Cornell & Diehl Billy Budd

I didn’t catch much cigar taste from this. Maybe a bit off of the room note. Very burly latakia forward. Great full flavored lat burly blend.

I love it when Cigar leaf is in a blend. This burley blend is a go to blend for many. I thoroughly enjoy smoking this.The burley is very nutty.

If one was looking for a unique English blend, I would recommend this. However, if someone wanted a blend that tasted like cigar I would say look elsewhere. A good blend, I just didn't taste cigar. I liked this as a nice strong English blend but when I want cigar I'll stick with a Fuente.

Soli Deo gloria!

I received a 1oz sample of this and I liked it, and it didn't last very long?. Very velvety on the tongue and somewhat sweet mid-bowl. I did have moisture issues with it though, even after standing overnight ready for the morning coffee. I hate gurgling pipes! I wish I had more to give it time to knock my socks off like the other reviewers, but it just didn't quite get the 4 stars for me. But worth trying, at least once.

A pipe tobacco as subtle as Chuck Norris.

I didn't know what to expect from this, but I was curious to try it.

First and foremost, I did enjoy this. But I am a bit surprised by the effusive praise others have lavished on it.

It is very full-flavored, and by that I mean this is a roundhouse kick. This fulness of flavor is matched by a full and heavy texture. While the cigar leaf is only a condiment here, its presence is very evident from the first light. The marriage of Latakia and cigar leaf is mostly a pleasant combination, but to my palate is slightly discordant.

I detected not a hint of sweetness in this smoke, only a rich abundance of savory, leathery and peppery flavors. And I do mean a rich abundance of flavors. Did I mention this is full-flavored?

I liked it.

On the one hand, I love the flavor of English and Balkan blends. On the other, I don't like the fact that so few of them deliver an appreciable nicotine fix. Billy Budd is the exception, and boy what an exception it is! Although it is advertised as a cigar blend, I tend to think of it as an American English on steroids. There is certainly a cigar note to this, but I taste primarily burley and latakia with just a hint of sweetness from the Va. This is a very well-executed mixture, not at all complex but nonetheless very absorbing. Hats off again to C&D -- I've taken to smoking this on a regular basis. One note: When ordered directly from C&D, this stuff is way too "green" and needs at least a couple of months in a jar before smoking. Otherwise, this merits at least three stars.

A very, very good cigar blend!This really is for the cigar fancier. I generally like cigar blends and this is no exception.It has great ,deep flavor of a good,but not great Maduro cigar.There is also plenty of Latakia to add to the flavor.It smokes cool and dry. This blend has no bite at all and really belongs in every English Blend Lovers rotation.The only reason I am giving it 3 instead of 4 stars is the following:This really is more of a cigar with pipe tobacco added than it is a pipe blend with cigar added. A must try for cigar and English blend smokers. Nothing like 123 Mixture or Churchill,but more like Robusto by Pease.3 of 4 stars!

ever had a cigar-smoking friend that wanted to try pipesmoking? if they like strong cigars in maduro wrappers, you have found their blend. this is another very full english blend from C&D, with a lot of latakia and cigar leaf. the cigar leaf is very apparent in the flavor, actually more so than the latakia, IMHO. this one would definitely be a tobacco that you either loved or hated, i don't think there would be much middle ground. i smoked it in a large bent peterson, a striker long draw, and an XL kirsten. the cigar flavor was more pronounced in the peterson, and i found i liked it better in this pipe. the burn and lighting were average for a C&D blend, which would be a "good" rating for anyone else. craig's blends have always been very good in this regard. i smoke billy budd when i'm in the mood for a good macanudo cigar, which i usually can't afford. if you like a lot of latakia and/or good cigars, definitely try this one. 3 stars.

This blend is becoming my go to when I’m looking for something with more depth than a Straight Virginia or Vaper, but still something light. I put this squarely in the middle for me in terms of weight but it still is exactly what I’m looking for when I’ve ruled out extremes. I also appreciate that this is not at all a sweet blend.