Cornell & Diehl Bijou
(3.22)
Choice 2003 vintage, Eastern North Carolina red Virginias crown this jewel.
Accented by sweet bright leaf and rounded by small-leafed Katerini, Bijou is married with a hint of honey before being pressed and sliced into delicate flakes. This gem requires no adornment. Just time.
Estimated peak: 10-15 years.
Notes: Pre-released at CPCC 2016; retail launch date Friday, May 13, 2016.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Series | Cellar Series |
| Blended By | Jeremy Reeves |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Honey |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Very Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.22 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 50 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2019 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Like C&D say, the star of their Bijou blend is the 2003 vintage red VA, and flue cured VA and Turkish Katerini are condimental. That is, the lemon VA is condimental like a dash of salt, and the Katerini is “condimental” like the pepper on a pepper steak! Enough honey has been added to lend some sweetness to a mix that otherwise might have been too bluff, sour, dry, and/or piquant. Anyway, I can’t argue with the results. Despite Bijou is from C&D’s “Cellar Series’, and it’s meant to mature in its sealed tin for another 10 – 15 years, I was quite pleased with my 4 ½ month old Bijou, enjoying every bowlful and only peripherally wondering how it could taste when fully aged. But, yes, I will be getting more to cellar!
Popping the tin, the scent is like honey on fresh, moist brown bread. The mostly broken, short flakes range from light-medium red brown through medium brown, with some gold flecks. I had no issues with loading, lighting or smoking Bijou down, apart from fine, dark ash at the end, and it burns long and slow. Being young, the Katerini is still rather peppery, but it also heralds the deeper, more exotic bakery spices that will evolve over time, even resting in a sealed jar. Smoked young, Bijou is yet fairly well melded, the net effect being a fairly wide range of flavors and scents, pegged in the upper registers by the flure cured VA and on the bottom by the mellow-but-assertive, well-aged, air cured, red VA, all of it “overlain”, as it were, by the rich, almost iridescent Katerini. The red VA is a mouthful, for sure, and I really love this tobacco. It is less earthy or sweet than air cured brown, also more piquant. I gather the lot will mellow and round out over time, but I’m fine ‘til that happens. The lot is so very fragrant, with “woody” scents like distant burning fruit woods and native grasses and cereal grains. It is “savory” first, and else second. There is some dark fruit leather, way down the list. On the one hand, Bijou is “simple”, even one dimensional. On the main, strong, right hand, it is “sophisticated”, along the lines of Germain’s Brown Flake. IMO, it’s best contemplated. Strength is up there for VA, stronger than medium. Factoring in the spices and the piquancy, tastes are also over medium. Room note is pleasant, to me, anyway. Aftertaste is the best of the smoke, if one avoids fine ash in the end.
IMO, Bijou is great now, and it will quite likely get better with age. I’m surprised it’s not more popular, but I do like piquant tobacco. The quality is there, for sure. 4 stars.
Popping the tin, the scent is like honey on fresh, moist brown bread. The mostly broken, short flakes range from light-medium red brown through medium brown, with some gold flecks. I had no issues with loading, lighting or smoking Bijou down, apart from fine, dark ash at the end, and it burns long and slow. Being young, the Katerini is still rather peppery, but it also heralds the deeper, more exotic bakery spices that will evolve over time, even resting in a sealed jar. Smoked young, Bijou is yet fairly well melded, the net effect being a fairly wide range of flavors and scents, pegged in the upper registers by the flure cured VA and on the bottom by the mellow-but-assertive, well-aged, air cured, red VA, all of it “overlain”, as it were, by the rich, almost iridescent Katerini. The red VA is a mouthful, for sure, and I really love this tobacco. It is less earthy or sweet than air cured brown, also more piquant. I gather the lot will mellow and round out over time, but I’m fine ‘til that happens. The lot is so very fragrant, with “woody” scents like distant burning fruit woods and native grasses and cereal grains. It is “savory” first, and else second. There is some dark fruit leather, way down the list. On the one hand, Bijou is “simple”, even one dimensional. On the main, strong, right hand, it is “sophisticated”, along the lines of Germain’s Brown Flake. IMO, it’s best contemplated. Strength is up there for VA, stronger than medium. Factoring in the spices and the piquancy, tastes are also over medium. Room note is pleasant, to me, anyway. Aftertaste is the best of the smoke, if one avoids fine ash in the end.
