Cornell & Diehl Billy Budd

This is a blend that I saw pipefriendchs smoke a lot and is one of his favorites so after watching I figured why not try it. I must say the blend does not dissapoint. Full flavor, nice aroma, and absolutely zero tongue bite. I even for the sake of trying I tried to hotbox this blend but no tongue bite. What worried me is that it apparently has maduro cigar in it which i dont like maduro cigars at all for some reason yet this blend didnt bother me in the least. In fact this is definitely one of my top 3 blends of all time. It is full and definitely an evening smoke for me. I would suggest this to anyone and everyone but if you are unsure always buy a 1 oz bulk bag first then go from there. Hope this helps 🙂

Most pipesmokers familiar with this website are proabably also familiar with the famed pipefriendchs on youtube.

Billy Budd has been his tobacco of choice for a number of years, and because of him and my love of Purple Cow. I decided to try some of this when i ordered a 5 blend sampler pack from the source.

The first bowl i smoked wasn't good, i dont know why, but all i tasted was cigar leaf. Must have not been mixed up right, or just bad bad luck or something, but i was initially disappointed.

I tried it again the next day however, and wow, it is fantastic. I have now smoked a number of bowls of it. Not as strong (at least to me) as other reviewers make it sound, but it is a very full flavored, stout, smoke.

Lots of Latakia flavor, but not a one dimensional tobacco at all; the components are nicely blended. There is always a spicy sort of cigar like note throughout the smoke and it becomes a lot more apparent at times, specially if smoked hot or fast. The virginia sweetness keeps it from being harsh, and the burly makes it a really good, complex smoke(i like little burly in english blends).

I am guilty of being a fast smoker, but i must honestly say that this blend is a whole lot better if smoked slowly.

It burns clean and dry, but a little fast, but oh well, buy it in bulk and its not drastically expensive and incredibly worth it.

I Hesitate to give it the highly recommended rating, simply because some people i would simply not recommend it to.

If one primarily enjoys the fine points of virginia flake, or the mildness of a pleasant aromatic, or even just light english blends like early morning or squadron leader, this may not be for you, but there is only one way to find out right? But, if you like a strong, full flavored, English blend, and want to try something a little unique, I really feel like you will enjoy this.

If you enjoy a good cigar you will like this blend. Well worth a smoke. This is a blend I keep on hand.

Damn, this is it. This is the smoke I've been looking for. Mouth watering flavor! This blend is delightful. It's boldly elegant with a complex flavor profile that won't overpower. It has that dry, earthy, creamy, full bodied aspect of a great cigar AND the sweet, bready, herbal smokiness of a classic English blend. I really enjoy the way the citrus from the grassy Virginia creates an elegant floral note with the Latakia. The cigar leaf is sweet, earthy, woody, and smooth. It plays well with the nutty, tangy Burley. They also contribute to a medium espresso note. It's a smooth, dry, and sweet smoke with Latakia boldly shooting right down the middle. The cigar leaf is supporting but always present, showing different faces and creating rich new flavor combinations with the other varietals. Every bowl of Billy Budd satisfies me in all ways, bold flavor, surprising complexity and a good nicotine hit. It behaves well in the pipe, burns great, no bite, no gurgle. For me personally Billy Budd is on the same level as Dunhill Night Cap. -- Highly recommended

Update 2020: After the first puff of Billy Budd my evening smokes forever changed to cigar blends. IMHO it's a superior genre to the classic Latakia based English blend. The cigar leaf adds a fantastic flavor profile and makes for a fuller and complex smoke. My favorites are Billy Budd, Robusto, Habana Daydream and Key Largo. Four towering master pieces. True works of art in the blending world.

I finally decided to order a 2oz. container of this after discovering it in many of my very experienced pipe smoking friend's collections. I'm very happy I did.

The smell when you open the tin isn't great, but often times tobacco doesn't taste close to how it smells. The flavor is wonderful. I'm not a fan of heavy latakia usage, and I feel there is just the right amount in Billy Budd. I like the taste, but not when it's the ONLY taste. When puffing, the first few seconds after exhale are predominately latakia, which nicely fades into sweeter and milder flavors with the cigar leaf gently coming in without being over-powering at all. The after taste is EXCELLENT. I wouldn't have minded more of a cigar punch since I came from cigars, I just mention this to let non cigar smokers know that it's not a punch to the face.

It burns excellently after I air it out for about 10-15 minutes. I also pack my pipes more loosely than many, so I don't know how this burn when packed more firmly. So far this is the best tobacco I've tried in the year I've been smoking pipes. Aromatics are simply too boring and droll to enjoy, and everything I've ever smoked with latakia has been far to latakia- ish, so I'm happy to say I've found something that isn't too weak or too strong.

This is an everyday smoker for me and one I'll have in my collection for as long as it's in production.

It took a while but I finally got around to trying this stuff. The rave reviews it has received are totally justified. In short, this is an exceptional pipe tobacco and I'm jumping on the bandwagon!

Generally, I don't care much for latakia in more than very condimental levels. This one is the exception, the pouch note had me worried because the aroma was predominantly the new tire-like aroma of the camel dung weed. Much to my surprise though, when set afire, the other tobaccos in the blend seemed to balance everything out and the result was an absolutely wonderful smoke. Still very heavy in latakia mind you but it didn't come across as excessively so like in, say, Mountain Camp or Edwards Special Balkan. Much to my delight, Billy Budd didn't give me the "latakia hangover" even when smoked all day exclusively. You know, the latakia hangover, you wake up the morning after a day of heavy latakia smoking and your mouth tastes like a gym sock, your chest feels like someone is standing on it and your heartburn is booming beyond description. Nope none of that here, just a good full flavored, smoke that can and has proceeded directly to the front of the class.

I doubt it, or anything else will ever unseat OJK as top of the heep but this comes close and provides a wonderful one two punch with OJK. Both very full, somewhat similar but at the same time, totally different. If you're a reformed cigar smoker, burleyphile or just someone who enjoys a good full flavored pipe tobacco, this one is must try

My favorite blend indeed. I smoke this everyday. It's my "go-to" tobacco. The "pipe-tobacconess" of this blend comes through on the top but that hint of cigar comes through in just the right ammount.

The tin aroma is that of mostly latakia. As a matter of fact, it smells just like a campfire. it's ready to smoke right out of the tin and it's very smooth. She smokes cool but fast, one of the characteristics i adore about this blend.

Unfortunatly, you need to steer clear of any company that doesn'y appreciate a good cigar. To me it smells great, but to everyone else, it's smells terrible. *Shrug*

4 stars in my book. Tastes great, smells great, smokes great. Gold in tobacco form. Anyone who appreciates a good cigar should go for this.

Purchased directly from C&D. This is an outstanding blend... one of my favorites. The cigar and Latakia are evident immediately, later down the bowl the Virginia comes through. Good and strong... the way I like it. No tongue bite, lights easily, but requires a few re-lights for me. Great smoke in my Meer-Calabash. I have hoarded away five lb. of this great blend. You will not be disappointed... More to follow after it ages.

When I was new to pipe smoking I made the (good) mistake of trying Billy Budd as my second tobacco. At my first light I thought I was smoking a luxurious cigar. Soon the Latakia and Virginia kicked in and it had me enjoying every puff. I found the smell of the smoke to be very sweet and enjoyable. I really haven't found anything like it yet. Most likely because I keep coming back to it again and again. There is nothing like a nice relaxing smoke with some good old Billy Budd. My only complaint is that the Latakia can be a bit much for people new to the taste, but it should handle well with smokers used to it. C&D has really spoiled me, and for as long as they produce Billy Budd they will have my business.