Cigar Leaf Based Blends... C&D Billy Budd vs HU Nyala

[Gecko]

I absolutely love C&D Billy Budd with it´s rich, bold, stinky in your face taste and room note. Great strong natural tobacco flavors and lots of them. I would say that the cigar leaf has a Cuban note to them being earthy and well rounded, none of that sharp burnt paper note often found in non-Cuban cigars and to me in C&D Bow Legged Bear.

My problem is that living in Europe C&D is not readily available, have to be ordered from the States and is prohibitively expensive when taxes, import fees, etc have been added. So I'm looking at options that might scratch the same itch.

From searching tobaccoreviews.com I've found HU Nyala and thinking about ordering a few tins.
If you have smoked both how did you like them? or share your thoughts on cigar leaf blends in general.

Thank You!

 

[madox07]

sharp burnt paper note often found in non-Cuban cigars

Now you are being a bit unfair, I have smoked lots of non Cuban cigars that are absolutely wonderful. HU Nyala is on my list, and I have never tried the C&D you mentioned. If you like toscano cigars give Forte a try. Stay away from the lane limited blends with cigar names: macanudo, la gloria cubana, cohiba, and the such - non of them contain cigar leaf, on the contrary some are aromatics.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Have some Nyala on the way here, excited to try it. Favorite cigar leaf blend so far is GLP Key Largo, but if u can’t get CD you likely can’t get that. It has a wee bit of Latakia like Billy Budd does.

 

[Gecko]

Now you are being a bit unfair, I have smoked lots of non Cuban cigars that are absolutely wonderful. HU Nyala is on my list, and I have never tried the C&D you mentioned. If you like toscano cigars give Forte a try. Stay away from the lane limited blends with cigar names: macanudo, la gloria cubana, cohiba, and the such - non of them contain cigar leaf, on the contrary some are aromatics.

You are right I am a bit unfair, and I to have enjoyed some non-Cuban cigars. Its just that imho Cuban cigars often have a rounded, smooth, earthy flavor to them that I have not found in any non Cuban cigars.
And i found those same earthy notes in C&D Billy Budd but not in the C&D Bow Legged Bear.

 

[burleyboy]

In my opinion HU, Nyala has nothing in common with Billy Budd. Nyala to me tasted a bit like a mildly flavoured chocolate aromatic and I could not detect any cigar notes in it. But thats, as I said, just my opinion.

 

[Gecko]

Have some Nyala on the way here, excited to try it. Favorite cigar leaf blend so far is GLP Key Largo, but if u can’t get CD you likely can’t get that. It has a wee bit of Latakia like Billy Budd does.

Please share your thoughts on the Nyala when you have tried it. I shall put GLP Key Largo on my list of must try blends. With customs and fees tobacco from the states is to expensive to buy in volume or for regular use. But i sometimes splurge and buy a single tin of a few must try blends in spite of the costs.
It could be worse though, at least I'm allowed to order and it's not like I'm paying Austrailian prices. Last time i ordered from the US I ended up paying about 45 USD per tin.

 

[kwg116]

If you are looking for a cigar/ Latakia blend I would highly recommend Mogano by Schurch. Best cigar blend I have ever smoked. Nobody seems to talk about Schurch blends anymore but at one time he was the HU tobacco of the 90’s. Also, since you are in Europe Synjeco carries it ( at least they did, haven’t checked the site in a long time).

 

[scottbtdmb]

In my opinion HU, Nyala has nothing in common with Billy Budd. Nyala to me tasted a bit like a mildly flavoured chocolate aromatic and I could not detect any cigar notes in it. But thats, as I said, just my opinion.

I am inclined to agree with burleyboy here. I recently received my first ever order of HU tobacco from Estervals, and Nyala was the first one I opened up. Definitely milder and more subtle than I expected. The chocolate topping definitely is the lead component, and I too struggle to find the cigar note, and the perique seems to be almost undetectable too. It seems to smoke a little hot in larger pipes, so I am finding I enjoy it in some of my smaller pipes. It is not a bad blend by any means, and I’ve had some good smokes from it so far, but for someone like me that likes a bold, full flavored smoke it falls a little short...

