Tobaccos Cornell & Diehl - Billy Budd (Melville At Sea)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-07-13		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

All of you 1-Q smokers should just do yourself a favor and keep on walking because this blend is not for you.

That being said, this is one of the best tobaccos of this genre I've ever had the pleasure of smoking. Gifted to me by an ASP'er who found the strength of this blend nausiating, I found it to be just right for my ultra-high nicotine tolerance.

Smooth and flavorful, neither the latakia or cigar leaf overwhelm this blend. It's a perfect combination of tobaccos for those who like their pipe tobacco to pack a wallop and still taste good.

No gurgle, no tongue bite and burns to a fine ash. High marks here for the blend crafted for the late Lawrence Kobak aka "Sailorman Jack".

50 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2009-11-08		Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

Cigar anyone? Latakia anyone? Nicotine fix anyone? Billy Budd answers the bell on all three counts and delivers a knockout punch!

The combination of the Latakia/Cigar/Virginia/Burley makes for an unusual presentation both in the tin and at the match. The tobacco burns smoothly and cool. No sweetness here... just a plain old tobacco taste. Nothing subtle about Billy Budd either; it's combination of flavors and strength slapped me around like no other cigar leaf blend I've ever tried.

Speaking of getting slapped, don't kiss the spouse immediately after smoking this one.

42 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2015-05-18		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

This is a blend for people who complain that smoking X is "thin" or like "smoking hot air." If you want flavor this is it.

The cut is large and irregular. It came a little dry. It packs easily and burns well. It did not smoke hot for me, and there is enough flavor to keep you from puffing to try to find some.

The smoke is burley and latakia forward. It is smooth and smoky. There is a constant slightly bitter from the burley and a solid earthy foundation. There are sweet Virginia and mellow cigar notes every now and then. The cigar adds to the full flavor and backs up the latakia nicely. The Virginia is sweet and a little grassy. It works well and there is a certain chewy quality to the smoke.

Recommended for someone who is not sensitive to nicotine and wants a full flavored smoke.

39 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-08-10		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

My favorite blend of all brands. Full flavored, complex, slightly sweet, great afternoon and evening smoke. Ages superbly.

24 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MacNutz (12)	2013-07-06		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I'm fond of Lat bombs so it will come as no surprise that I like Billy Budd. The cigar leaf is noticeable but for me it's only a hint not the forward flavour. In this blend that forward note would be the latakia, influenced by but not over powered by the cigar leaf.

It is a good full flavoured tobacco blend, not for the faint of heart or those who don't like Latakia.

However, if you are a cigar smoker looking for a cigar like pipe blend, you will likely be disappointed. I think cigar smokers should avoid pipe blends with some cigar qualities because expectations will probably not be met.

23 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2014-04-28		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

The best cigar leaf mixture I have tried so far. The cigar taste is to the forefront but you also get some Latakia smokiness and dryness. Since I also smoke cigars, I know what to expect from such a tobacco, it's not for everyone.

With those condiment tobaccos it's impossible for me, to detect the lighter tasting Bright Virginia or Burley. I guess, those are used to help with the combustion of such a slow burning mixture.

Virginia lover

18 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-02-03		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

I picked up my pipes again after a few years smoking cigars exclusively. In so doing, I found most of the pipe tobaccos I started smoking again to be lacking in richness and complexity as well as smoothness. Afterreading many reviews on this sight, I sent away for among others, Billy Budd.

Well, joy was mine when I smoked this fine blend as part of a C&D sample package. I was interested in cigar leaf blends: I also compared smoked Purple Cow (C&D) and Robusto (GLPease), as well a couple aromatics.

Billy budd is a wonderfully full smoke that is the one I have been seeking. It is 50% latakia and needs some getting used to, but it is now my everyday smoke. I love the mouthfeel and rich luxury of its deep smooth full tobacco essence.

It is great! As for the other two cigar leaf blends, I find them somewhat unfocussed and uninteresting, though in matters of taste one must try for themselves.

In Billy Budd, I am pleased to have found a substantial and well blended pipe tobacco that is relaxing, powerful and pleasant. Thank you C&D.

17 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2015-07-28		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I was given a sample of this at this year's Chicago show by Chris Tarler. I have been wanting to try it for a while, but it had always slipped my mind when ordering. Anyway, I was able to get about five or six bowls of this one out of the sample.

The blend, like many of the C & D blends, is stout. The cigar, burley and lat dominate this one. It is very cigar like; moreso than Habana Daydream and I enjoyed it more than that one as well. It seems the heavy handed latakia did well to tame those earthy burleys giving a nice cool and smooth smoke.

I will definitely be ordering more of this and will leave it with three stars at present as I feel I need to smoke more to give it a fourth star.

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	quantumboy (130)	2009-05-16		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

UPDATE 2019-08-22: I am fortunate to have hoarded a bunch of tobacco years ago, now I have a stash which includes lots of ten year old leaf. After ten years in the jar, Billy Budd has become one of my all time favorites. What is amazing to me is that the Latakia smoke has greatly subsided and what is left is a smooth, incredibly well-integrated richness and toastiness that just intrigues. Refuses to bite. Delicious. Absolutely worth the effort to age for a long time!

Total refurb of my previous two star review. After about a year in the jar, this stuff has become absolutely sublime. Rich, smooth, toasty, flavorful, full, delicious! I don't believe I have ever witnessed such a dramatic change from a year of aging. I am very, very happy that I grabbed a pound of it when I did, and you can be sure I'll be stashing away a few more pounds as soon as possible. The best cigar blend I've tried to date, and one of the best blends of any kind in my cellar.

Age When Smoked: 10 years

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-04-24		Mild to Medium	Strong	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Loud and boisterous. If Star of the East flake is Philip Marlow, Billy Budd is Mike Hammer. A beautiful combination of sharp burley and virginia flavour, with the Latakia given some strength by the cigar leaf.

I could smoke this all day and all night, if necessary. It is mild, in the vitamin-N department, unlike many of the CD line-up, but it keeps its flavour from start to finish.

You can't really taste the cigar leaf per se. I suspect that it works inside the Latakia, serving as a kind of chemical additive to that worthy leaf.

Towards the last third of the pipe you get even more Latakia, with the burleys muted. I would presume that even CD's burleys, not generally a shy bunch, are upstaged by the other components to the point of just creeping away.

Outstanding in every respect.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DC MacBean (32)	2018-02-13		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Billy Budd reminded me, briefly, of McClelland's Coyote Classic Full, which is one of my all-time favorites, but the resemblance was ephemeral, as the unique qualities of Billy Budd came to bear, such as Burley and Cigar Leaf which Coyote Classic does not have. Conversely, Billy Budd does not contain Oriental/Turkish leaf that distinguishes Coyote Classic. Billy Budd has a rounded flavor, no sharp notes. It is Latakia forward, which is perhaps the quality that first invited my comparison with Coyote Classic, as well as the fact that the tobaccos used are premium in every respect, no inferior Burley leaf as a cost saver here. It was a little slow to stay lit, but once it was lit, it stayed lit to the bottom of a large bowl. The nicotine is, I would say, past medium bordering on strong. The Cigar Leaf is evident without giving the impression of a cigar. It is a cool smoke with no chance of a tongue bite. The room note is strong but not offensive, although some who are sensitive bystanders may disagree. It burns to a fine gray ash, with no dottle, and no moisture.

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kraft1994 (54)	2014-01-31		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

Magnificent. I am a huge fan of C&D's Purple cow. Billy Budd seems to be a more refined version of Purple Cow. A great marriage between a cigar and an english tobacco. Very cool burning, very robust full flavored smoke. Very well done. The smoke is creamy, silky smooth and packed full of flavor. A nice dose of vitamin N as well. When I'm in the mood for a good cigar blend but Purple Cow's a bit much at the moment I'm sure to reach for Billy Budd. Well done C&D. as usual.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knightsmoker (218)	2016-03-22		Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is simply a brilliant tobacco. The CT leaf is very present and notes that are expected blend very well with the smokiness of the lat. The VA's are a little sweet but only slightly so and the burley gives a big base with its earthiness. The sum is greater then its parts. This blend has something about it that is simply indescribable when all these elements come together. The very best blend in this category I have smoked so far.

A couple of notes on the side that are worth mentioning: As a cigar smoker for 23 years I have had many cigar smokers ask if there is a pipe tobacco that tastes like a cigar. My answer is no. Don't expect a pipe tobacco to be exactly like a cigar they are made differently, etc. This is definitely cigarish however. The CT leaf really brings out things that remind me of a cigar but that is as far as I would go in describing it as cigar like there are other nuances that are distinctively pipe. Also a note about the strength. I have rated it as strong but the nic is really med-strong it is all other elements that moved the strength up.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brukspatron (14)	2014-04-07		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

A good strong mix with a high Latakia content. The Burley and Cigar Leaf gives it a really solid foundation. A real favorite after a fine sturdy dinner with game or BBQ. But can be a little mean to the tongue sometimes

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-11-04		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Heard some good reviews on this one, had to try. The cigar leaf was very present to me along with Latakia. There is nothing sweet in this blend, strong campfire/leather taste. Tastes just like it smells. This is the closest taste to a cigar in a blend I have yet tried. There were times while smoking it was quite bitter. At times I also got that sooty/charred taste and coating in the back of the throat. Need a strong drink with this one. I sometimes get tired of sweet Latakia blends, so this is a nice alternative, however not an everyday smoke. I did like it and I will smoke again.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Laserboy (16)	2015-11-17		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I find the consistency of the reviews of Billy Budd to be notable. And I agree with the overwhelming trend in them: BB is very flavorful, with the nutty and pleasantly bitter burley augmented by the very forthright cigar leaf and further enhanced by plenty of smokey latakia. There's nothing subtle going on here, just a rich tapestry of powerful flavors, but they are well balanced. There's real artistry in combining all those flavors without them clashing and without any one seeming to win. And accompanying all that flavor is a pleasant wallop of nicotine. You're not going to make any friends with the room note, unless there's a cigar lover nearby. But I've never dared smoke this indoors!

BB is a fine way to start the day, accompanied by a big mug of strong coffee. I've found that it works just fine in any sized bowl, it packs easily and (of course) is best if a bit on the dry side. BB doesn't demand much from you--pack it, light it, smoke it, and enjoy.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tmoney (25)	2010-07-31		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

the first time I had this tobacco...

