Cornell & Diehl Billy Budd

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.

This is definitely not for everyone. Billy Budd has a full, rich, briny flavor that seems to come from a synergy between latakia and cigar leaf. And that's not all. The burley, and VA add depth, some subtle sweetness, and a lot of complexity to the smoke. It's rough around the edges, and is best when smoked with some care. There is enough cigar in it to burn a little if it gets hot, and it can bite some, but it's so good I have a little trouble slowing down. I haven't tasted another blend like this, though some reviewers have drawn comparisons. I disagree with those who say it tastes too cigar-like, though I can see where they're coming from. To my taste, this is definitely more pipe blend than cigar, but it is a unique one. There is plenty of N in this, too, so ride easy. It is a pretty bulky blend, and burns much more quickly than any other in my collection. This is excellent tobacco. I recommend it highly for both pipe and cigar aficionados, but it is not for the faint of heart. Devoted aromatic smokers would do best to steer clear of this one unless they seek the adventure, romance and danger of the high seas.

A wonderful blend. Very, very, very close in taste to my all-time favorite Crowley's Best. Take the cigar leaf out and you got Crowley's Best. The only complaint I have is that it could be a little stronger. The cigar leaf also leaves a bad taste in your mouth and your breath, but this is excellent stuff. If they kicked the strength up a few notches I wouldn't smoke anything else. Herman Melville would be proud of Billy Budd. I can't imagine anyone not liking this. 5 stars for Billy Budd.

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.

I opened this bag of treasure to the smell of cedar and hickory. It actually made me crave barbecue. I put a little bit in a small Dr. Grabow pipe to sample it, but circumstance was not on my side and I got no chance to really experience it.

I am smoking it now as I am typing it an MAN what a tobacco! I have found it in many cases not to trust reviews, but that is not the case with Billy. I do not see how any pipe smoker could not appreciate this tobacco. I can taste the cigar leaf, but it is something like from comfortable medium bodied stick and not overpowering. This tobacco has just the right kick to it to be thoroughly enjoyed. Extremely good for after dinner, and very cool and smooth. I will make sure to add this to my repertoire of smokes.

Highly Recommended! Cheers.

My second favorite tobacco. Came a little dry though. Burns to a very fine white ash. I noticed people saying it tasted too much like cigar. I disagree. It just tasted a little more full than I was expecting, which was a delightful surprise.

Velvety is the first word that comes to my mind when I think of Billy Budd. The combination of Virginia, Burley, Latakia and cigar leaf C&D achieved with this mixture is nearly perfect. Although the cigar smoker may find the leaf used here a couple of steps below top grade, it greatly enhances the natural flavors of topnotch Virginias and wonderfuly interplays with Latakia to deliver one of the most gratifying smokes a pipe tobacco can provide.

Needless to say, due to the cigar component DGT doesn't work on this blend. In fact, smoking a left off bowl can be disgusting.

In november 2008 this blend (which I received then fresh fron C&D) was just terrible due to extreme harshness. I tried some bowls, wrote a one star review and put the tobacco in a sealed jar. I almost forgot this jar, but going through my tobacco stock I last week I decided to give it another try, before dumping it definitely. What a pleasant surpise! this tobacco has turned into a full, smooth and creamy smoke! Excellent! An unbelievable transformation. Now 4 stars, no doubt.



Original Review: Reading the reviews so far I fully agree with all of them. Except for the recommendation part: I just don't like a pipe tobacco which only delivery is a latakia blast and a cigarette like experience. PS in general I really do like cigar blends, especially when the cigar leaf is combined with ripe Virginia (as in the McClelland and Pease cigar blends)