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I very seriously doubt Billy Budd has Cuban cigar leaf in it. It would not be legal for C&D to acquire it.

I've smoked both. I thought Billy Budd was one of the most vile blends I've ever smoked. Nyala is the best cigar leaf blend I've smoked.

 

[alaskanpiper]

If you are looking for a cigar/ Latakia blend I would highly recommend Mogano by Schurch. Best cigar blend I have ever smoked. Nobody seems to talk about Schurch blends anymore but at one time he was the HU tobacco of the 90’s. Also, since you are in Europe Synjeco carries it ( at least they did, haven’t checked the site in a long time).

Schurch is a good recommendation. If you order from synjeco don’t miss Clegir Rope as well if you like VAs (and ropes). Their va/per twists are fantastic as well, all made by gawith.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Please share your thoughts on the Nyala when you have tried it. I shall put GLP Key Largo on my list of must try blends. With customs and fees tobacco from the states is to expensive to buy in volume or for regular use. But i sometimes splurge and buy a single tin of a few must try blends in spite of the costs.
It could be worse though, at least I'm allowed to order and it's not like I'm paying Austrailian prices. Last time i ordered from the US I ended up paying about 45 USD per tin.

Will do. I have yet to be disappointed by anything HU has made, so I’ll be very surprised if it isn’t quite good.

 

[mso489]

If you can find some condiment cigar leaf where you are, you can often mix a pinch or more with other blends to good effect. I was never a big spender on cigars, nor a regular smoker, but I've had Cubans and others, and the Dominican Republic cigars I've smoked, to me, were better than the Cubans. No burnt paper taste. I love Billy Budd!

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Not all Cuban cigars are equal. Just as sticks from any other locale. There are some fantastic ones and some that are not that great. @mso489 gave good advice above in my opinion. You will probably have an easier time sourcing cigars or cigar leaf that can be used for mixing. FWIW, I’m addicted to Billy Budd too. I also like Habana Daydream quite a bit. I go back and forth with which I prefer more. I’ve yet to try GLP Key Largo, but it’s on my short list.

 

[greeneyes]

If you are looking for a cigar/ Latakia blend I would highly recommend Mogano by Schurch. Best cigar blend I have ever smoked. Nobody seems to talk about Schurch blends anymore but at one time he was the HU tobacco of the 90’s. Also, since you are in Europe Synjeco carries it ( at least they did, haven’t checked the site in a long time).

Mogano is no longer available.

 

[Gecko]

Mogano is no longer available.

Yes, it is gone from Synjecos web site. Looking Mogano up I stumbled across Compton's of Galashiels Cuban Style Cigar Blend which seemed very interesting, but unfortunately mr. Engel who manufactured it have been regulated out of the tobacco blending business.

 

[greeneyes]

Yes, it is gone from Synjecos web site. Looking Mogano up I stumbled across Compton's of Galashiels Cuban Style Cigar Blend which seemed very interesting, but unfortunately mr. Engel who manufactured it have been regulated out of the tobacco blending business.

Schurch Zaffiro has cigar leaf, and it is an excellent blend.

 

[Gecko]

If you can find some condiment cigar leaf where you are, you can often mix a pinch or more with other blends to good effect. I was never a big spender on cigars, nor a regular smoker, but I've had Cubans and others, and the Dominican Republic cigars I've smoked, to me, were better than the Cubans. No burnt paper taste. I love Billy Budd!

Thank you! This would be interesting to try, acquire some cigar wrapper leaf and some strong burley and mix in with a Latakia heavy English or Balkan blend. ?

 

[Gecko]

I've added both Habana Daydream and the Synjeco ropes to my list of tobaccos to try. To bad the Swiss (Synjeco) are outside the EU and therefore, for us Swedes, subject to the same draconian taxes and fees as purchases from the US.

 

[madox07]

I very seriously doubt Billy Budd has Cuban cigar leaf in it. It would not be legal for C&D to acquire it.

I've smoked both. I thought Billy Budd was one of the most vile blends I've ever smoked. Nyala is the best cigar leaf blend I've smoked.

I though the embargo was lifted.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I though the embargo was lifted.

If you are traveling abroad, you may bring back a box or three for personal consumption. You still may not legally order Cuban products to be shipped to you in the USA.