It was Labor Day weekend I was seventeen I bought a Coke and some Billy Budd And I drove out to the county fair When I saw her for the first time She was standing there in the ticket line And it all started right then and there Oh, a smoker's sky made a perfect sunset And that's the day I'll never forget

I had a barbeque stain on my white tee shirt She was killing me in that miniskirt Skippin' rocks on the river by the railroad tracks She had a suntan line and Dunhill Pipe I worked so hard for that first smoke And a heart don't forget something like that

Well it was five years later on a southbound plane I was headed down to New Orleans To meet some friends of mine for Mardi Gras When I smelled a smoke from the past Comin' from a few rows back And when I looked, I couldn't believe just what I saw She said I bet you don't remember me And I said only every other memory

I had a barbeque stain on my white tee shirt You were killing me in that miniskirt Skippin' rocks on the river by the railroad tracks You had a suntan line and Dunhill Pipe I worked so hard for that first smoke And a heart don't forget something like that

Like an old photograph Time can make a feeling fade But the memory of a first smoke Never fades away

I had a barbecue stain on my white tee shirt She was killing me in that miniskirt Smokkin' pipes on the river by the railroad tracks She had a sun tan line and dunhill Pipe I worked so hard for that first smoke A heart don't forget, no a heart don't forget I said a heart don't forget something like that Oh, not something like that

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillBrown (137)	2015-07-27		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

My expectations for this one were as follows; a burley dominant blend with some cigar leaf and a smidgin of latakia. At least that's how others presented BB to me. Really, I like to think of this wonderful blend as an English blend; the latakia (the same leaf as used in Pirate Kake?) really shined here. Honestly, both the burley and cigar leaf lurked in the background a bit, and the latakia spiked especially on the snork. This blend is wonderful. It evoked taste bud memories of a handful of other blends, Chipman Hill, Bald Headed Teacher and Pirate Kake. There's a lot of nuance in Billy Bud—verging on complex.

Billy Bud is a solid performer, a great snorker! and I loved its overall taste profile. I wish it wasn't as strong as it is, but, nevertheless, I wholeheartedly recommend this one. A solid 3.75 stars (I always round down).

Keep on Pipin'!

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mark Andrew (4)	2014-09-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This is a solid blend, but in my opinion the experience I had was a far cry from the hype surrounding it. Billy Budd is a rich, bold, no nonsense smoke that'll bite ya if you're not careful, so take it easy!

I like bold and intense things, so I was eager to try Billy Budd. However, I felt that the over-all experience of this blend left me with a lot to be desired. I'm a novice pipe smoker so I was expecting this stuff to kick me in the teeth, but while I was smoking it I kinda had a thought like: "is that it?..."

I can't quite put my finger on what exactly I was expecting from this blend, but I guess I just wanted more richness to the smoke and taste. And as far as the nicotine hit is concerned, Old Joe Krantz packed more of a punch even though it is rated as more of a medium strength.

Pipe Used: Dr. Grabow "Full Bent"

Age When Smoked: 1 week old

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Palermo09 (23)	2014-08-10		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Very Strong

I do not have a lot of experience with cigar leaf blends, but I am a cigar smoker. I was looking forward to trying this one after having heard many good things. Out of the tin it is a little dry with strong cigar and latakia notes. You can see large pieces of cigar leaf and chunks of cubed burley. It smokes a little wetter than you would think being so dry in the tin. Strong cigar leaf and latakia dominate the flavor of the smoke. The burley gives it a full nicotine kick, which is great. A powerful blend not for the weak at heart. It is a permanent addition to my rotation but I could never smoke it all day long, let alone on an empty stomach. Worth a try for anyone looking for a good strong blend and enjoys the flavor of a bold cigar.

Pipe Used: Hackert stubby billiard

Age When Smoked: 2 years

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dr. Watson (3)	2012-12-01		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Given the short span of time I have had the pleasure of savoring this blend from C&D, Billy Budd has indeed outshined my modest shelf. Naturally, I tend to gravitate to Va/Pers or Burleys, yet this first foray into Latakia has been a pleasure.

BB begins with a nice toasty and smoky aroma with the tobacco lurking just below the surface to give a nice reminder of it's prescence. Roughly midway, the kick and flavor encapsulate your senses into the cigar-esque traits of this blend. The maduro and burley accentuate the Latakia (or the other way around) to allow a nice base note of sweetness from the Virginias to show.

Overall, BB pleases this smoker with it's rounded full flavor, decent strength, and modest profile. Recommended, though a good light roast coffee or dark tea goes quite well alongside this blend. A staple, if not a permanent fixture.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2010-02-08		Strong	None Detected	Full	Very Strong

First let me say that I like strong tobacco. I am also a twenty year cigar smoker. I find myself torn with this blend. First, at the risk of redundancy this is a full bodied, smooth, cool burning tobacco. I find it also has a slight sweetness. It packs well and comes pouch ready to smoke. My issue with this is that it simply has too much cigar leaf. If I want that much cigar taste, I'll smoke a cigar. It leaves a very strong ghost in the pipe. I do like blends with cigar leaf, especially the like Compton's Cuban Style. But I prefer cigar leaf in blends that are more balenced. This weed is worth a try, just be sure to dedicate a specific pipe to it. Two and a half stars.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sparks (7)	2009-11-07		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

Wow, yet another winner from our friends at C&D. Sailorman Jack really knew how to smoke, cause this stuff is the "bee's knees". Not an all day, or even everyday smoke for me, but definitely in my list of tobacco to stockpile.

I ordered a sample of this from one of the e-tailers that offers bulk samples. It is hard to find bulk samples of the C&D blends, but they are out there. It came a bit dry and with shipping for the 4 oz. was quite pricey. I tossed a few moisture discs into the bag and let it sit for a couple days. I wasn't looking for wet, but just a bit more moisture to make sure the tobacco didn't burn like a hay field.

You can see the cigar leaf in this blend. Though it isn't predominant, it is noticeable in the blended ribbons. The smell of the bag is delicious, but I love strong blends and I enjoy a good cigar here and there. The tobacco packs easy, burns well and will leave just ash in the bottom of your bowl. This one packs a wallop, there is a lot of flavor and if you don't like cigars, don't buy it. I don't think you will make any friends with the room note either, so use caution when smoking around crowds. Overall, a good stout blend. A lot smoother than I expected.

If you are a lover of strong, rich tobacco, you should enjoy this, if you don't like cigars, stay away. Those that say it tastes too much like a cigar ... It's a cigar blend, hello!

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	aadelma (67)	2008-12-30		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

Update 2/6/2010:

Raising my recommendation to 4 stars. Time is very kind to this blend. I have a mason jar full which is 2 years old and boy is it great. The sweetness is a bit greater, it is utterly biteless, and the latakia more balanced by the other tobaccos. I also think the nicotine is a bit more subdued, but it could also be I have a higher tolerance. Smoke it in a large bore pipe and it will burn well and taste great with big billows of smoke. Definitely one for cellaring.

Original review 12/30/2008:

This is about as full and in your face as a tobacco can get, kind of like America's answer to Dunhill Nightcap. The burley, latakia, and cigar leaf really marry together well, though latakia runs the show despite all the cigar leaf I see in there. This is a manly, meaty, tough-guy smoke which is full and rich yet very smooth on the palate. The aroma will clear a room full of non-smokers in an instant, though I love the scent of the latakia and cigar leaf. The high nicotine level will have you up and jumping in no time.

I have had this tobacco in both pressed and loose form and recommend you get it pressed as it is immediately ready to smoke (a first for C&D). In loose form, you really need to age it for at least 6 months or it will have some bite to it. After 6 months, it tastes pretty much the same as when pressed, so you might as well take the shortcut.

My only criticism of this blend is the crazy cut. There are 6" strips of cigar leaf mixed with big chunks of other tobaccos, making this difficult to evenly pack and pretty much impossible to pack into a small bore pipe. Still, this is one of the better cigar leaf blends I've tried, far better than GL Pease Robusto or Mclelland's offerings. It's use of burley really sets it apart from the crowd. I would rank it third behind the now defunct Mr. Alfred's Own and Peretti's Cuban Mix. Goes great with a Guinness Stout.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gary White (7)	2019-08-01		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Okay, I admit it, I do not have a palate and don't taste all the exquisite flavors some of the guys on this forum do. Normally tobacco tastes like tobacco. However, if I might digress a moment I did taste what seemed to be toasted oats in this mixture. That was the only flavor I had but the blend has a lot of wonderful things going for it. It's easy to pack, burns with few relights and has a teriffic cigar note. It doesn't bite and has a nice finish with no aftertaste in your mouth. It burned to a nice white ash. It was an all around wonderful smoke. Oh, and before I forget it, where does everyone get off saying how strong the Nic hit is on this blend. To me it was mild to medium at best. I remember having to crawl off the floor with Dunhill's Nightcap. Anyways, I think this blend should be rated highly and that's just what I did.

Pipe Used: Radice and Davorin Morta

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes.com

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steve Robinett (4)	2018-03-17		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

This is my go-to blend when I'm ready for a full, broad, no-holds-barred smoke. Lots of latakia smokiness and the burley adds a wonderful sharpness. I always have this in my rotation.

Pipe Used: Radice Poker, Peterson Bulldog

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	taima (12)	2018-01-27		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

This tobacco is not to be underestimated -- strong, rich, complex -- good strength and powerful aroma. I picked up an ounce from my tobacconist after taking a few whiffs. Packs well, smokes well, and so far my favorite English blend.

A warning: my girlfriend describes it as an "old man" tobacco and doesn't let me smoke it around her!

Pipe Used: briar

Age When Smoked: days

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gahdzila (61)	2017-03-20		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

I still remember my first bowl of Billy Budd. I was still almost exclusively a cigar smoker, but had been playing around with a pipe on occasion for a few months. I honestly don't remember now what I had tried and what I hadn't up to that point, but I do recall thinking that almost everything I had tried seemed wimpy and bland compared to cigars. Then I tried Billy Budd. It was my first go with a big latakia blend, and I was blown away. Love at first puff. A true watershed moment for me. I remember standing in my driveway, taking a puff, staring at the pipe in disbelief, and thinking "WOW! That's FANTASTIC!!"

How our tastes change

I smoked a lot of Billy Budd over the coming weeks/months after that, and eventually got a little tired of it as I started foraying into other things. I revisited it a few months ago....and though I wasn't floored, I certainly questioned the wisdom of going so long without it, and immediately ordered myself another 4 ounces.

So, anyway....on to the review.

BB is ready rubbed, I'd call it rough cut, I guess. C&D tobaccos are often a bit on the dry side, certainly never goopy, and BB is no exception to that. Packs easy, takes a flame quick, and is well behaved in the pipe. Nicotine is on the strong-ish side.