IMO, Bijou is great now, and it will quite likely get better with age. I’m surprised it’s not more popular, but I do like piquant tobacco. The quality is there, for sure. 4 stars.
Pipe Used:
various briars; #4 preferred
PurchasedFrom:
Liberty Tobacco
Age When Smoked:
4 1/2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 01, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
It's a solid everyday smoke, it's light, sweet and dry. Directly from the tin it smokes well, is a good moisture content. Flakes break down is easy and I found stuffing/folding/etc to be a bit on the finicky side.
I get a lot of honey on the charring light and maybe the first quarter to third of a bowl, at which point the virginias and orientals really step forward and make for a nice pleasant smoke with the faintest hints of honey every so often through out the bowl.
This is a blend that has handled well for me in meerschaum pipes as well as briar pipes, it doesn't get wet, doesn't bite and is pleasantly not as bright as a lot of other virigina based blends.
I get a lot of honey on the charring light and maybe the first quarter to third of a bowl, at which point the virginias and orientals really step forward and make for a nice pleasant smoke with the faintest hints of honey every so often through out the bowl.
This is a blend that has handled well for me in meerschaum pipes as well as briar pipes, it doesn't get wet, doesn't bite and is pleasantly not as bright as a lot of other virigina based blends.
PurchasedFrom:
SmokingPipes.com
Age When Smoked:
3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 03, 2020 | Extremely Mild | None Detected | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Tolerable to Strong |
Upon opening this 2019 can the smell is unremarkable, I get mostly notes of earthy light hay/grass with no noticeable topping. The tin remarks that the blend is made with 2003 red Virginia tobacco and boy does it smell that old and not in a good way. I can appreciate that some tobaccos are supposed to be better once aged but I don't feel like that's the case for Bijou.
I've smoked this in several different pipes over the course of several weeks at several humidity levels and I have to say I'm completely unimpressed with the flavor, if there's any flavor to be had! It was a spicy smoke with no smooth moments or discernible tastes whatsoever and I even had some moments of tongue bite which isn't as prevalent in other blends I've tried.
Overall I'm going to pass on buying any more of this blend, it has nothing to draw me in and delivers no satisfaction whether through its strength or its flavor. I'm going to try pressing it with some stronger tobacco to hopefully add something worthwhile and make this blend smokeable!
I've smoked this in several different pipes over the course of several weeks at several humidity levels and I have to say I'm completely unimpressed with the flavor, if there's any flavor to be had! It was a spicy smoke with no smooth moments or discernible tastes whatsoever and I even had some moments of tongue bite which isn't as prevalent in other blends I've tried.
Overall I'm going to pass on buying any more of this blend, it has nothing to draw me in and delivers no satisfaction whether through its strength or its flavor. I'm going to try pressing it with some stronger tobacco to hopefully add something worthwhile and make this blend smokeable!
Pipe Used:
Briars with and without filters.
Age When Smoked:
1 Year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2020 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
This is from a tin which was dated June 2017 and has been jarred since at least 2019 if not 2018.
Another jar which I found buried in my open jar box which I decided to get out and try in late summer 2020. I have several tins of this aging towards their recommended date of 10 years but I had to give one a try to have an idea of what it might be like in 2028 or so.
The broken flakes are in the C&D style where they will crumble with slight pressure as you are loading the bowl. The moisture level is still great. They are very dark flakes with specks of lighter tobacco in them. The jar note is a sweet/sour.
Upon lighting I get a combination of sour (which I'm guessing is the oriental) a little pepper and some sweetness. I enjoy CD's other VA's featuring the honey topping (think Interlude or Sun Bear..) and I recognize that note. The orientals are a nice addition as the sour to me builds and decreases as I go through the bowls. This blend does really well in my pot shaped pipes and shines in a Sav 320/Morgan Fat Author as do most of the ones with a prep like this.
The nic level to me is mild enough I could smoke multiple bowls while being still noticable. The room note is strong according my wife (the designated judge of this here).
I'm interested to see how the age will change this. I'm hoping the sweetness of the VA's continues to increase as this is a good blend which I'm looking forward to enjoying over the new decade.
Another jar which I found buried in my open jar box which I decided to get out and try in late summer 2020. I have several tins of this aging towards their recommended date of 10 years but I had to give one a try to have an idea of what it might be like in 2028 or so.
