The "New" Carter Hall and Prince Albert

[carolinasmokes]

Is it true? Carter Hall and Prince Albert are now being manufactured in the Dominican Republic? I read this on another forum, if so, has anyone smoked the new stuff? I checked today and my local smoke shop stock still says manufactured in Richmond, VA. I'm just curious to see what differences there may be in the newly blended Carter Hall and Prince Albert. Anyone?

 

[philobeddoe]

Well….Dominican cigars are often wonderful, so it might be good.

 

[carolinasmokes]

Well….Dominican cigars are often wonderful, so it might be good.

Good point philobeddoe, I also like Dominican cigars. It's a win-win.

 

[craig61a]

Not true... The Keebler Elves lowballed the crap outta the Dominicans. It’s now being manufactured in the Keebler woods. Read it on the Interwebs...

 

[telescopes]

It appears that is what is written ON the can... so to say.

 

[Spinkle]

I have 2 tubs of PA from smoking pipes slowly inching their way to me - if this isn’t solved by then I will take a pic of the tubs if they list where they are manufactured.

 

[Grazer]

Just checked the CH tubs I ordered a couple weeks back.

Says manufactured in the Dominican Republic.

 

[BarrelProof]

Good news is that the purported discontinuing of the blend seems to be nothing more than a supply chain transition. Bad news is, well, I guess we'll find out if there's any bad news...

 

[mso489]

Will lower labor costs decrease the cost of the blends? Or is someone else grabbing all that? I'm glad they're back in business in any case, though I don't smoke PA and I like Chatham Manor better than Carter Hall.

 

[bullet08]

Another "fine" American product going oversee. Sigh.

 

[BarrelProof]

Will lower labor costs decrease the cost of the blends? Or is someone else grabbing all that? I'm glad they're back in business in any case, though I don't smoke PA and I like Chatham Manor better than Carter Hall.

I imagine someone else will grab that, along with increased landed costs associated with transport as well as any applicable duties. Wouldn't surprise me to see the cost go up...

 

[Spinkle]

 

[RookieGuy]

So, has anyone tried the Dominican versions? I'm wondering if they're as good as their northern versions.

 

[carolinasmokes]

So, has anyone tried the Dominican versions? I'm wondering if they're as good as their northern versions.

I was wondering the same thing, we all know they changed manufacturing to the Dominican Republic, but has anyone actually smoked the new blends is what people want to know, I know I do.

 

[RookieGuy]

I was wondering the same thing, we all know they changed manufacturing to the Dominican Republic, but has anyone actually smoked the new blends is what people want to know, I know I do.

Specifically, is it still as good as it was? Don't get me wrong, I like buying American when I can. But I still go to Walmart when I have to. If Dominican Carter Hall Is just as good, well I'd still rather smoke that than CH Match.

 

[carolinasmokes]

Specifically, is it still as good as it was? Don't get me wrong, I like buying American when I can. But I still go to Walmart when I have to. If Dominican Carter Hall Is just as good, well I'd still rather smoke that than CH Match.

Thanks RookieGuy, I don't really care where it's manufactured as long as it tastes pretty close to the original. Maybe even better!

 

[Spinkle]

I think it tastes the same. Caveat being that I only ever had it in the pouch before, and only ever had two pouches. So I’m probably not the best judge.

 

[mso489]

I've always favored DR cigars, though I don't smoke cigars much these days. I wonder if the sourcing of the tobacco would in any way relate. Carter Hall and PA are fairly mild, as are DR cigars, but the cigars have always been especially flavorful to me.

 

[f4phantomdriver]

This is sad news. I live about 45 minutes away from John Middleton tobaccos and this would mean that more Pennsylvania jobs are being sent out of the country. Prince Albert is my all day blend. Thank God I have a connection with a person who owns a cigar shop who inherited all the tobacco when he took the store over. He is not selling pipe tobacco so his stock is sitting in his house. I buy what I need from him which is nice because he has the Pennsylvania manufactured PA and CH. When the shortage took place I still had an unopened tub and some pouches left of PA, so I looked for a replacement before I would open the last tub. I chose Lane Limited Ready Rubbed which is phenomenal. I bought four tubs of it so I don't have to be without my beloved Burley. Since I found the connection with original Prince Albert, those tubs of LLRR can age quietly in my cellar. I don't know if the Dominican Republic PA will be the same. The reason being is because the equipment to make the tobacco which consists of steaming and crimping the leaf is unique. When JM acquired PA from R.J. Reynolds they gave them the recipe and I believe the special steaming equipment.

 

[f4phantomdriver]

Specifically, is it still as good as it was? Don't get me wrong, I like buying American when I can. But I still go to Walmart when I have to. If Dominican Carter Hall Is just as good, well I'd still rather smoke that than CH Match.

I've had the Chatham Manor which was advertised as a Carter Hall match and I can say it is nothing like Carter Hall. When I opened the tub the tobacco was drenched in casing and when I tried to smoke it , it fried my whole mouth. I tried drying it out , packing it lighter and used filtered and unfiltered pipes with the same results. There is absolutely no similarities between Carter Hall and Chatham Manor. Taste, tin note, room note, and cut are nothing alike. Carter Hall and Prince Albert are their own animals. In my experience there is no replicating them.