Latakia is definitely up front. I detect a lot of burley. I guess there is Virginia there, since C&D's description say there is....but it's certainly not at the forefront. My taste buds really zone in on the cigar leaf....and here's where things get weird. Mostly, the cigar leaf seems to meld quite well (though still easily distinguishable), and complement the other components. Occasionally, though.....BB just tastes like a cheap cigar to me. I haven't zeroed in on what the issue is. I always smoke it in a cob....so I don't think it's my choice of pipe. I guess it's just me. Kinda like corn flakes taste better in the morning and beer tastes better in the evening and desert tastes better at the end of a meal. There's some time of day or circumstance or something that occasionally makes this blend just not taste good at all to me. Thankfully, that unpleasant "cheap cigar" taste doesn't crop up very often.

Unfortunately, even when it's good, BB just doesn't excite me like it used to. I still smoke cigars occasionally, and when I want a cigar, I want a cigar, not a pipe that tastes like a cigar. When I want a pipe, I want a pipe that tastes like a pipe. As much as I want to like BB because of the nostalgia it holds for me, it just doesn't rock my world anymore.

I really hate the way this review is written. It makes it sound like I don't like BB at all...and that's not true! Objectively, I think it's really great at what it is, a burley-lat-cigar blend. And I still think it's a fantastic transitional tobacco for cigar smokers who are pipe curious, and will continue to recommend it as such. Mostly, I think, I've just smoked so much of it in the last year that it has begun to lose it's novelty for me.

originally reviewed 10/4/2012

Pipe Used: cob

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2016-08-02		Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Cornell & Diehl - Billy Bud.

This is a review based on the bulk variety.

Perfectly moist, fairly dark, and rugged are the first things to come to mind. There's also a negative that fits in with one of these descriptions: it contains a few twigs. As well as the twigs, it contains a myriad of sizes and shapes. It's mostly dark brown, but as well as the brown there's a small amount of black pieces, and a few lighter ones.

I like the smoke enough to award it two points, but I find it somewhat boring. The Cigar Leaf blocks the way quite heavily for the other flavours. The Latakia can only offer a very mild spice, and the Burley gives just a little nuts. For me the Cigar leaf hogs the profile; this is one for lovers of Cigar Leaf. The nicotine's strong but I wouldn't say it's any more. The best feature of Billy Bud, for me, is the burn: it's very reliable.

This is a well made blend, but you'll need to like Cigar Leaf:

Somewhat recommended.

Pipe Used: Mastro Geppetto

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dude (9)	2013-12-02		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

I am also fond of the occasional cigar and i like English blends.

I am not too fond of mild English blends as I dont find them too rewarding.

For me Billy Budd Is what I consider my "go to " English blend as the cigar leaf adds enough to keep things interesting. Other leafs provide medium + level of Nicotine . Does not smoke too hot but it does seem to smoke fast so I like with large bowl pipes. Ages well so I keep in bulk mason jar. Low maintenance smoke.

Pipe Used: Large bent reserved for Lat Blends

Age When Smoked: New bulk to 4 year bulk.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	puddlepirate (11)	2013-03-05		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

my favorite of the so-called cigar blends. It has abit too much latakia in it for me to enjoy bowl after bowl. I have mixed it with other blends such as Stogie, Carter Hall, John Bull and Strikeforce. I prefer this blend in my larger size corn cob pipes. Excellent.

Pipe Used: MM Country Gentlemen, Great Dane

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-12-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

I find this to be a nice blend when I am in the mood for Latakia but do not want a typical English blend. The cigar an burley leaf combine to give this blend some real depth in the low end of the taste spectrum. When I first smoked this I did not know the blend had cigar leaf in it but I could not figure out where the low notes of flavor were coming from. At first I thought the burleys in this blend were just really deep. When I found out this blend had cigar leaf it made sense to me. The blend smokes cool and has some nicotine strength although not at all overpowering. I recommend this blend to those wanting a Latakia blend with a nice little twist.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mo (81)	2012-06-14		Strong	Mild	Very Full	Tolerable

Depending on your tolerance for Nicotine and Full tasting blends, this will either be a feast or an assault on your senses.

One thing this blend does not lack is taste. Judging by the tobaccos used in this blend, it lives up to the taste profile I expected when i lit my pipe.

What i tasted was mainly Burley and Latakia. I did get some notes of what could be described as Cigar leaf. I feel that the Virginia leaf is just too delicate in taste to compete with the no holds barred Burley, Latakia and Maduro leaf.

Overall i feel this blend has its place. It is for a very late night smoke when your taste buds have been fried all day by whatever it was you have been smoking and you need some VitN and something you can actually taste at that time.

It does not make it into my rotation but i can see a place for this from time to time.

Mo, South Africa

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dr.sadik (120)	2009-01-21		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

a bang on the head,,,full tobaccobody and awonderful blend the latakia is present with a wonderful impact tth wont implicate the bitter taste cigar leafs add the required touch burning qualities are very nice,,leaves a thick solid ash tht needs tamping and a wider bowl to get godd quantity of air,,well balanced contents one of the best cigar blended mixtures,,go for it

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-11-30		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

This is a good, full bodied tobacco that burns well and packs well. You can smell it in the next room it is so robust, but fantastic. Get it in bulk ans try it!

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-09-12		Very Strong	Strong	Very Full	Pleasant

Sailorman Jack's passion for English blends with cigar leaf is what led to the development of Billy Budd, one of the finest pipe tobaccos I've ever smoked. This is a blend for those who truly appreciate a full-flavored tobacco. It also comes closer to offering the pleasure of a fine cigar than any other cigar-leaf blend I've tried.

I think the key here is the strong, stout burley, which blends with the cigar leaf and latakia to lend a heavy bottom note to the mixture. Cigar leaf responds to this in a way that it never does when mixed with Virginia. This blend is absolutely delicious (my mouth waters when I fill my pipe), doesn't bite, and really satisfies, with a nicotine buzz that only cigar leaf and burley can offer.

This is not an all-day blend (at least to me), but I do smoke it more than any other pipe tobacco. I can't recommend it enough.

PS: I also have several ounces of this in pressed form. Whoa nelly, that's some strong stuff! I actually prefer it unpressed.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PaulMcCoy (78)	2021-10-09		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

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.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Dagner cob

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gerry P (39)	2020-11-28		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I've stayed away from cigar leaf blends because I thought that if I wanted to smoke a cigar, I'd buy one. Recently I decided that I wanted something outside of my usual types, and ordered an ounce of this. I'm glad I picked this one. I love English Latakia blends, but sometimes wish they had a little more strength and depth since most are around the medium, maybe medium-high, level. This one fills that niche. The cigar leaf, from what I can tell, adds a creamy, deep mocha flavor that goes great with the latakia without burying it. Just what I was looking for, and now I have a bunch of cigar leaf blends to explore. :-)

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: Unk. bulk, purchased 2 months ago.

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fawzi (5)	2020-08-18		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

For those who consider themselves latakia persons, and who, in the same time, like cigar, this is the blend. Actually, I don’t smoke cigar, but love this blend, it’s really delicious!

Pipe Used: Castello

Age When Smoked: Not aged

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jorge Soler (203)	2019-03-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

A blend with cigar leaf, latakia and burley tobacco that reminds me of Shandygaff. The combination of these different profiles has been married to perfection, and the different levels or layers add complexity and depth to this blend. The tin note cries "English" right, left and center. I am not finding many similarities or intersections with Billy Budd Blonde apart from the fact I cannot detect any added flavours; this just natural tobacco. Very interesting, 4 stars.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jmagen (13)	2018-02-24		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Great blend. Latakia comes through in puffs, as does the creamy cigar leaf flavor. Speaking for myself, this blend is magic, but only in one particular pipe of mine: a Rossi billiard, Rubino to be exact. It's not heavy in latakia per se, but the two major flavors complement each other very well in Billy Budd. I've tried Habana Daydream (albeit not in my "cigar blend" pipe), and didn't like it nearly as much; didn't taste either latakia or cigar leaf sweetness.

Pipe Used: Rossi Rubino, Rossi 8320

Age When Smoked: ranging from fresh bulk to 1-3 months jarred

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LannarkGent (145)	2016-12-18		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bud_Harold (24)	2016-09-24		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Billy Budd is a hit with me. I really enjoy its nutty and spicy nature. The Va's offer a faint sweetness that helps to balance things out. As a former cigar/day smoker, I can say that I barely detect the cigar leaf present in this blend at all. It's definitely there, but not overwhelming as some reviewers have stated.

Strength is medium and the tobaccos burn at a fairly rapid pace, but no tongue bite is noticed even if you hot box this stuff. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a decent nic hit and a flavorful bowl of smoke. Awesome with a cup of coffee too!

Pipe Used: Grabow Royalton

Age When Smoked: 6 mos

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LivingFreeinTN (24)	2016-05-26		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Billy Budd is an in-your-face blend that you are either going to love or hate. I wouldn't go so far as to call it harsh, but it is an unapologetically full tobacco. BB was not a love at first light experience for me. The Latakia and cigar leaf combination was initially off-putting to me. I feel the Latakia flavors are kind of muted in this blend because of the maduro leaf which makes it less appealing to me. Overall, it just seems flat to me.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-09-06		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Billy Budd is one of my favorite tobaccos. When I purchased it I didn't intend on liking it, but I was wrong. The smell in the tin reminds me of leather and a pleasantly smokey wood fire. The latakia and burley are on the forefront with the cigar leaf being detectable if you look for it. I haven't been able to taste the virginia yet, but I bet it would be missed if it weren't there. I'm not a fan of burley at all, but with a great deal of latakia and some cigar leaf it works very well in this blend.

It packs easily and is also pretty easy to light. After smoking around 6 bowls from a new pipe, I noticed that there was no problem with it gurgling, burning hot, or going out. It did tend to get bite a little bit, but nothing compared to va/per blends, as well as getting bitter on those very last puffs, but that could be my pipe more than anything. The flavor starts off strong with latakia being in the forefront and the burley and cigar leaf adding some nutty and leathery flavors. As I smoked I noticed the burley becoming stronger and the latakia getting weaker, but the leathery aspect of the cigar leaf never diminished. As for the virginia tobacco, I can't taste it. No sweetness or those savory, tangy flavors, but I suspect that it rounds out the blend.

