Cornell & Diehl Billy Budd Blonde
(3.32)
A blend of bright Virginia flake, white burley, chopped cigar leaf, and a touch of perique, Billy Budd Blonde is a sweet sequel to the blend originally created for C&D's late friend Sailorman Jack.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Series | Melville At Sea |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Cigar Leaf Based |
| Contents | Burley, Cigar Leaf, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin, bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.32 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 05, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I was not a fan of the old BB, finding it too harsh and confusing. However I do (did) love Habana Daydream and still stick to Bayou Night, Tuggle Hall and Atlas Balkan.
This one tastes like sweet grass clippings. I realize it was intended to be a lighter version of a heavy tobacco, but I find the VAs to be too grassy and prominent. There is a sweetness in here that seems out of place. The Perique is fairly far in the background as is the cigar leaf and neither are likely to offend anyone. The white burley tempers the Vas but do not seem to add much taste.
Smoking qualities are excellent, very natural, utterly no bite. However, it is the lack of flavor and body, for me, which tips the scales.
This one tastes like sweet grass clippings. I realize it was intended to be a lighter version of a heavy tobacco, but I find the VAs to be too grassy and prominent. There is a sweetness in here that seems out of place. The Perique is fairly far in the background as is the cigar leaf and neither are likely to offend anyone. The white burley tempers the Vas but do not seem to add much taste.
Smoking qualities are excellent, very natural, utterly no bite. However, it is the lack of flavor and body, for me, which tips the scales.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 17, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Billy Budd Blonde has a light jar note after 6 months, hay, slightly citrus, and a dusty earthy note but not much else that stands out. The blend is a base of their VA Flake, White Burley (my review on that will be forth coming), cigar leaf and perique. So this is something that with their blending elements you could put together yourself. As such it serves as a bench mark for what a good blender (of which I do not count myself as one) can do with the basic elements. The smoke itself is VA Flake forward and is a little earthy, with notes of hay out front and some citrus behind it. There is a dark fruit notes that soon follows with a little tang. I did note this in their VA flake but this could also be from the perique here as well. The White Burley is a little nutty, woodsy and slightly bitter. The cigar leaf is not as forward as it is in the classic Billy Budd but serves a supporting role and is very smokey and woodsy and a little dry for lack of a better description. The perique brings some dark fruit notes of raisin and to a lesser extent figs and does have a slight pepper note. The nic is about at the center of med. Not something I wanted to smoke all day but was repeatable. Overall, not a bad blend and I did enjoy it but when compared to the original I find it wholly wanting. 2.5 stars rounded down as I do not see myself picking up anymore of this one.
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Very Pleasant |
I should warn the reader that I have zero experience with cigar blends. If I wanted a cigar, I smoked a cigar. I am going into this completely inexperienced and open minded.
This blend really epitomizes a pure tobacco experience. The cigar leaf melds harmoniously into the mixture in that it nudges the other components, never speaking singularly. A chorus of tobacco and more tobacco. The lit room aroma, sidestream, and taste to some extent all share one characteristic, the distinctive smell of a tobacconist with at least several patrons or employees smoking. This takes that classic cigar store smell and puts it in a pipe. It is bitter bakers chocolate, spice, earthy dark tobacco, a vaguely smoky, leathery sense all competing for one’s attention .
Unfortunately this blend can be quite bitter, and though I personally love all things bitter, I’m not sure this works to BBB’s advantage. I found that this smoked much more evenly if rubbed out even further. Has a tendency to develop quite an ashy edge in the second half of the bowl. Not at all a bad smoke, and not one I would rule out ever smoking again. It’s good but not great.
This blend really epitomizes a pure tobacco experience. The cigar leaf melds harmoniously into the mixture in that it nudges the other components, never speaking singularly. A chorus of tobacco and more tobacco. The lit room aroma, sidestream, and taste to some extent all share one characteristic, the distinctive smell of a tobacconist with at least several patrons or employees smoking. This takes that classic cigar store smell and puts it in a pipe. It is bitter bakers chocolate, spice, earthy dark tobacco, a vaguely smoky, leathery sense all competing for one’s attention .
