Cornell & Diehl Habana Daydream

I received a couple ounces of this blend a few months back in a sampler that also contained Key Largo. I "jarred" the tobacco and cellared it away. I smoked some of the Key Largo and liked it so much that I ordered a few more tins. I finally got around to trying the Daydream last night and it was a wonderful experience. The smoke was smooth and the flavor was quite good, both during the smoke and afterwards. The Latakia is with you through the bowl and the Perique sort of jumps in and out at frequent intervals. The cigar leaf lends itself to my memories of a few fine cigars I smoked years ago but this is still fine pipe tobacco and smokes as such. The smoke is so smooth, mellow, and satisfying that like a really good story you just don't want it to end. There was definitely nicotine in the bowl but I didn't find it overpowering. If you're looking for a great, well-rounded, flavorful smoke I highly recommend Habana Daydream.

This is my first review for this site. After a 20+ year hiatus, I am rediscovering the joys of pipe smoking. After spending a couple months sampling over a dozen different blends, this is the one I keep going back to.

I originally called C&D to order some Billy Budd, from the recommendation of PipefriendCHS. The nice lady at C&D included Havana Daydream in the sampler pack, thinking that if I liked Billy Budd, I would also like HD.

I tried the Billy Budd, and was not really impressed. Because of that, I didn't really want to try the HD, thinking if I didn't like BB, I wouldn't like HD. Well, how wrong I was!

HD is a great smoke! Full-bodied, smooth, cool burning. I'm enjoying a bowl as I type this, and I really love it. Yes, you can taste the cigar leaf, but it's not the same as smoking a cigar. It's definitely a pipe tobacco: rich, flavorful, and very satisfying. I can't detect the Latakia in this blend at all.

I recently acquired a tin of Dunhill Nightcap via eBay, and the comparison can be made between HD and Nightcap, in that they are both full-bodied, complex blends. However IMHO, HD wins hands-down. When my 2 oz baggie runs out, I'm calling C&D for more.

I love a smoke with coffee in the morning, HD would not work well in that context. It's also not an all-day smoke for me, not yet anyway. But after hours, when it's time to relax and contemplate life, HD really shines. Try it yourself and see. Two thumbs way up for this outstanding blend.

As close to a cigar as I've been able to find in a pipe blend. It's still a far cry from a cigar. Complex and flavorful, it's a very satisfying smoke. When I want a change of pace from the English, the Balkan, the Virginias, this is what I go for. A great blend.

Getting back into pipe smoking after being away for 25 years, I thought I'd enjoy aromatics as in the past, and while I do, I'm very surprised at how much I enjoy this non-aromatic.

I smoke an occasional cigar but truly prefer the pipe and this is a great smoke that gives itself to that of a cigar., But I'm not certain what cigar is actually this good. Unlike a cigar that I find goes rancid towards the end; Habana Daydream stays wonderful from beginning to end.

My wife tells me that she enjoys the smell of this tobacco, reminding her of what her dad and uncle use to smoke many years ago.

Buy a Bag and enjoy.

Update: I've always been a piper who, for decades, always smoked several different blends, never really stopping on one for long. This, however, is now pretty much all I smoke now with an occasional pipeful of something english. Flavor is great, never ever been bit. Smooth as a babies butt. Truly a great blend and very highly recommended for those who like a unflavored straightforward smoke where the flavor is all tobacco. Wow!!

I've waited a long time, smoking this for several months, before offering any opinion. I've got a bowl going right now....

Interesting looking in the bag....looks like mostly light VA with some darker leaf and yes some cigar leaf. Tends to smoke better when a tad on the dry side. Easy to load, I prefer a "medium tight" packing though looser seems to let some flavors out. Stay lit with only a few relights. The taste is mysterious, almost difficult to describe. I get the VA's out front and they are top quality. The perique and any other leaf, including the cigar leaf hangs out near the back, always there and helping the overall flavor. It's a rich smoke, on the strong side, always satisfying. The first few bowls I wasn't too sure about this stuff but on a daily basis I find myself reaching for this, especially at night when hanging out in front of the computer and my radios. I don't detect any casing or flavoring, just 100% really fine tobacco. "Cigarish" yes but not at all like smoking a stogie, just a gentle hint there. Smooth, creamy, never been bit. Yep I really like this stuff and imagine it will be at the top of my rotation. Highly recommended.