All things told, this is an excellent blend, even moreso considering the price. I wouldn't want it as an all day blend, but every time I've smoked it thus far it has been a treat. I will be ordering this blend by the pound from here on out.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StrongMixturesOnly (17)	2013-08-04		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Easily my favorite C&D blend, Billy Budd is my default tobacco. The taste of Latakia and Maduro cigar leaf are most prevalent, leaving the tastebuds to explore the subtle undertones of Virginia burley at their leisure. It's nicotine content is higher than most English blends I have smoked. I would highly recommend this tobacco to anyone who is a fan of English mixtures.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tamper Dan (9)	2013-06-19		Strong	Mild	Very Full	Strong

I only smoke this tobacco with a stiff drink. I find the strong bitterness of the cigar leaf is cut well with some bourbon, scotch, or whiskey. Otherwise, the flavor seems to linger on my toungue a little too long. Not an everday smoke for me, but perfect for chilly evenings by my backyard fire pit.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Timberwolf (2)	2012-10-08		Strong	Strong	Full	Tolerable

Giving this blend 5 stars is a testament to C&D in my book. I cannot settle into one type of blend and find myself regularly switching my preferences in blends throughout the genres, with exception to aromatics.

I bought a pound of this blend and jarred it a little over a year ago. It took mr a while to get a regular feel for this blend, but I find it not like other blends.

I enjoy this blend in any pipe, but it is especially amazing in my thick walled cherrywood.

A hearty room note that masks a truly smooth, tasty smoke with predominantly latakia and burley taking their turns. I found the Virginias and cigar tobacco subtley showing up now and then to provide an amazing well balanced smoke.

Vitamin N is definitely there, but doesn't overpower. An exceptional C&D blend.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-10-04		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

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!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-08-30		Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

A very relaxing smoke, due to the heavy Latakia blend, but at the same time very tasteful due to the several other tobaccos included.

Probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone who hasn't smoked an English before, or isn't a smoker who smokes often. If you do enjoy an English blend this is definitely for you. Probably one of the most enjoyable and tasteful smokes I ever had.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-07-02		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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 :)

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	brogreggblues (45)	2012-07-01		Extremely Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Tried BB two years ago, when I got back into pipesmoking after a 20+ year hiatus. At that time, I found BB to be interesting and complex, but ultimately too strong for me to enjoy. A month ago, I thought I'd give ol' Billy another try. After a couple bowlfuls, I can say Billy Budd is very tasty and complex, but prohibitively strong for me.

Full disclosure: I have also revisited Habana Daydream and enjoy it.

YMMV.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tleek (51)	2012-06-15		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-09-27		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

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

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kokinhenik (93)	2011-08-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Merven the Great (18)	2010-12-07		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-10-11		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-09-26		Strong	Medium to Strong	Very Full	Tolerable

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

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	flyrod6057 (18)	2010-09-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I received this as a sample from the local tobacconist. I was looking for something to enjoy on a cool evening when I came across this. I loaded up my Peterson bent apple, grabbed an ale, and sat down to see what the deal was.

I like this tobacco. Rather, I really want to like this tobacco. There's plenty of latakia, but not too much. I found cedar, spice, and a variety of subtleties that reminded me somewhat of Penzance while still remaining distinctly different. It smokes a tad hot. When I settled down and smoked it gently, I enjoyed the flavors. However, there's something about Billy Budd that doesn't quite fill out completely... Being a VaPer guy, I might be slightly put off by the cigar leaf (I like cigars, just not in my pipe) so I can't really say I love this blend. It was just "okay" for me.

For English smokers out there, or VaPer fans who're interested in something a little different, I recommend this. For 'dyed-in-the-wool' VaPer folks, this could end up being a miss. My $.02.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tee-dub (48)	2010-07-16		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-07-14		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bentontool (6)	2010-03-28		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-03-25		Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-03-14		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-02-03		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DoctorThoss (146)	2010-01-28		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kissphantom05 (22)	2009-12-21		Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-09-07		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2009-05-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-11-20		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

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)

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tabaco (112)	2008-10-08		Very Strong	None Detected	Overwhelming	Very Strong

Well dear Billy time to set sail from my cellar.

Very harsh with a tongue bite like a drunken parrot on Captain Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge.

Not many redeeming qualities, an assault on the palate and zero balance.

Moreover, I do not fair well with many Cornell & Diehl/Greg Pease blends, vastly overrated. Although the Hermit recipes are cordial at least for me.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-07-07		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

5-3-08 My tastes run to strong natural tobacs so 'Billy Budd' is square in my ballpark. This is tobacco without any bells or whistles. Good tobacco...strong tobacco! When you finish a pipe of this you'll know you had a smoke. Wonderful stuff.

7-7-08 Guess I better upgrade my review to 4 stars as Billy Budd has become my all day, everyday smoke. The other jars in my meger cellar are just gathering dust. With a 50 year pipe smoking history, I can finally be happy with just this one blend.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-10-29		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

A new favorite of mine! I just ordered a pound from the great folks over at C&D after finishing my 2 oz sample I ordered last year. As someone who smoked cigarettes for many years, I seek stronger blends that taste like tobacco - this one fills the bill on every count! The cut is a little strange, with some larger leaves mixed in, but moisture level is perfect and packing a breeze. And the smoke - very tasty from start to finish. I don't know about different flavors wafting in and out or anything like that, just a good solid "meaty" taste from puff one - four stars in my book!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2005-07-13		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2005-02-18		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

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.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-02-15		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I won't add the basics of what the other reviewers have written about Billy Budd. It's nice to have a tobacco that tastes just like that: Tobacco. I don't let the Maduro get in the way, because it seems to me there's no way to compare it to a Maduro wrapper cigar. It's just different in that it does taste like Latakia to me with a small dose of burley and bright Virginia added for character and sweetness. My sister likes the room note. We grew up in a Latakia fogged household. I've been Latakia bound all of my life. I love it. Besides with her name being Virginia she has no choice but to like it! Kind of an alternative to Old Joe Krantz without the Perique. It should be more popular than it is. Another C&D Blend that should be tinned.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-04-02		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

This is the only C&D blend I can smoke when the latakia urge hits. My buddy, Bob Runowski, made up another blend of Burleys and Latakia called Beecher Gwinn that was as good as this stuff, but C&D didn't pick it up and market it. The sample I'm smoking is over 2 years old but I can't see that the tobaccos in there have married at all. It's a heavy Latakia and heavy Connecticut cigar leaf blend (my stash doesn't say anything about Maduro leaf) and is much better for the cigar smokers than C&D's Grey Ghost(awful stuff). The burn is excellent and there's no trouble lighting it. I usually load the pipe and blow through the bowl to get it the way I want and go with it. For my tastes, this is the best Latakia blend I've ever had, but I also smoke cigars and enjoy the full flavor of them. Highly Recommended for the fancier of strong tasting baccy, but 1792 is too much. EW

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tallazmofo (3)	2020-04-07		Medium	Medium to Strong	Full	Strong

I was gifted a couple of ounces of this in a trade and I find it is really a mellow and great tasting smoke. I pick up hints of sweetness on the retrohale and the cigar leaf is not at all overpowering. It looks a bit on the dry side but packs and smokes perfectly well and not too hot. I have been smoking this in my smoking room that has a ventilator fan and it does not overwhelm the room with any of the strong odor you would usually get from a cigar.

Pipe Used: briar, cob, filter and no filter

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: gifted

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MAddMAnn (17)	2019-11-14		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ChadwickGHurlburt (24)	2019-10-17		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Bought three tins of this about a year ago. I'm finishing off my second tin and thinking about how well I like this blend. I do like like. It's an interesting departure from the typical without getting silly.

I would describe Billy Budd as the best possible outcome from an attempt to create a Balkan-meets-American style blend. It's Burly based and it's pretty good quality Burly too. The Latakia is immediately present, but not enough to call this a Lat-bomb. It's actually a well balanced tasting smoke from start to finish. A small portion of cigar leaf is included in this blend, however, it is also tastefully proportioned. The cigar leaf never jumps out at you. Rather, it blends in with the other components to become part of the background of flavor instead of the object of the painting. It would be hard to detect if you didn't already know it was there. The flavor and mouthfeel is both full, but not heavy or weighty. The taste is rich but doesn't overwhelm the senses. A veteran smoker can easily finish a bowl without ill effects from the strength of the tobacco. I find the nicotine level to be approaching "strong" but not quite there yet when smoked in a larger pipe. Granted, I only consider certain English and American ropes to be very strong tobaccos, with a notable exception given to Irish Flake. Next time you're filling out an order and you need to spend another Hamilton to get the free shipping, you could do a lot worse than trying out a tin of this.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jaylotw (16)	2019-10-08		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Billy Budd, I think, is my new favorite.

So much good, dark flavor in this one. I could try to wax poetic, talk about tin note and all that...but I think a simple endorsement is really all this stuff needs.

This is exceptionally good tobacco, full of robust flavor and as satisfying as any tobacco can be. Buy it and smoke it.

Pipe Used: Cobs, Briars

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	2piper (14)	2019-05-11		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Bold and substantive. Yet, hints of sweetness make this a great tobacco for enjoying after a long day on the job. Or, after a lengthy day of trimming the main in a regatta. You may even enjoy this after a relaxing day of doing nothing but hanging around the house, cooking burgers on the grill and sipping a cold beer.

This full flavored mixture will keep your attention with the interchanging flavors that peek in and out as you savor this lat forward, creamy smoke.

If you're an English/Balkan fan, this is one that you will want to try. I think you'll enjoy this one immensely.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Hercules

Age When Smoked: Fresh from the B&M

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	UncleSquinty (27)	2017-06-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

I received a sample from a fellow pipe smoker and after finishing the sample, I immediately bought an 8 ounce tin to add to my cellar. I expect this will age beautifully; the tin is currently about a year old. I'll let it age until I retire in four years' time. The room note could scare away even an anosmic; my wife has forbidden me to ever smoke this in the house, but then again she doesn't much care for the aroma of cigar smoke. Cigar leaf plays a far more prominent role here than I would of thought based upon the descriptions and reviews I have read. Does the cigar leaf overwhelm the rest of the blend? Not at all, but it is definitely there in force.

Pipe Used: Cobbs, meers, pearwoods and one sad briar.

Age When Smoked: Fresh bulk

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com after receiving a 1 ounce sample from a friend.

Similar Blends: Nothing I have ever smoked before, but then again I only have about 3 years of pipe smoking under my belt..

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Col. Stuffinpuff (14)	2017-03-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very dry and earthy, just like a good cigar, with smokey latakia there to remind you you're still smoking a pipe. Smelly, but lots of good flavor when you're looking for some punishment along with your nicotine.

Highly recommended.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brokenflake (3)	2016-07-04		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Alot has been said of this tobacco but here's my take. This seems to be a hit with me. I find cyprian latakia to be smoky, salty and sweet, now add a bit of nuttiness and the background of a maduro cigar leading to full body and flavor. I do not smoke cigars regularly unless one every 5 or so years is regular to you, but I do enjoy their usage in pipe tobacco. A cool burner that leaves a fine ash without having to waste time or tobacco flavor with relighting.