The broken flakes are in the C&D style where they will crumble with slight pressure as you are loading the bowl. The moisture level is still great. They are very dark flakes with specks of lighter tobacco in them. The jar note is a sweet/sour.
Upon lighting I get a combination of sour (which I'm guessing is the oriental) a little pepper and some sweetness. I enjoy CD's other VA's featuring the honey topping (think Interlude or Sun Bear..) and I recognize that note. The orientals are a nice addition as the sour to me builds and decreases as I go through the bowls. This blend does really well in my pot shaped pipes and shines in a Sav 320/Morgan Fat Author as do most of the ones with a prep like this.
The nic level to me is mild enough I could smoke multiple bowls while being still noticable. The room note is strong according my wife (the designated judge of this here).
I'm interested to see how the age will change this. I'm hoping the sweetness of the VA's continues to increase as this is a good blend which I'm looking forward to enjoying over the new decade.
Pipe Used:
Pots, 320s, Fat Authors
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
3 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2020 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
This is my first foray into Virginia-Oriental blends and as a regular Virginia and VaPer smoker this is very satisfying.
The tobacco comes in a 2oz tin and when opened, smells grassy, fruity, and has a slightly sweet aroma from the honey topping. The tobacco comes in a broken flake typical of C&D's line. I find it is smokable out of the tin, but as the description says it is meant to be cellared. I have not allowed mine to age, but I can only imagine the differences that aging can bring to a blend like this.
It packs well and I have a habit of putting this blend into a deep bowl. No problems lighting with either a match or a lighter. I find it takes the average amount of relights.
Now to taste. I know some people recoil at the sound of the word "topping" and this blend is topped with honey. I find it is noticable but as jimlinks points out it doesn't sublimate the tobaccos in this blend. There is a woody, grassy, and slightly sweet taste. I detect a slight floral note in the background.
I find lady N to be medium in this blend. This is repeatable and for me an all day smoke.
Try this if you are looking for something different and you won't be disappointed.
The tobacco comes in a 2oz tin and when opened, smells grassy, fruity, and has a slightly sweet aroma from the honey topping. The tobacco comes in a broken flake typical of C&D's line. I find it is smokable out of the tin, but as the description says it is meant to be cellared. I have not allowed mine to age, but I can only imagine the differences that aging can bring to a blend like this.
It packs well and I have a habit of putting this blend into a deep bowl. No problems lighting with either a match or a lighter. I find it takes the average amount of relights.
Now to taste. I know some people recoil at the sound of the word "topping" and this blend is topped with honey. I find it is noticable but as jimlinks points out it doesn't sublimate the tobaccos in this blend. There is a woody, grassy, and slightly sweet taste. I detect a slight floral note in the background.
I find lady N to be medium in this blend. This is repeatable and for me an all day smoke.
Try this if you are looking for something different and you won't be disappointed.
Pipe Used:
Kaywoodie Birkshire Large Billiard
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 14, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I bought 5 tins of this when it came out, but waited a year before opening any. The first tin opened had the dreaded mold. I heard the mold issues were taken care of so I ordered 3 more tins to get some from a more recent batch. The next tin (from the first batch) didn't have any trace of mold. Nice Virginia flavor with a lot of sour notes from the Katerina. The problem I'm having with this tobacco is it seems different every smoke. It maybe pipe dependent. Sometimes it is a fantastic smoke and I'm hoping it lasts an hour. Other times it seems real rough around the edges and I struggle to finish the bowl. Had a bowl in a large cob last weekend that was just a sublime experience - I really enjoyed it. This morning had one in a Peterson - not so much. Could be the pipe. Could be the time of day. Could be the cadence. More research is warranted. I'm two-thirds the way through the tin, so I'll see how it plays out. So for me the jury is still out. I'll leave the other tins in the cellar for a while longer before revisiting this flake. Flavor is a solid medium. Nic-hit is fine later in the day, but the first smoke of the day with coffee on an empty stomach - I notice the nic hit. Admittedly I'm a wimp when it comes to nic (Elizabethan turns me green, for example). I'm giving it 3 stars based on the good smokes I've had. I'd rank higher but for the inconsistencies. YMMV. Certainly give it a try. The quality is there, save for the moldy tins out there.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2018 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I like this blend alright, but it did not blow me away. I would have preferred a bit more sweetness from the Virginia or even the honey. The Virginia in this blend is not unlike many C&D Reds, more deep and earthy essence than fruity sweet.
