Prince Albert (tobacco) explained

Prince Albert is an American brand of hand-rolled-cigarette and pipe tobacco, introduced by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1907.[1] It has been owned since 1987 by John Middleton Inc.[2]

History

Prince Albert is one of the more popular independent brands of pipe tobacco in the United States; in the 1930s, it was the "second largest money-maker" for Reynolds.[3] More recently, it has also become available in the form of pipe-tobacco cigars. (A 1960s experiment with filtered cigarettes was deemed a failure.[4]) The blend is burley-based and remains one of America's top-selling pipe tobaccos.

The tobacco was named by R. J. Reynolds after Edward VII, who was known as Prince Albert before being crowned as the King of the United Kingdom.[5] The portrait of Prince Albert was based on one acquired by Reynolds at a tea party with Mark Twain.[5]

Prince Albert's cigars are available in packs of 5. Prince Albert's pipe tobacco is available in NaNoz pouches and 14oz tins.

Varieties

Cigars

Pipe tobacco

"Prince Albert in a can"

The brand is the basis of a practical joke, usually made in the form of a prank call. The prankster typically calls a store and asks if they have "Prince Albert in a can". When the unsuspecting clerk responds, "yes", (because the tobacco is typically packaged in a can, though other forms of packaging also existed), the caller follows up with, "Well, you'd better let him out!" or something similar. This joke's made in the It (Miniseries).[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: International Directory of Company Histories. Thomson Gale. 2006. 2007-08-28.
  2. News: R.J. Reynolds Sells 2 Tobacco Brands. Associated Press. July 7, 1987. The New York Times. 2007-08-28.
  3. News: Pipe Dream Girl. https://web.archive.org/web/20081215014234/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,742679,00.html. dead. December 15, 2008. November 23, 1931. TIME magazine. 2007-08-28.
  4. News: Where There's Smoke There's a Filter. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930160611/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828437,00.html. dead. September 30, 2007. November 18, 1966. TIME magazine. 2007-08-28.
  5. Book: Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco. Bryan Burrough. Bryan Burrough. 44. HarperCollins.
  6. News: Transcript of Interview with Prince Albert of Monaco. . Larry King Weekend. September 15, 2002.
  7. News: Penny Candy and Radio in the Good Old Days. Stein, Tony . The Virginian-Pilot. October 23, 1994.