harder to find than a nest of dodos!) This has many similarities to regular PA with the exceptions already noted below so I won't repeat them.

Suffice to say, this is a nutty, high nicotine, smoky, easy-to-keep-lit, VERY satisfying smoke! And did I say delicious? DELICIOUS!! You love burley? Buy this!

I found this at milantobacco.com and had to try a bag. Let me say that first of all Prince Albert regular is one of my favorite OTC blends. IMO this is certainly different. It's not topped the same as reg. It has a richer, nuttier burley taste. It burns very well and dry to the bottom of the bowl. I didn't get any of the harshness at the very bottom as I do with reg.

This will be in my regular rotation, a wonderful all day smoke that gets a very high recommendation from me. If you like Prince Albert regular, I think you will like thus even better.

I have smoked Prince Albert often for several years. All I can say is this stuff has to be different. It is much better. Ordered it from Lil' Brown smoke Shack, and I gotta tell you it wont be the last time I order it. With regular PA, I never had such a rich, almost buttery smoke, like I have with PA choice. For those of you who say it's the same thing as regular PA, your taste buds must be ruined from years of piping..LOL! They dont even smell the same in the pouch. Pipestud was right about the smell. Regular PA smells kind of like apples in the tin, this smells sweet and earthy. This is now my go-to all around all day smoke. I love it!!! ...John Middleton, please keep making this.

Here is my contribution to the raging debate regarding Prince Albert Choice vs Prince Albert. I have likely smoked a carload of ?traditional? Prince Albert over the decades and perhaps a half dozen bags of the ?choice? blend. Is there a difference?, not that this smoker can detect. The only difference I could discern between the two was that the bagged ?choice? blend did indeed seem ?fresher? which I attributed to the packaging.

That being said, both versions (if they really are versions or only packaging) are excellent cool smoking, bite free, crimp cut, and for me flavorful burley. Ain?t we lucky - you can?t go wrong either way!

As one reviewer noted, it's just regular Prince Albert in a 5 ounce poly bag. Call John Middleton inc. and they'll be more than happy to give you a clue. Note that there is no "Prince Albert Choice" listed as one of their products on the John Middleton web site. http://www.johnmiddletoninc.com

I have smoked regular Prince Albert for years and am never without a tub. This choice blend is however not the same as Prince Albert. My guess would be its scrap that wasnt good enough to make it into the tub, then they added a sugar topping and some dirt (or something that tastes like dirt) and bagged it for sale instead of throwing it away with the rest of the scraps. Brilliant really. Take the waste product, throw it in a cheap bag, and sell it for profit. Stick with the real McCoy, this isnt worth the trouble.

First off, all of you that for whatever reason seem to think that Prince Albert "Choice" is anything other than plain ol' Prince Albert in a 5 ounce bag are sadly mistaken. This is in fact regular Prince Albert in a 5 ounce bag. This was confirmed by a phone call to the John Middleton Company.

So, it's just Prince Albert. Nothing more to be said about it.