Unfortunately this blend can be quite bitter, and though I personally love all things bitter, I’m not sure this works to BBB’s advantage. I found that this smoked much more evenly if rubbed out even further. Has a tendency to develop quite an ashy edge in the second half of the bowl. Not at all a bad smoke, and not one I would rule out ever smoking again. It’s good but not great.
PurchasedFrom:
SP
Age When Smoked:
Fresh bulk
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 29, 2024 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Cornell & Diehl
Billy Budd Blonde
Blend notes: “A blend of bright Virginia flake, white burley, chopped cigar leaf, and a touch of perique, Billy Budd Blonde is a sweet sequel to the blend originally created for C&D's late friend Sailorman Jack.”
Ingredients: Burley, Cigar Leaf, Perique, Virginia.
The obvious cross comparison with Billy Budd Blonde has to be Billy Budd. The Bill Budd contains Burley, Cigar Leaf, Latakia, Virginia; this Billy Blonde Blonde removes the Latakia and adds in the Perique.
Thus, the Cigar leaf in Billy Budd Blonde is more prominent. In Billy Budd, the Cigar contends with the Latakia which in that blend is up front and in leadership. Here in Billy Budd Blonde, the Cigar leaf can shine, and it does, though not in an over-powering manner.
The Perique brings a sourness that provides a kind of counterbalance to the Cigar in the blend. The Virginia and Burley are entirely structural, in the background. Even so, the Cigar leaf taste dusty, or dry, and not all that flavorful, but there is a ton of smoke.
Some reviewers feel that the Cigar is barely present, but I’d argue it dominates Billy Budd Blonde. Perique can have an over-sized impact with a small amount. So, what is the goal of this blend? It is not remotely sweet. If you are a VaPer lover AND smoke cigars, this will feel like a good blend. If you are a VaPer lover because you love integrated Virginias and good Perique, you will find Billy Budd Blonde wanting, or confusing.
While I gave Billy Budd a rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars, I would give Billy Budd Blonde a mere 2.0 out of 4.
Of the blends with Cigar leaf I have so far tried, I’d rate King’s Stride as excellent, in the top tier. Then in 2nd place, Awakened Elder or Billy Budd. In 3rd place, Habana Daydream. In 4th place, Cloud Hopper. And in last place, Country Lawyer, Seersucker and Billy Budd Blonde.
2 out of 4 stars.
Billy Budd Blonde
Blend notes: “A blend of bright Virginia flake, white burley, chopped cigar leaf, and a touch of perique, Billy Budd Blonde is a sweet sequel to the blend originally created for C&D's late friend Sailorman Jack.”
Ingredients: Burley, Cigar Leaf, Perique, Virginia.
The obvious cross comparison with Billy Budd Blonde has to be Billy Budd. The Bill Budd contains Burley, Cigar Leaf, Latakia, Virginia; this Billy Blonde Blonde removes the Latakia and adds in the Perique.
Thus, the Cigar leaf in Billy Budd Blonde is more prominent. In Billy Budd, the Cigar contends with the Latakia which in that blend is up front and in leadership. Here in Billy Budd Blonde, the Cigar leaf can shine, and it does, though not in an over-powering manner.
The Perique brings a sourness that provides a kind of counterbalance to the Cigar in the blend. The Virginia and Burley are entirely structural, in the background. Even so, the Cigar leaf taste dusty, or dry, and not all that flavorful, but there is a ton of smoke.
Some reviewers feel that the Cigar is barely present, but I’d argue it dominates Billy Budd Blonde. Perique can have an over-sized impact with a small amount. So, what is the goal of this blend? It is not remotely sweet. If you are a VaPer lover AND smoke cigars, this will feel like a good blend. If you are a VaPer lover because you love integrated Virginias and good Perique, you will find Billy Budd Blonde wanting, or confusing.
While I gave Billy Budd a rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars, I would give Billy Budd Blonde a mere 2.0 out of 4.
Of the blends with Cigar leaf I have so far tried, I’d rate King’s Stride as excellent, in the top tier. Then in 2nd place, Awakened Elder or Billy Budd. In 3rd place, Habana Daydream. In 4th place, Cloud Hopper. And in last place, Country Lawyer, Seersucker and Billy Budd Blonde.
2 out of 4 stars.
Pipe Used:
IMP Meerschaum
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