There is a bit of citrus that comes through in the blend, but I believe this is coming from the Katerini leaf which adds all the complexity in the blend with a sour tone. To my tastes this is a touch too sour, but I have shared this with many people who rave about the blend.
As to the addition of the honey in the blend, I will take C&D's word for it that it is in there, but I do not really taste it. It has most likely melded in and may be responsible for the smoothness of this blend.
On the good side it comes at the perfect moisture level and burns clean and cool to the bottom with no bite. I have three more tins aging in the cellar and will be interested to see how this blend tastes as the Virginias get sweeter over time (As it is clearly intended to do as a Cellar Series blend). The tin I smoked had about a year and a half of age on it. I will be reporting back as I go through the others.
Update 2/5/2022
I just finished one of those tins mentioned above, so this particular tin had aged 5 yrs 1 month when I opened it. The long nap seems to have really benefitted this tin to my tastes as I found this tin did satisfy me more than the younger tin I reviewed above. The virginia element did increase in sweetness and its interaction with the Katerini really intensified. it was a great smoke. I am keeping it at 3 stars for now, but I can now see where this may become a four star blend with more aging.
There is a bit of citrus that comes through in the blend, but I believe this is coming from the Katerini leaf which adds all the complexity in the blend with a sour tone. To my tastes this is a touch too sour, but I have shared this with many people who rave about the blend.
As to the addition of the honey in the blend, I will take C&D's word for it that it is in there, but I do not really taste it. It has most likely melded in and may be responsible for the smoothness of this blend.
On the good side it comes at the perfect moisture level and burns clean and cool to the bottom with no bite. I have three more tins aging in the cellar and will be interested to see how this blend tastes as the Virginias get sweeter over time (As it is clearly intended to do as a Cellar Series blend). The tin I smoked had about a year and a half of age on it. I will be reporting back as I go through the others.
Update 2/5/2022
I just finished one of those tins mentioned above, so this particular tin had aged 5 yrs 1 month when I opened it. The long nap seems to have really benefitted this tin to my tastes as I found this tin did satisfy me more than the younger tin I reviewed above. The virginia element did increase in sweetness and its interaction with the Katerini really intensified. it was a great smoke. I am keeping it at 3 stars for now, but I can now see where this may become a four star blend with more aging.
Age When Smoked:
1 & 1/2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 11, 2018 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The final installment of the small samples I received from an internet buddy. This one was the most interesting, if not the best tasting. The bag aroma was of curry mixed in with the tobacco and that, I assume, was the Katerini making itself known.
In the pipe, the Katerini was the star. A curry-like spice that diminished down the bowl but never went away. Consequently, I preferred the first half of each bowl (3 bowl sample). C&D claims that the Virginia is a 2003 red crop and having smoked a lot of reds from around that era, I'm not sure what C&D does to leech the natural sweetness out of the leaf. The base tobaccos here are unrefined - almost primitive in their dryness and lack of character. Almost no sweetness and a far cry from the best red Virginias available. Even the light topping doesn't sweeten this up. On the other hand, there is a huge charm to this one with that spicy curry incense-like flavor from the Turkish. Compared to the McClellands blend named Katerini, this one is to the far left (spicy) while the McClellands is to the far right (sweet). I'd like to try one more middle of the road. But I enjoyed this one and may pick up a few more tins for aging. It had a unique flavor that might age well or it might benefit from blending this with a more typical red VA. I'm intrigued with this one, even while it didn't hit my tastebuds as well as I'd hoped.
In the pipe, the Katerini was the star. A curry-like spice that diminished down the bowl but never went away. Consequently, I preferred the first half of each bowl (3 bowl sample). C&D claims that the Virginia is a 2003 red crop and having smoked a lot of reds from around that era, I'm not sure what C&D does to leech the natural sweetness out of the leaf. The base tobaccos here are unrefined - almost primitive in their dryness and lack of character. Almost no sweetness and a far cry from the best red Virginias available. Even the light topping doesn't sweeten this up. On the other hand, there is a huge charm to this one with that spicy curry incense-like flavor from the Turkish. Compared to the McClellands blend named Katerini, this one is to the far left (spicy) while the McClellands is to the far right (sweet). I'd like to try one more middle of the road. But I enjoyed this one and may pick up a few more tins for aging. It had a unique flavor that might age well or it might benefit from blending this with a more typical red VA. I'm intrigued with this one, even while it didn't hit my tastebuds as well as I'd hoped.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 05, 2018 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
I'm new to this tobacco and I'm not a fan of aromatic blends at all. This is not what I would consider an areo by any means. This tobacco has had some light honey added in the process. But it is a sidekick to the VA / Turkish. I'm a big fan of VA blends and sweater English like mcclelland and GL Pease.
