Prince Albert (tobacco)

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]

1913 advertisement for Prince Albert tobacco.

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 England.[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 1+1⁄2-ounce (43 g) pouches and 14-ounce (400 g) tins.

Varieties
Classic Prince Albert Crimp Cut Tobacco

Cigars
  • Prince Albert's Soft Cherry Vanilla
  • Prince Albert's Soft & Sweet Vanilla

Pipe tobacco
  • Prince Albert
  • Prince Albert Crimp Cut
  • Prince Albert Cherry Vanilla
  • Prince Albert Soft Vanilla Cavendish
  • Prince Albert Mellow

"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 similar.[6][7] The joke was most famously referenced in the 1990 TV adaptation of Stephen King's book, It.

References
  1. "International Directory of Company Histories". Thomson Gale. 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  2. "R.J. Reynolds Sells 2 Tobacco Brands". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 7, 1987. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  3. "Pipe Dream Girl". TIME magazine. November 23, 1931. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  4. "Where There's Smoke There's a Filter". TIME magazine. November 18, 1966. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  5. Bryan Burrough. Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco. HarperCollins. p. 44.
  6. "Transcript of Interview with Prince Albert of Monaco". Larry King Weekend. CNN. September 15, 2002.
  7. Stein, Tony (October 23, 1994). "Penny Candy and Radio in the Good Old Days". The Virginian-Pilot.
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