Pipe Used: various cobs and briars

Age When Smoked: fresh bulk

Purchased From: Branson Cigar Co

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ATW (110)	2015-11-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Not a heavy Latakia blend to me. I don't really notice it much, but it's pretty damn good. Creamy and sweet. Reminds me of a Bacarat cigar.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mnadz (69)	2015-11-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

YEAH!!! Always love when I come across a tastey full-bodied blend. C&D really knows how to deliver a straight forward robust blend, particularly when it comes to Burleys. This one led with Latakia, although each if its components adds to this enjoyable smoke. Presents, packs, lights and smokes very well. Gets more complex as you get more into it. Not much more I can add that has not been said already. Wife said it smells like tobacco, she did not particularly care for it (I let her rate room note since she puts up with it).

In closing, I rated it at three because I have enjoyed other full-flavor blends more. Saying that, if you enjoy robust flavor, DO NOT miss out on this one.

Pipe Used: Ben Wades

Age When Smoked: Fresh

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Amsteracqua (24)	2014-09-09		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I earned 50gr on the last saturday... I loved, this blend is so tasteful. For me the nicotine strength was medium. I liked, but will be three stars, because was my first blend with cigar leaf... I will prove other blends and I can change this review in the future...

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipe4ever (204)	2014-08-22		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Bold, a little smokey and strong, this is exactly how I like my tobacco, the cigar leaf is there but only in the background, the flavor develops nicely into dark coffee and dark chocolate, everything is perfectly well balanced in this excellent blend for nicotine lovers.

Pipe Used: Billiards

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: smokingpipes

Similar Blends: Key Largo.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dragon76 (4)	2014-02-01		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

This tobacco Rocks! It exceeded my expectations. It has a great Cigar / Latakia / Virginia blend balance. Not to over compensating, but just right. This was my first time smoking a "Cigar Blend" mix pipe tobacco. Wow! Burn is great-not to hot. Good flavor with all of its tobacco mixes. What really surprised Me was that Billy Budd was just as good in my filter pipe - with a Balsa Filter, as it was in a Non-Filter pipe. Flavor came through great in both style pipes.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	codyp (65)	2014-01-28		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

Where to start. Arguably one of my favorite blends. C & D knows what they were doing.

The strength was pretty high due to the cigar leaf, but otherwise it's not too bad. The blend itself was just so well done to keep it sensibly strong. I like to smoke this blend after work, and before slumber.

I tasted no flavoring, which is how I like it. It keeps the beautiful tobaccos rich and strong. The taste however is the best iv'e. The burleys are amazing and even give it a good smell. I don't even know where to start with the cigar leaf. There are some points in which you light this blend, and you just get some cigar leaf, and that gave me a chance to single out that taste. It doesn't completely stand out, which I like.

The room note. I found it pleasurable. The weird thing is so did the wife. It doesn't really make sense to me, but I went with it.

In the end, kudos to C & D once again, keep doing what you do.

Pipe Used: Nording Freehand, Peterson System (Bent)

Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars

Similar Blends: Cornell & Diehl - Purple Cow.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-10-27		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

Just to much for this guy if your looking for something strong and a bit out of the ordinary give it a go

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	albfneto (184)	2013-08-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Mild	Unnoticeable

This is another "modified" English mixture, since not have Orientals and have Cigar Leaf (when? no noted!) The latakia cannot be detected when smoking, In the pouch well. almost tasteless,better in the pouch than when smoking. another common mixture, not impressive for me. Try when you want a Latakia blend that seems cigarrete tobacco.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-11-16		Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Coarse cut tobacco with big chunks of cigar leaf and latakia and broken virginia flakes; difficult to pack especially in a small pipe. Doesn't light easily, doesn't want to stay lit. Doesn't burn hot though or doesn't bite even after all those relights.

Smoked a bowl when I first got it and tossed it into a mason jar for about about 3 months.

I don't know if it's too much latakia or cigar leaf or maybe my butchered-by-cigarette taste buds but pretty much all I get from the Billy is a harsh smoke and a harassed throat. It's leathery alright but not the usual sweet and leathery flavour I get from other latakia blends but salty and pungent; almost bitter.

See you in another 3 months Billy!

*

After almost 3 months I am smoking this once again. It still doesn't wanna burn evenly, still pungent and musty yet the bitterness is gone. There is something about the latakia in this blend; it's very different from the latakia from other latakia blends I have been smoking. I don't know how or why it happens but I guess I like other latakias better...

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TheWoodwose (22)	2012-08-19		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

This is the only English blend that I have smoked so it is hard to make this an accurate review.

I tend to smoke only mild aromatics like C&D's Founding Fathers. But I have also smoked their Epiphany blend as well.

This is definitely much stronger in room note and taste. But it smokes very smoothly. Nicotine hit is strongish but not a head swimmer.

The only problem is that I don't smoke enough to fully enjoy this tobacco. The only time that I really enjoyed this blend was at the end of a week when I had smoked almost every day previous. I usually only smoke a few times a month if that.

So I had an almost nirvana like smoke and then went about a month without smoking at all. Since my previous smoke was so nice I decided to have another bowl. It was very disappointing. The smell seemed very abrasive the taste was overwhelming and was just no good. I couldn't understand why at first but I am pretty sure it is because I don't smoke much

So, if you smoke regularly I would say this is a great tobacco to try. But if you are like me and smoking is more of an casual thing, then you might want to go with something more mild.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2012-03-21		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Billy Budd is not a boring smoke but it isn't exactly a superb one either. It has a tendency to burn harsh, taste bitter and out of balance. Of all the times I have smoked this, about 4 ounces altogether, I counted two instances where I experienced something in the realm of what the blender most likely intended. Or perhaps these two instances weren't what the blender intended, (ha ha).

For the most part Billy Budd tastes muddy with very little in the way of subtleties or dynamics. No doubt, this is strong tobacco with a full blown, open-throttle flavor. I'll definitely give it that. However, it's just not my cup of tea. If I feel like settling into a big-flavor, nicotine laden latakia blend, I would rather smoke Hermit's Ten Russians.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	elelion (25)	2011-12-13		Medium to Strong	Strong	Overwhelming	Tolerable

Well, I did not find this blend for myself. Almost one year ago, I brought one of my colleagues into the pipe world, and he recently asked me if I could find something with cigar taste.

Yes, "CIGAR TASTE", these are the only key words I have. And after striking a few keys on my lap-top, I have 2 choices: Billy Budd and Habana Daydream. Coincidently there is only Billy Budd in stock at my regular supplier. So I got 200 grams for my colleague and 50 for myself. It was a little too dry when I opened the bag.

And again, one same blend gives out totally different characteristics with different pipes. I first tried this blend in my meerschaum, and the experience was not so great. I could only enjoy myself for the first few puffs and afterwards all elements seem to be mixed up.

I switched my pipe to my James Upshall pot shape which I usually serve with Penzance, and everything appeared as it should be. The latakia is well balanced, not too agressive. However I feel no cigar taste in the flavor but my pallete tells me there is some according to the old memory :)

The coarse cut is the most difficult to pack but I managed it with Frank method. It lights well (maybe because it was too dry ?) and requires no relight even with slow puffs.

Good stuff indeed, but don't expect too much for the cigar taste according to the description. For the blend itself, I rate 4-star. With Penzance which requires forever for its availability, this would be a great alternative.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-08-20		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Where to begin. This blend had more latakia than I wanted to taste leaping out of it. "A heavy Latakia blend" should've been my first clue, eh? I'll qualify that by saying, for a long time I was a big latakiaphile too, but lately latakia seems to be wearing on my palate some, so this is purely a subjective judgement. Mine is an unaged sample also, and I suspect some cellaring will help smooth this blend out.

Also, for me a smaller bowl (say probably a group 2) was what it took to bring Billy Budd to life. In the larger one I started him off in, the latakia was almost too much, on top of a background of nutty, even slightly chocolatey. Once I put him in a smaller one, the top half was still latakia dominant, but in the bottom half the latakiitis subsided and allowed the semi-sweet virginia and cigar leaf to really come out nicely. It also seemed like I got a more concentrated nicotine hit.

This was a good blend for smoking round the campfire tonight. After some internal debate I clicked three stars here. Two stars for the first half of the bowl and three and a half for the bottom half (lol)... hopefully aging will draw these closer together.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	radioisotope (17)	2011-05-12		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

This is deffinatey a mans smoke. If you don't have a full beard now you will after you smoke this. First of all this is a heavy latakia blend with some nice cigar accents. I love it. Do I love it as much as Habana Daydream, no. Mainly because I can only smoke so much latakia. Habana Daydream is an every day smoke for me. Also this is not a very good smelling smoke for others. My wife hates it so I smoke it in the car or if I'm not around her. Also it's heavy on the breath so caution when talking to others. This is one of the best latakia blends and a very good cigar blend. Vitamin N content is average, not as high as Habana daydream or Bayou Night. Maybe the perique is resonsible for the N kick in the those. If you don't like full blends I wouldn't recommend it. If you like to wake up in the morning with a french roast coffee and a pipe full of this, then this is one for you.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HokieGeek (23)	2011-05-10		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Well! This was certainly a full smoke! But it was pretty tasty. I certainly noticed some of the cigar leaf in it and as a long-time cigar smoker, that was familiar and comfortable. It's just a very good smoke.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimPM (155)	2021-08-30		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

COMMENTARY-CORNELL & DIEHL BILLY BUDD: Melville At Sea, Melville At Heart

Reflecting upon a quote offered by the subject American author Herman Melville, the ship of life centers its keel on an adventuresome course as it moves on an expedition of discovery. Whether at calm or distressed sea, the frigate navigates through a tide of ensuing waves. As sailors, we smartly man the helm to keep the vessel erect and forward moving on its projectile. Learning, countering, and successfully piloting through the ebb and flow of each crest, the ship finds port at its ultimate homeward bound destination. In the wake of this voyage, the formation of the human experience, the relationships we build with our shipmates, the joys, the sorrows, and the ultimate lessons are charted, casting the True North journey of life. Is the expedition undertaken by the community of pipe smokers any different?

In literature the image of sea and those who chance its challenges are arguably symbolic in nature. Hinging on underlying humanistic themes, the storyline and the development of the protagonist’s character often speak to higher points that are allegorical, spiritual, and altruistic in nature. Such is the case Herman Melville’s (unfinished) novella Billy Budd. Billy Budd, a common sailor and a common man, embodies the core principles of charisma, purity, strength, and endearing nobleness. So, I find interest in this discussion as it relates to a tobacco blend having the same signature. Cornell and Diehl aptly chose the namesake of Melville’s work as the branding for one of the four-part product series crafted as Melville At Sea. Is there significance in that point, let us, see?

