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 1 - 6 of 6 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 05, 2018 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Bijou is quite different than what i was expecting given the reviews to date. I've smoked several bowels just to be sure I was on the right page with this stuff. In my opinion, Bijou is a medium strength smoke that tends to dry the palate. I can detect the honey on brief occasions, however the overall flavor is quite sour with some spice and does not have a hint of sweetness as others have stated. The aged red virginias, while good on paper, are a little "rustic" and though should improve with a few years age. Overall, not overly impressed unfortunately - it's a quality blend, just too sour for my taste.
PurchasedFrom:
4Noggins.com
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 22, 2017 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
Component Tobaccos: Virginia ('03 vintage) and Oriental (Katerini)
Flavouring: Honey
Cut: (Broken) Flake, it's advertized as a flake but good luck getting a flake out unbroken.
Tin Note: This smells like a fresh-cut lawn with the delicate scent of honey wafting over the top. It's delightful
Body: 4/10
Strength: 3/10
Nic: 1/10
Moisture From Tin: Slightly on the wet side
Mechanics: For a flake this burns surprisingly well, even with it being slightly wet. It can burn hot if you aren't careful.
Taste: At first I don't get any Virginia, just the subtle sweetness of the honey. The bowl begins to taste faintly of curry spice and there is a mouthfeel similar to perique. The Virginias are not very prominent, I can taste them and their bright, grassiness but they are not upfront. There isn't much evolution through the bowl. It's curry, honey and grass all layered together.
Thoughts: There really isn't too much to say about this blend. It is interesting, Bijou has flavours I have not found in any other tobacco: Honey and curry, mixed with the very familiar bright VA. And I cannot decide weather I like it or not.
Overall: ??/10
Additional notes: So I was curious about the 'curry' flavour and began to look into the profile of Katerini, the oriental that is in Bijou, and found that's where the curry flavour is coming from. It's interesting.
Flavouring: Honey
Cut: (Broken) Flake, it's advertized as a flake but good luck getting a flake out unbroken.
Tin Note: This smells like a fresh-cut lawn with the delicate scent of honey wafting over the top. It's delightful
Body: 4/10
Strength: 3/10
Nic: 1/10
Moisture From Tin: Slightly on the wet side
Mechanics: For a flake this burns surprisingly well, even with it being slightly wet. It can burn hot if you aren't careful.
Taste: At first I don't get any Virginia, just the subtle sweetness of the honey. The bowl begins to taste faintly of curry spice and there is a mouthfeel similar to perique. The Virginias are not very prominent, I can taste them and their bright, grassiness but they are not upfront. There isn't much evolution through the bowl. It's curry, honey and grass all layered together.
Thoughts: There really isn't too much to say about this blend. It is interesting, Bijou has flavours I have not found in any other tobacco: Honey and curry, mixed with the very familiar bright VA. And I cannot decide weather I like it or not.
Overall: ??/10
Additional notes: So I was curious about the 'curry' flavour and began to look into the profile of Katerini, the oriental that is in Bijou, and found that's where the curry flavour is coming from. It's interesting.
Pipe Used:
Meer, others
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
New Tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2018 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I've decided to review to cellar series blends from C&D upon purchase (or thereabout) and after the recommended amount of aging to see the changes. I intend to update the review after that period of time has elapsed.
Now:
The smell is sweet, and kind of like toast.
The taste is slightly spicy. It's like a milder balkan flavor. The honey is nice when it's there. There was significant sweetness in the middle of the bowl.
This was kind of a toss-up between 2 and 3 stars; I'd have felt more comfortable with a 2.5.
Aged:
Stay tuned.
Now:
The smell is sweet, and kind of like toast.
The taste is slightly spicy. It's like a milder balkan flavor. The honey is nice when it's there. There was significant sweetness in the middle of the bowl.
This was kind of a toss-up between 2 and 3 stars; I'd have felt more comfortable with a 2.5.
Aged:
Stay tuned.
Pipe Used:
Missouri Meerschaum Legend
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
2 Months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 12, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
With all respect to the house of C&D (they make some of my all time favorite blends), this blend is good but very hyped! Now given its a cellar series and should smoke better with age but that doesn't meant we can't judge on a fresh tin. Its a typical virginia with some spice from orientals, the casing is very faint to impart significant flavor, very mild sweetness, mild on nicotine, has to be rubbed out as those flakes will not do well folded and stuffed, burns ok and the room note is not crowd pleasing. Good but nothing to stock deep on.
Pipe Used:
Briars
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 16, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The Katerini was there in the background, but my over whelming first and lasting impression was a grassy sourness. I was looking for the expected sweetness from the Virginias and honey, but it was nowhere to be found. This was the 4th bowl I’ve smoked and my experience has been consistent with my above comments. Additionally, it took several relights to complete the bowel. Maybe aging will bring out more of the hoped for sweetness.
Pipe Used:
Savinelle Porto Cervo 320KS
PurchasedFrom:
Cup O' Joes
Age When Smoked:
2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 22, 2024 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Cornell & Diehl
Bijou
Blend notes: “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.”
I find these type of blend notes disingenuous. I have a tin of Bijou with the date stamp of late December, 2023, opening it in late March, 2024. This is really 21 year old Red Virginia from Eastern North Carolina? Maybe. Doubtful. Anyone have a bridge over water in Arizona to sell?
There is some dark fruit-esque Virginia up front, but if there is Katerini here it is subsumed or around the edges. I love good Oriental leaf in a blend, but would prefer it to be more than a condiment. The Virginia is not the bready, toasty type, nor is it the bright citrus taste — more of a mild grassy hay. The bit of spice ‘may’ be the Oriental.
If there is a flavor added I can’t taste it. The blend taste a bit like dried dust. A bit of the dark fruit tanginess.
I’d give this 2 out of 4 stars.
Bijou
Blend notes: “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.”
I find these type of blend notes disingenuous. I have a tin of Bijou with the date stamp of late December, 2023, opening it in late March, 2024. This is really 21 year old Red Virginia from Eastern North Carolina? Maybe. Doubtful. Anyone have a bridge over water in Arizona to sell?
There is some dark fruit-esque Virginia up front, but if there is Katerini here it is subsumed or around the edges. I love good Oriental leaf in a blend, but would prefer it to be more than a condiment. The Virginia is not the bready, toasty type, nor is it the bright citrus taste — more of a mild grassy hay. The bit of spice ‘may’ be the Oriental.
If there is a flavor added I can’t taste it. The blend taste a bit like dried dust. A bit of the dark fruit tanginess.
I’d give this 2 out of 4 stars.
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