In this blend at first its honey and fig from the aged 2003 VA. And then after the first 1/4th the honey is super faint and the oriental starts to really shine. Very sweet and spicy type thing.
Before I found this blend I was smoking a Va/Per in the am and a English in the evening. But now I've been smoking this in place of the morning VA/Per. I will say that the 15 ur old VA tobacco in this blend is somthing different. I enjoy the fact that the main component of this tobacco is already aged that far. It's a great blend
In this blend at first its honey and fig from the aged 2003 VA. And then after the first 1/4th the honey is super faint and the oriental starts to really shine. Very sweet and spicy type thing.
Before I found this blend I was smoking a Va/Per in the am and a English in the evening. But now I've been smoking this in place of the morning VA/Per. I will say that the 15 ur old VA tobacco in this blend is somthing different. I enjoy the fact that the main component of this tobacco is already aged that far. It's a great blend
Pipe Used:
Dr grabow starfire poker, kaywoodie small pot
PurchasedFrom:
Blacksburg pipe and tobacco
Age When Smoked:
Canned 8-15-17 smoked April 2 2018
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 04, 2016 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Upon opening the tin one can see a bunch of delicate broken flakes that are dark brown for the most part with streams of black and bits of golden and red. The smell is quite delicious. Hay and fruit mixed with some earth with a touch of honey. One can definitely smell the honey topping, but it's extremely mild and not overdone.
Easy to load and light. Light tamping works well for this blend and I didn't require many if any relights.
This blend reminds me of Orlik GS as the virginias are sweet and hay-like with a bit of citrus....but it's not as sweet as OGS and there is more going on with this blend than that. It reminds me of Blackwoods flake, as the virginia profile seems wide, with dark, medium, and light tones, however this blend leans more to the light/medium side of the spectrum in taste and flavor strength. The orientals add a complimentary dimension to the smoke that works well with the natural sweetness. It provides some spice and a bit of smokiness that is quite pleasant. This blend, at least at its current age, seemed to bite my tongue just a bit. Not so bad as for me to not enjoy it, but enough to notice. I think some age will help cure this issue however. The honey is just barely detectable maybe once every 5-10 puffs and adds a light sweetness to the smoke. Very enjoyable blend. I look forward to seeing how it will do after some years of aging.
**UPDATE** After a few more months of age, this blend is really great!! Awesome natural red va tangy sweetness supported by some wood notes and citrus notes. Wonderful! Still makes my tongue hurt with every bowl. Not sure what it is....otherwise I would give this the full 4 stars.
My first tin ended up being full of mold. C&D replaced the tin at no cost, which was great. I haven't cracked another tin of this yet.
Easy to load and light. Light tamping works well for this blend and I didn't require many if any relights.
This blend reminds me of Orlik GS as the virginias are sweet and hay-like with a bit of citrus....but it's not as sweet as OGS and there is more going on with this blend than that. It reminds me of Blackwoods flake, as the virginia profile seems wide, with dark, medium, and light tones, however this blend leans more to the light/medium side of the spectrum in taste and flavor strength. The orientals add a complimentary dimension to the smoke that works well with the natural sweetness. It provides some spice and a bit of smokiness that is quite pleasant. This blend, at least at its current age, seemed to bite my tongue just a bit. Not so bad as for me to not enjoy it, but enough to notice. I think some age will help cure this issue however. The honey is just barely detectable maybe once every 5-10 puffs and adds a light sweetness to the smoke. Very enjoyable blend. I look forward to seeing how it will do after some years of aging.
**UPDATE** After a few more months of age, this blend is really great!! Awesome natural red va tangy sweetness supported by some wood notes and citrus notes. Wonderful! Still makes my tongue hurt with every bowl. Not sure what it is....otherwise I would give this the full 4 stars.
My first tin ended up being full of mold. C&D replaced the tin at no cost, which was great. I haven't cracked another tin of this yet.
Pipe Used:
Dagner Pot
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
6 months aged
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