Customer Reviews (54 Total)
A Supreme Oriental Blend
August 12, 2017
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Bijou is delicious, but it really needs time in the cellar. The difference between it fresh and aged is like night and day. After about a year in the nice full-flavored, medium-to-full strength blend that is truly blissful. Fans of Oriental-forward b... Read More
lends are sure to enjoy this one. Red Virginias boost the Katerini to delicious heights. A small taste of what is likely a honey topping is detectable. Bijou has a noticeable amount of nicotine; about 6 out of 10. Other blends I've had from the Cellar Series were fine fresh from the tin, and naturally they aged well, but Bijou really seems to NEED time. Read Less
Supreme blend, another wonderful Oriental
November 23, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Bijou is delicately sweet and rich mixture of Red VA and from what I was told it was harvested in 2003 alongside Bright VA from 2013, Katerini and a little bit of honey casing. Tish yummy flake is full of natural sweet spicy character, reminiscent of... Read More
clove, cinnamon and dried fruit. Great for a after dinner smoke. Read Less
great blend
November 04, 2017
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
this c&d blend is a true winner. this is my 3rd tin, and I love this virgina flake
It grew on me
May 23, 2019
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I gave it extra time in the cellar to tame the Red Virginia and now it’s one of my favorites. Tastes and smells like fresh baked bread dipped in hot milk and honey. The VA and Katerini give it a natural aromatic room note any pipe smoker would enjoy.... Read More
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Great blend
September 02, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Smooth smoke can definitely taste the orientals and the honey. I love it
Honey and Toast
February 11, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I love this tobacco. The tin note is like honey on warm toast. It conforms easily to whichever style one prefers to load it into the pipe, and the taste and room note is very enjoyable. Highly recommended for those looking for a tasty, bready Virgini... Read More
a. Read Less
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Jesus! I love this stuff. No biting, cool burning and a dark sweetness with a medium strength. Highly recommendable.
Wonderful- Fresh out of the tin
June 02, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Don't be irritated by the advertisement. Of course, the tobacco has ageing potential, but it's fantastic right of the tin. No drying needed, no special cutting or preperation needed, just stuff it in xour pipe. It has a rich, deep and dark flavour. N... Read More
o added Aromes can be detected, very natural. For me it the best C&D Virginia so far, and has nothing in common with the little harsh Virginia- Bulk- Blends. In my opinion it's compareable to SG Full Virginia Flake, or Germains Rich Dark Flake, Maybe Esoterica Stonehaven- or a McClelland Flake. It's smooth, rich and not so heavy on Vitamin N. Perfect All day smoke, and pefect for re-re-re-re ordering and of course cellaring. I'm pretty much impressed! Read Less
Rich Full Real Tobacco Flavor
May 20, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Bijou is definitely a Virginia blend that sets itself apart. As a VA lover you pretty much know what to expect from this delicious leaf. Natural tobacco sweetness, with high notes of citrus, slightly piquant flavors. This is decidedly different in... Read More
that the taste is deeper, fuller with dark tones and a fair level of strength. The tin aroma has some of the typical musky, fig like subtle sweetness, but just this morning when I opened the tin it struck me that it presents itself with the aroma of a freshly opened box of fine cigars. What I'm talking about is REAL tobacco aromas and flavors. Not Maple covered pancakes. If you want pancakes, go to IHOP!! This is rich full bodied and complex with flavors that lean towards the deep end of the pool, with less bright notes, but very enjoyable. Definitely can be an all-day choice. Not a light weight, but not too strong to enjoy bowl after bowl. Highly recommended!! Read Less
Just opened
February 25, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
A replacement tin, original had serious mold. This tin is aged just over a year and I was told the mold issue was supposedly rectified but obviously NOT! This tin too has a significant amount of mold. Looks like I will hold off purchasing any blends ... Read More
from C&D for quite a while. Read Less
A favorite
February 11, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
To me, this is one of the best oriental forward blends available. Using Katerina gives floral notes that meld well with the florals in the light honey casing. The Virginia’s give heft and body and enough nicotine to make the blend worth smoking.
This is a really good blend
December 24, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I notice is the honey then the Red Virginias, fruity and bready with a wisp of vinegar.
The best Virginia-Oriental blends for me .
Top Shelf
August 29, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I find this a very smooth smoke. I rubbed it to what consider a course consistency, it tamped well, and burned easy to fine ash. It certainly has a sweet but subtle honey flavor. This likely is an “all day” type of blend. I’d place the nicotine dose... Read More
at above average. My tin was not overly moist as some have reported. Not often spoke of in ratings is the color of smoke; I find it to have a fairly white character, those blends that smoke to tan and yellow, have in my opinion, carried a less than optimum experience and leave a post event after taste. I highly recommend you give it a try. Read Less
Excellent Virginia/Oriental
April 25, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
What a great tobacco! Give it some time to age in your cellar and you’ll truly reap the rewards.