What follows now is a fundamental understanding of the background story and the objective review of the attributes of this hearty mixture. Yet with full disclosure, I must reveal my partiality as Billy Budd has anchored itself as one of my most honored companions. It’s as dear to me as the delight I found in meeting the rising sun as it beautifully swaddles the ocean horizon.

My emergence into the social network of piping enthusiasts came rather late unfortunately. In the formative years the internet forums served as the principal venue for folks like you and I to share experiences. I missed out but have respectfully attempted to level-up my awareness of the history regarding this illustrious crew by just pursuing various blogs of the time.

There was one gentleman who stood out as a pinnacle figure on the forums, NY Pipe club founder Sailorman Jack. Regarded as one of the pioneers in the brotherhood of piping, this man was colorful figure who preferences stilted towards strong blends configured of bold Latakia and heady cigar leaf, a man of my liking. He also had an affinity for singing the charming songs of the sea it seems. Reading the details relating to the genus of the mixture, you will discover the C&D specifically formulated their blend in reverence to this man’s contribution to our mutual passion.

Scanning the tin label, a sky-blue banner hails that full-bodied/full-strength Billy Budd is a “Rough Cut Burley”, is it though? Personally, my inclination is to categorize this complex roast as a Latakia-intense/cigar leaf varietal as that is the dominant character one encounters. A shadowy, dark-grained mask of the tobacco preeminently shows in a thick-bodied swell of abundant coarse-cut Latakia and fleshy irregular chards of sulking Maduro cigar leaf. Pressed, twisted cords of Bright Virginia and jagged portions of Maryland White Burley are given lesser footing as the ebony billow of the latter two command primacy in the overall presentation. Visually Billy Budd leaves no uncertainty that this sea dog is of manly and burl air.

A powerful vinegary aromatic tide of strongly charred Latakia crashes the sensual introduction to Billy Budd’s essence. Swirling just underneath this initial shock is the distinctive zesty sweetness of the provincial cigar leaves. Rolling traces of sweetened Virginia tang and earthy molasses seasoned Burley are meagerly experienced as the mixture’s nose sets an impactful blast of forceful character. The fragrance is lively magnetic, savory, and respectfully bold suggesting a spirited smoking experience.

Although the branding denotes a simple rough-cut Burley, Billy Budd indisputably brings a recipe of honorable complexity. As such, the blend is destined to be properly smoked in sturdy briar. A rugged Peterson Donegal Rocky, as I have determined, provides a suitably vessel for the experience. In deference to the influences of physical properties of wood and pipe construction, a briar hosting a deep and wide bowl is befitting to capture the fullness of Billy Budd’s disposition.

Straight from the tin or pouch, like an obedient sailor Billy Budd stands attentively for immediate smoking. The moisture level is ideal making the exercise of packing a smooth sailing and quite efficient. The burn, being notably cool and moderately paced, yields thick plumes of rich heady smoke that impressively engulf the room’s perimeter. Surprisingly, mellowness and comfort earmark Billy Budd’s humor despite the toughness of its physical character.

The general taste profile is multi-layered with a soul that is noble and strong. With the burn, the initial flavor rush is a buttered mushroom, floral, smoky, leathery flurry of concentrated Latakia. With repeated drawls the punchy sweet chocolaty pepper of the Maduro expresso wrapper emerges and melds into the stream of taste gracefully. Being a consummate connoisseur of Maduro cigars with an obsessive-compulsion for Latakia, the splendor of this combination, for me, is truly captivating. It tenders much like a steeping cup of exhilarating stew, bold and thickly dense in brilliant robust flavor.

The baseline purely dominates the entire smoking session, making the feel of the smoking experience well grounded. Astern, if you will, the registration fills evenly with an inviting earthy tang of sweet Virginia grass and toasty sour nuttiness coming from the Burley. Occasionally there is motion as warm accents of molasses and brown sugar delight heartedly interplay with a spray lemony citrus. Overall, the presentation is balanced and creamy in texture. Additionally, Billy Budd imparts a thick sensational aftertaste that is deep-seated and spicy. The palate and tongue experience a fascinating tinge of impressive zest.

Mirroring complexity of character, Billy Budd’s room fragrance is a testament to being a well-crafted full blend. The blue cool cloud of smoke sits heavy and dense with a potent lingering essence that is colorful and vibrant. Unmistakably the notes of stout earthly spice mimicking a Maduro cigar lay over a mildly sweet tartness and a rich smoky/incensed wood. The depth and persona are incredible, as a garland of varietal fragrances move about in charismatic bouquet. Largely, the Latakia-Burley bring a bit more authority, however the overall tone, once again, is layered and meaty just as with a premium cigar.

This no-bite, medium nicotine mixture is ideal for the cultured experienced smoker who aptly knows to take metered visits to ports of call having such strong, full character. With that, I highly recommend that you have firmly established sea legs before inviting Billy Budd in for stay in your briar.

Getting back to my introductory narrative, I believe that there is, let’s say, poetry in matters. Like the sailor, this tobacco embraces the aforenoted attributes of Melville’s shipmate. Second, consider that the novelle Billy Budd was the final representative work of an author whose a message has context even in the world of pipe smoking. What is more, Cornell & Diehl compounded this blend as a substantive Lat-Cigar combination that the late piper Sailorman Jack would have surely embraced with extreme joy given its character. With those thoughts, perhaps Billy Budd stands as on honorable valedictory to both men to be enjoyed by all. Chance to leave land and venture forth with Billy Budd as your shipmate. He is a worthy companion.

Pipe Used: Peterson Donegal Rocky

Age When Smoked: 5 months

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Country Bladesmith (18)	2020-04-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

The “jar note” is mostly just smokiness from the Latakia.

Upon lighting, you know instantly this is a Lat bomb. The Latakia is of course woodsy, but retains a lot of the “butter and spice” qualities of the oriental leaf that it began as; to the point that I was surprised when I saw that there is no Turkish in this blend. The cigar leaf is there, but just in a support role. It peeks out every now and then, but mostly just melds in with the other tobaccos. Combined with the burley, the cigar leaf adds some backbone and richness to the blend. The Virginias are there to provide a touch of natural sweetness and round everything out, but this blend is mostly for Latakia lovers. Nicotine was mild to medium for me. I don’t really notice any sort of big nic hit that others have. I like the blend, but would’ve also liked the cigar leaf to be a little more prominent.

I’d give it three stars. I enjoyed the Latakia in this blend, but would’ve liked the cigar leaf to come forward just a bit more.

EDIT: The more I smoke this blend, the more the cigar leaf comes through for me, and the more I like it.

I have also noticed if this is the first blend of the day that I smoke, I taste the cigar a lot more than if I have smoked something else prior.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	moniker (220)	2019-08-18		Medium	Very Mild	Full	Tolerable

For me, C&D’s Billy Budd is a musty, loamy, English-y blend that lifts off in the second half, when the cigar leaf takes over. The reviewed tin had 6 months on it when I popped it, and I suppose it will get better with more aging. Inside my tin I found roughly chopped pieces ranging from golden to light, mid and dark brown, with some nearly black pieces. Aroma was ripe English, with a little peat along with rich, black, loamy dirt. There was no trouble with loading, lighting, or smoking it down. Aroma is well melded, and not so much “cigar” as I might have thought, especially to start. Perhaps some of the Burley is DFK, but in any case the main theme is low, continuing the earth from the tin note. I haven’t cared much for most Latakia for many years now, but whatever they use in BB is OK to start, and farther on it works a treat with the cigar leaf. The Bright VA lends sparkle, right up in the range of the cigar leaf spices. Nice, and it doesn’t in any way thin out the delicious, fragrant smoke. No mention is made of Cavendish, but this blend is SWEET, along with typical Burley bitters and Latakia sour, and it’s smoky without being anything like a campfire. Strength is maybe medium. Tastes are full. Room note is nice – for a cigar blend. Aftertaste is a lingering, even sweeter version of the best of a very sweet smoke. Perhaps there is some anise in it, but it’s tasteful, like everything about BB.

While I never think sweet = good anymore, Billy Budd is quite sweet as an adjunct to a fine, rich, deep smoke. Best for last: this is also a very smooth smoke, at least it is with 6 months on it, and IMO BB might just be a “serious” cigar blend a newbie could enjoy. 4 stars.

Update, 01-19-20: A recent smoke of jarred tobacco from this same tin left me mildly disappointed, when a perfume-y addition (to the Latakia, I suppose) rose right to the top to lend an artificial taste I could not "taste around" through most of the smoke. Because of this I am dropping my rating from 4 to 3 stars. The good qualities remain, so it's pretty much down to the perfume for me, personally, and YMMV, of course.

Pipe Used: dedicated cigar leaf briars

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Purchased From: Liberty Tobacco

Similar Blends: Compare/contrast to GLP Key Largo or Briar Works'Country Lawyer, also C&D's Haunted Bookshop..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2011-12-03		Strong	None Detected	Medium	Strong

I've had this cellared for 10 months and it is still very spicy hot. I don't get a strong cigar note but rather a full latakia hit. A strong flavor and "n" hit. I don't see much interest here.

Updated 1/14/12- Saw old " Billy" sitting in the back of the cellar so after a year I gave him another chance.Sorry I did, upon French inhaling I got a strong ammonia blast. Well that's it, threw out Billy

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-19		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

My favorite thing about this tobacco is the cigar leaves. Awesome cigar taste and room note. It is the first tobacco I've tried with Latakia in it so it was pretty strong at first. It is definately growing on me. Good stuff.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-17		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Hmm how best to describe this blend? Well I'd say if it were wrapped in a cigar leaf it would be the best cigar I'd ever had but since it was in my pipe it was all the more enjoyable. I had my first pack in a cob so I could get a full and good understanding of it and I liked it from the first light. As the bowl burned down I found that I liked it more and more. Upon my first smell from the bag I was reminded of the forest, campfires, and leather which are smells that I love and throughout my smoke I was hit with occasional surprises in flavour with some rich chocolate and earth notes. All in all I'd call this a very manly blend. If you're the kind of guy who appreciates his coffee black and the smell of sawdust then this is almost definitely your bowl o' baccy.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-03		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Oh Billy Budd....opened an 8oz tin (will be stocking up more of this for the tobacco bar for sure!) WOW!

