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]
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.
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]