Gentleman, you can stop searching for underrated great blends right here. Habana Daydream is a fantastic smoke! If you're a pipe smoker, this is a must try. It's a cleverly crafted bit of cigar leaf tobacco. Personally, I'm a fanboy and I order HD in the 8 oz tin. I find this to be a full body, complex and heavy blend that is tremendously satisfying. It's on the opposite end of the spectrum as a straight Virginia. One might say the yin and yang of pipe tobacco.

The flavor is robust, complex with main notes of creamy cigar leaf, grassy Virginia, smokey Latakia and plumy Perique, complimented by faint nutty, earthy and sugary molasses notes. You taste the hint of cigar in every puff, along with the sweet grassy Virginia. The creamy and smokey Latakia flavor is farther in the background but steady and present, the perique shows up randomly with a bit of pepper. The Cavendish smooths the edges of this blend nice and silky. After reading it only has a spoonful of cigar leaf I was surprised how upfront and at attention the cigar tastes. I keep going back and forth on whether I think this, or Billy Budd, is more robust. In the end, with the perique peppery flavor, this ends up being slightly more robust in taste. It has loads of flavor without tongue bite no matter how hardily puffed.

This is a blend with some balls. The nicotine is medium/strong, which I love. If the vitamin N has you in its grasp, you enjoy a little cigar note and you're needing a stress pipe, this flavorful smoke will really hit the spot and leave you extremely satisfied. --- Four Stars!

Good job, C&D!

To me this should be be called Heavanly Daydream. This is my favorite smoke by far. Its like a wonderful vaper with some cigar that adds to the complexity of this smoke. I used to smoke cigars but I made a deal with my wife that I could smoke more if I give up cigars. This is the perfect compromise. It is a very full blend that will knock your socks off, not for the novice smoker. Someone before said don't drive while smoking. I have done this without any issues but the Vitamin N will get you so smoke with caution. It is a sweet smoke and the perique is deffinately present wich helps prevent tongue bite. I wouldn't say it's like a cigar but the cigar leaf makes it self known. I like Billy Budd so this is a nice alternative to that, but personally I like it better than billy budd. If you like a good, hearty, full smoke with a nic kick this is one to try. Highly, highly, recommended.

I really like cigar blends, and would have to say that both Habana Daydream and Key Largo are right up there in my books. The Latakia is a bit more pronounced in Habana, and the taste is a little smoother and less "sharp" than KL...not necessarily "better", but just different. Anyhow, a great tobacco that develops nicely, with periques showing later in the bowl. N kick is there but not overwhelming, especially if you're somewhat tolerant. I also like the fact that I can buy in bulk - $30 for a pound is much nicer than $14 for 50g in a tin.

Cornell & Diehl - Habana Daydream.

I don't smoke many cigar leaf blends, I adore cigars (I have one every evening), but I often find it can be too overpowering in a pipe blend: hogs the flavour and can seem bitter. So, for some strange reason I bought this, lol!

It's quite a clean cut ribbon, with only a few twiggy pieces in there, and there's not enough of them to be a hindrance. I enjoy the smoke from Habana Daydream: a smooth cigar quality, on top of quite a complex combination of pipe leaves. These work together to form a flavoursome taste: Rich, is the one word that sums up this confluence of flavours. I get no tongue bite, at any point, and the smoke's just below medium in build.

The nicotine's close to being strong, and I'm indifferent toward the note.

I wouldn't want this regularly, but it's an extremely well accomplished blend:

Highly recommended.