Rough rotation today, AM pipe of Dunhill MM965, moved on to a mid-morning of Low Country Cooper (grab some of this, another FANTASTIC blend) with a triple espresso...

then and afternoon of Billy Budd-o-licious! Frank~method pack in a Perry White Mag-Dublin Blast 1" English tobacco chamber....man this blend smokes sooooooooooo NICE! Got a subtle sweet taste to start, then perhaps some cocoa/dark chocolate flavors in/out. It burned down to a fine grey ash/no goop burns nice cool and dry

suggestion...grab a few 8oz tins

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-02-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

It has been over a year since I finally gave in and purchased a tin of this tobacco. I felt that my recently acquired Boswell Jumbo needed a tobacco as rugged and robust as it, and this really exceeded my expectations. The tin note is that of a usual english for the most part, and even when lighting up the bowl, it has consistently tasted like a very full english top of the bowl. A quarter or so of the way in, however, this quickly changes, and the burley and cigar begin to make star entrances; this is where the blend becomes exceptionally good and makes me come back for more. Half way through the Jumbo, all the components meld together beautifully, and I can taste dark chocolate, leathery cigar, hints of sweetness, and, as a backbone, always the rich latakia. . . Outstanding. My first 2 and a half hour or so experience with this was something akin to a hockey goalie strapped to the net while all his teammates take turns slamming him with pucks--of course, in this case, the teammates were the tobaccos and the pucks the sensations of their tastes hitting me with force and surprise, and I the masochistic goalie enjoying the adventure. I know, terrible metaphor. After I finished the Jumbo, I loaded up a smaller pipe just to get my fix for the evening. Cheers, and enjoy.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-02-06		Strong	None Detected	Full	Extra Strong

The opened tin smells like an old football that's dried out from the rain. It's rough, leathery, smokey, and salty. It was drier than some other C&D blends. Upon smoking, it is dominated by the smokiness of Latakia and a strong leathery flavor. Strong, long finish that is kind of salty and not a hint of sweetness. Maybe the leather is the cigar tobacco in the blend. It's called a cigar blend. I've smoked many cigars this blend doesn't taste like I've had. It's not smooth upon first opening, it's rough and tough. It does smooth out a bit with age, however the Latakia and cigar still dominates a very complex experience. Strong, bold, flavors are an acquired taste. I love strong flavors, like a great single malt scotch or cigar. The best combine strength with smoothness. I really enjoy this blend, but I have to be in the mood. Room note is powerful and offensive. My wife calls this Billy's Butt.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tripjoker (65)	2011-01-26		Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

This is a blend that I have been wanting to try for some time. Another of those blends that piqued my curiosity, but not enough to put a priority on ordering it. Until now. Very pleased to have recieved this one the the other day in a shipment containing a few staple blends and some discretionary items. After jarring everything from the order and stowing it away in the cellar, I sat down to try Billy Budd.

The tobaccos contained in this blend are very nice looking. A pretty homogenous light brown with a bit of latakia floating around in it. The cigar leaf is apparent in the blend just by looking at it, but that shouldn't be read as overkill. It's just noticable. A much different shade than you normally would see in pipe blends.

Billy was left to air about an hour in the jar with the lid off. The initial aroma in the bag it was shipped in didn't offer much, but after some air time and then another hour with the lid on the jar, it gave off a distinctive aroma. Rich and dark with the promise of an English with a kick of something different.

The packing was easy going and the humidity level was perfect. I find that C&D is really great at getting the moisture level just right. The char light gave off the most satisfying taste and aroma. I nearly broke my arm reaching for another match for the true light! lol

Burn characteristics are fantastic! It does tend to burn readily, and that does mean a bit shorter smoke time, but it does not burn hot by any means. The flavor of the cigar leaf is there, but in the background. Married perfectly to the other components. It's quite complex and harmonious throughout the bowl. The only time that the cigar leaf became dominate was towards the bottom of the bowl, and only briefly. Maybe thirty seconds or so. I attribute this to a larger flake caught at the bottom.

No tongue bite experienced. I did push it a bit, and only got a little bitterness but otherwise behaved well. This is by all means a sipper of a blend and should not be consumed like a hard up sailor on his first leave in 6 months! Slow your cadence down and you will be rewarded with a rich, full, slightly sweet flavor that has the power to relax even the most battle hardened workforce warrior.

The Virginia adds a light sweetness and tang to the experience and the burley adds body and a subtle nuttiness. The latakia seems to tie them all together with it's smokey goodness and gentle character. This is by no means a lat bomb, just full.

My impression is not that this is a powerhouse in the vitamin N dept., but certainly full flavored! Perhaps more in the mid range as far as nicotine goes. Satisfying to be sure, but not something that will put the experienced smoker in a chair with the dizzies.

I can see this becoming a must have for me. It may not become an everyday smoke, but will make it's appearance several times a week. I can recommend this to anyone who likes the fuller bodied smokes in the English genre. Cheers!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-01-14		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I've recently fallen in love with the pipe but have been smoking cigars regularly for a few years. This blend marries the two perfectly.

I will say that I disagree with some of the reviews that say it's only a hint of cigar leaf. Maybe in a strict proportional sense this is true but the cigar leaf, in my opinion, is certainly in the forefront of this blend. I don't smoke it all the time for that reason. I've tried to appreciate pipe tobacco for what it is and not immediately try, and get sucked in by, cigar leaf blends. I tend to pull this blend out when I'm having a hoppy IPA or a very smokey scotch, something that some of my other favorite blends can't stand up too. No matter what you may pair/drink with this tobacco, it's flavor is the centerpiece of the evening.

My wife has gotten used to the smell of cigar smoke so she doesn't find the room note too strong. However, the next morning when I go downstairs the smell is still lingering and I find it very strong. I think most non-smokers would not appreciate the room note.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-12-29		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

This tobacco was actually my first taste of English, and my first love along that line. The pouch smell can drop a bull (or your wife) from 20 feet, but the taste is just superb. I know this is called a cigar blend, but the cigar content is just a small accent on this very tasty mix. I've tried many other English blends since and there is just something extra that sticks out with this one. It smokes cool and woodsy with really no tongue bite. I recommend that you designate a good briar for this blend though as it can definitely leave a ghost in the machine! If you order this in bulk it tends to come overly dry for some reason. I'm still working on a pound that I ordered, so I have no idea whether a tinned version of this will contain more moisture content or not. Overall, this is a terrific blend for kicking back camping among the pine trees, or hanging out with a fishing line and waiting for the next big fish that got away.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-09-07		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

If you like English/cigar blends then this one is for you. It's hard to describe other than that it's well balanced and has equal elements of spicy pungentness, bitterness, and virginia sweetness. It is not boring to say the least and will keep your tongue entertained for a long time. Don't smoke it in the house though. You'll get a bad "wife rating".

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-02-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I called in to C&D, and spoke to a gent about switching into their English blends from some other light english, and a few lingering aromatics. I ordered a sample pack of 6 blends, and this led the list. Being that what little they've forgotten about blends is probably more than I know, I simply asked the gent to pick out 6 of the "light english / all day" variety to sample (C&D sent 015, 068, 101, 412A, Bed & Breakfast, and Good Morning)

The order on Monday morning arrived on a Wednesday afternoon via US Priority Mail. The sample packaging was in heavy duty ziplock bags with a Cornell and Diehl label, see uploaded photo.

I gave this tobacco it's first firing in one of my good sized meerschaums that was well cleaned prior to smoking, to attempt to narrow down the flavor, etc. to this blend alone. (my preference, for a first go with any new tobac)

The taste was full but good, the smoke a blue haze . . . Tongue bite for me was noticeably absent at my standard relaxed pace, which surprised me a bit considering the fullness.

The aroma was certainly tolerable to me, but I am not at all sure it would be so to non-pipe folks. I was surprised at this choice given what I'd asked for, but found that I certainly like it. I will definitely continue with this blend . . .

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-12-21		Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Tolerable

Every C&D blend I have tried has been weak in every aspect. In fact, the only one that comes close to a good smoke is the Pirate Cake. As for the rest however, forget it... Wish they were better!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fumatore (49)	2007-06-10		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Original Review: If I were to have to choose between a good cigar and a good pipe, and if money were no object, I believe I would choose a cigar. With that in mind, this pipe tobacco has to be the best of the cigar leaf blends. The blend is rich and full, for those who appreciate a strong cigar. And contrary to some other reviews, I find myself reaching for it throughout the day, especially when I don't have time to just sit down and relax with a fine pipe tobacco blend (and 90% of my cellar is English). If you have tried other cigar leaf blends but did not care for them, and assuming you like a stout Maduro cigar, you owe to yourself to try a couple of ounces of Billy Budd. The only negative I could find with this blend is that the very bottom of the bowl can be fairly rough of the taste buds.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Antonius Blok (192)	2021-01-19		Medium	None Detected	Full	Strong

I was looking for a mixture that contained a cigar leaf and I decided to open this one, getting it right.

The aroma in the tin is of a typical English / Balkan mix, with a predominance of wood and old leather odors from the Latakia. I did not find the cube cut that some people talk about, but a totally homogeneous ribbon.

Once the tobacco is lit, its flavor is intense and the smoke it produces is velvety, dense, in such a way that at times it almost seems that it could be chewed due to its creaminess. The flavor is full and is maintained from beginning to end. Although the main ingredient is latakia, it always appears well balanced with the accompaniment of other tobaccos. The cigar leaf can be felt at times and gives it an interesting dose of body, differentiating it notably from other blends that lack this component, but without being anything burdensome (I am not a cigar smoker). Virginias provide a significant amount of sweetness.

In short, a very tasty mixture that I will try to stock up on several more tins to repeat.

Age When Smoked: 6 months

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Amarelo (25)	2020-07-25		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

People usually don't recomend latakia blends for newcomers, like myself, but inadvertently, this was my first non aromatic tobacco.

Yes, a 50% latakia blend. Everything could have gone terrible from that day onward and my pipe affair may had ended right there. But no, I'm actually thankful It started in that manner. Surely, I cannot lie, the first smoke was horrible l and regretful but from the second one onward only increasigly great.

The heavy latakia proportion is rightfully embodied by the cigar leaf with a sweet tingle Virginia in the back. It shows some complexity and diversity, but not too much. I do take one Star off by the fact that some 3 times the cigar leafs, burleys and virginias burned earlier and the final third of the bowl was 100% slower burning latakias which comprised in a definite unpleasurable smoke.

____________________________________________________________________________

Review Edit.

By packing not so tight, and by smoking slow, the 100% latakia ending is gone. Lifting a star.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	garand555 (6)	2020-04-23		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I ordered a half pound of this and a pound of Planta Full English, which arrived yesterday. Often, my palate takes time to adjust to a new blend, so I don't judge until the 3rd bowl, which I am finishing as I type. I like the Planta, but I like this better. I like strong flavors with everything, so if you're like me, this blend is for you. I also like plenty of Vitamin N, which this has. Unlike the Planta, my palate and this blend got along from bowl one. The cigar leaf is a bit of a twist that I like. It's not overpowering, but just in the background. It's also light on the tongue bite, which is good because I am very sensitive to it. Anything aromatic kills me.

I put half in a jar to age. If it lasts long enough to be considered aged, I may update this review.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum, Actual Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Not Aged

Purchased From: https://www.smokingpipes.com/

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MangoLegs (72)	2020-04-12		Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

Way too much latakia for me. The first bowl I smoked had a noticeable cigar leaf taste, but then it disappeared. This is basically a lat bomb with some cigar leaf. Not recommended.

Purchased From: SmokingPipes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	steppx (186)	2018-01-09		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

well, it is what it is. Strongish....a bit harsh, but there are times...outdoors for example...when this could be satisfying. Im not a fan but then I tend to not like cigar leaf blends. Its a bit too monochromatic....maybe paradoxically...for my taste. Good nic hit....a notch over medium. The Latakia is present, but not overwhelming. I like the idea of this blend more than the result./ Not bad by any means but not for my taste.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jimyfafy (10)	2017-04-03		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Strong

A fine blend of english ingredients plus a paper clip and what may be shag carpet. there is cigar leaf as well. I,m not getting much of that. Perhaps overwhelmed by the carpet. Old woman has the normal reaction : i hate everything: smell ,the fact that I smoke in the garage , pipe tobacco exists, I exist. Yer talking to the pipe baby! I did discover that i,m not a very fast runner(I,m 54) Wish me luck. good bit of smoke!

Pipe Used: cob

Age When Smoked: fresh bag

Purchased From: smokingpipes

Similar Blends: Any cigar blends out there(minus the paperclip and carpet) Crackerjacks?.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	noquarter (23)	2016-03-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Was not expecting much from this blend. Thought it was just another haphazard blend from C&D (which I like) to overwhelm the senses with bitterness and spice. Was I so wrong. For my pallate,this is just as refined as some of my favorite Englishes.Hints of coffee,molasses,cinnamon,cocoa,nuts,leather like a good english. Works well on wide draft hole italians,Custombilts,even on my kaywoodies.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	beercritic (33)	2014-08-29		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Got some of this in a trade for cigars. I have too many cigars. Ordered a pound today. P&C has 20% off till the end of the Month (tomorrow). All the C&D stuff is on sale! Love N & Latikia. The cigar leaf is a nice touch.

Pipe Used: Meer

Age When Smoked: Don't know

Purchased From: Traded

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2013-10-21		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Made it through the whole tin but just couldn't get into it. OK but didn't hold my interest.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	haredawg (47)	2013-05-02		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This is the first factory made cigar leaf pipe blend I've tried. I've made my own using the clipped cap of an 1964 anniversary padron, pirate kake and oriental silk, but never a factory rolled one. The pouch smell was what you'd expect from an english blend, plenty of smoky latakia, a bit of VA sweetness and spicy orientals. In this blend the spicy scent was the cigar leaf.

I was disapointed, not repulsed. The cigar leaf seemed to dominate the flavor and it was lower quality cigar leaf than I am used to. I'm hoping cellaring will help.

I smoke cigars. I have high regard for C&D. My three stars are optimistic that when I revisit the blend it will live up to three stars.

It's not like I only smoked half of a bowl and tapped it out in disgust, and I did use a very reliable, well seasoned Castello Collection that has never steered me wrong.

I think there is something to this blend and am willing to give it a chance, but it wasn't as pleasurable a smoking experience as I was hoping for.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-02-19		Very Strong	Mild	Very Full	Strong

A trully nicotine cannon.Can't smoke it all day.Can't even smoke it everyday.Too heavy.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-12-10		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Believe it or not, this was the second bowl of tobacco I ever smoked. In my search for knowledge before I started pipe smoking, I became a regular viewer of PipeFriendCHS on youtube. The tobacco that he was most frequently smoking was Cornell and Diehl's Billy Bud. So when I first bought my pipe, I decided this was something I must try.

Because it was the second bowl of my life, it hit a little harder then expected, and I didn't understand why PipeFriend liked it so much.

1 month later, and approximately 15 bowls, I finally get it. This is deffinetly a tobacco that grows on you. If you give it the time it needs and smoke it slowly this will eventually be in your top five, guaranteed.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gladi8tor96 (143)	2011-04-19		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I was pleasantly surprised by this blend. C&D did a nice job again! The aroma out of the tin was that of latakia and a fine cigars...which worried me a bit. I didn't want to feel like I was smoking a cigar in my pipe.

Turns out, after several bowls, this is a great latakia blend and the cigar leaf makes itself known only occasionally with hints here and there. I loved it. It isn't like the Peter Stok. latakia blends that seem to be a bit sweeter, which I love as well. This blend was more robust and savory...notes of leather, earth, and nuts. Will be one I have in stock in my cellar for sure!

Pipe Used: Bent Billard, Dublin, Egg, Acorn

Age When Smoked: New from store - 1-3 years

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com, Pipesandcigars.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-04-15		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

No, no, no, I'm sorry, but this was a huge disappointment. After reading so many good reviews about this blend, and enjoying a good, strong Latakia blend every now and then, I decided to give this a try. I bought four ounces of this from Pipesandcigars.com and that was a mistake.

The aroma as I opened up the bag was not at all agreeable to my senses. It was not a sweet aromatic smell, nor a strong smoky one, but rather a pungent cigar aroma. The cut was rather coarse and the color was almost a light green.

Undeterred by these warning signs, I packed it into one of my favorite briars and lit up. It required a few relights as I worked my way through the bowl, but the flavor from start to finish was consistent - consistently bad! When I smoke a pipe, I want to be smoking pipe tobacco, not a blend that reminds me of a cheap cigar! That was exactly what the taste in my mouth and the room note around me declared about this blend. The cigar leaf overwhelmed all of the other tobaccos and left me with no desire for more. I did persevere through a few more bowls, and even mixed it with a sweet aromatic I had ordered at the same time, but nothing cured it of its undesirable flavor and room note. In the end, I passed this tobacco along to a cigarette smoker. If I do ever end up like Robinson Crusoe, I hope and pray that the barrel of tobacco I salvage from the shipwreck is not Billy Budd!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-20		Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Full	Strong

This is the second tobacco I've ordered from Cornell & Diehl that was extremely dry, even in the sealed tin. The two C&D tins were from different shops. I will not order anything else from them.

The taste is too strong, like a very dark and heavy cigar and I keep having re-light problems with this. (other tobacco's I smoke light fine, so it's not me)

I would not recommend this tobacco or anything from Cornell & Diehl for that matter. Very over-rated.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-03-02		Strong	Medium to Strong	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

If you have a hankering for a good, strong, tasty cigar,(without the outrageous price) this is your blend. Has a kick which will definitely awaken the senses. I have never smoked anything like it, but I really like it. I don't know if it would appeal to new pipers or those who are in love with strict English blends. For a change of place, highly recommended. Might even become a favorite, as I just have an ounce sample a friend shared with me (he was stingy with his pound), I'll have to buy some more and find out! Note: the room note is not going to please the wife or non smokers, so enjoy this somewhere you won't be nagged!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	nach0 (35)	2021-10-06		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Another EM which made my brain ring bells at first bowl. There is some complexity in the right dose, none of the tobacos really get the spotlight, the latakia is in the correct amount, burns cool, good body, good nic-hit, the cigar leaf makes a huge effect in the smoke and taste quality. One of my favourite EM from all times....

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	OhioTony76 (59)	2021-02-01		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I really think the reputation Billy Budd has here is unfair. The blend really is not that overpowering. The tin note is actually more in your face than the taste. It’s definitely a notch up from a typical Balkan blend (which normally I find a bit dull), but in the English genre, I’d call this a medium. If you smoke only Virginia’s, well, you might consider this full flavored (no offense).The tobacco comes though perfect moisture. I’d call it a rough cut. It smokes relatively slow, and it’s hard to get it to burn hot. I’d say it would be extremely hard to get this blend to overheat. The nic hit is medium at best. The Latakia becomes creamy when it melds with the cigar. But I don’t think many people could single out the cigar leaf on its own. The burley adds substantial body to the blend. The addition of Virginia gives this a perfect balance of sweet and savory. It’s really a classic blend. A blue collar smoke. I’m a big fan of Billy Budd.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	thomasanswered (11)	2011-06-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

The cigar and latakia were counterpoised so that I was not satisfied I had either firmly in hand. Enjoying a rich cigar, and a solid latakia in the pipe, I found neither craving was satisfied by Billy Budd.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-22		Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Had my hopes up too high for this one. Nothing more than a standard tobacco and didn't really tickle my fancy in any way. Sure, a bowl of this now and then could probably slip in but it is nothing for my regular rotation.

Tastes a little sour and a little perfumed. Decent but nothing more. Overrated.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-02-05		Medium	None Detected	Full	Strong

Cigar leaf and Latakia are the dominate players in this blend being held up by the Burley and Virginia like they where crowd surfing, oh yeah this is in your face poking you in the eye balls. Makes a good late afternoon smoke for me with black coffee.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-12-14		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

The First time I had this tobacco,

It was Labor Day weekend I was seventeen I bought a Coke and some Billy Budd And I drove out to the county fair When I saw her for the first time She was standing there in the ticket line And it all started right then and there Oh, a smoker's sky made a perfect sunset And that's the day I'll never forget

I had a barbeque stain on my white tee shirt She was killing me in that miniskirt Skippin' rocks on the river by the railroad tracks She had a suntan line and Dunhill Pipe I worked so hard for that first smoke And a heart don't forget something like that

Well it was five years later on a southbound plane I was headed down to New Orleans To meet some friends of mine for Mardi Gras When I smelled a smoke from the past Comin' from a few rows back And when I looked, I couldn't believe just what I saw She said I bet you don't remember me And I said only every other memory

I had a barbeque stain on my white tee shirt You were killing me in that miniskirt Skippin' rocks on the river by the railroad tracks You had a suntan line and Dunhill Pipe I worked so hard for that first smoke And a heart don't forget something like that

Like an old photograph Time can make a feeling fade But the memory of a first smoke Never fades away

I had a barbecue stain on my white tee shirt She was killing me in that miniskirt Smokkin' pipes on the river by the railroad tracks She had a sun tan line and dunhill Pipe I worked so hard for that first smoke A heart don't forget, no a heart don't forget I said a heart don't forget something like that Oh, not something like that

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-03-21		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

This stuff is harsh. Can burn your tongue and leave your throat sore. Also leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Nobody has rated this review yet.