Top 3 Oriental's Still Available for Purchase
February 22, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Bravo Cornell & Diehl! I have had wild ride with my taste in pipe tobacco and I am sure it will continue. Why pipe smoking isn't like my food journey ( I can eat the same thing and there have been almost zero variance in taste over my lifetime...... Read More
other than whiskey). I have been a lat bomb guy to a straight VA guy and back again. I do enjoy an occasional aromatic, but that has not changed much, never were my favorite and almost turned me off to the pipe for good. I have been trying to find replacement for McClelland Orientals (yes Orientals as well as VA's). This is is one that meets the grade. L.J. Peretti has done a nice job here as well. I find good Orientals, to my taste, are difficult to define in a review but I will give it a shot. I prefer Oriental's that lead with a flavor that I can best define as British Breakfast tea with milk and sugar. The Virginia's are slightly sweet and bready, the grassier notes mixing with the "spice" of the Turkish/Oriental. The sour, often attributed with Turkish/Orientals, either way in the background or that work with the other tobacco's well enough to not come with a bite. Bijou does this all and then some. There are times that the toasted bread from the VA's take an edge over the creaminess. I am not sure if tea is a spice but this is the type of spice the Katerini brings to the blend. Subtle, complex and just delicious. If you are looking for something with in your face flavor, this probably isn't it. But if you like the nuances and complex, subtle flavors that Orientals/Turkish this is probably in the top 3 Oriental blends still in production (I would also recommend Peretti Oriental #40). This will be even better with age as all VA's and Orientals are. Read Less
Simply delicious
November 09, 2019
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Impression of Fresh tin. Sweet Virginia, sour and woody oriental. What if you mix these? Yes it is delicious. Now that it's 2019, these Tins may not be "Fresh". Well delicious.
Tangy goodness
September 26, 2019
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
This blend won't beat you over the head with flavors but it's very pleasant. It smokes as well as any chunky flake will, and as long as you don't puff too hard it will be kind to your tongue. The flavor that comes to mind the most is tangy, i'm sur... Read More
e from both the red virginias and the Katerini working together. As the bowl goes on I get a pleasant collection of spice flavors, and a soft sweetness as well. There's nothing offensive about this blend, and it's only gotten better with age. What i've got has about 8 months of age on it now, I can't wait for it to reach the 1 and 2 year marks. Read Less
Lots of potential
July 27, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Just opened a fresh tin. Has to be the most moist tin I've ever experienced. Packed a bowl anyway and as you can imagine, not impressed. Air dried for 24 hours. Packed another bowl, much better, but not mind blowing.
The tin note is soooo good. Ve... Read More
ry deep, rich, sweet tobacco scent.
I'm going to let this sit in a jar for a few months and come back to it. I have a feeling it's going to get great. Read Less
Sweet AND spicy
November 30, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Cutting to the chase. What it relays on my pallet is sweet and spicy with a little nuttiness... pretty dang good. The nic hit was pretty high for me so I wouldn't smoke it all day as often as some others.... it's not a nic bomb but it isn't 1q either... Read More
..... Read Less
Another Winner
October 16, 2017
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Another excellent Blend by C&D. Becoming one of my favorites, it has just the right enough sweetness and balance, and it will only become better with age.
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
my first time trying this blend. I really like this virginia flake. the honey flavor adds value to the natural virginia flavor.
Hard Virginia to Get Past
June 29, 2017
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I've been trying many Virginia blends over the past 5 years but this one stopped me. Maybe thats a bad thing since a pipe smoker should be open to trying new blends. However I'm in love with this one. The hint of honey is just that. Only a hint and b... Read More
y no means overpowering. It allows the natural taste of the Virginia to shine through. As recommended I've put away a few tins and cannot wait to try it years from now. But as many other people have already said, it needs no aging to be great. It is absolutely fantastic right out of the tin. Read Less
Delicately aggressive
September 27, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Wow¡¡¡ a nice surprise. In cold you can feel honey´s aroma, but soft not excessive... This flake, at burning gif you very good balance of sweetness and what to talk about oriental's force. Definitely a very good cellar of C&D... of the best...
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Buy one to smoke now and a tin or two to put away.
Great Now
September 09, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
As great as this tastes now - I look forward to what the years will do to this blend. Not overly sweet, but rich with little to no bite
Rich Dark Flakes
June 29, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
This seems a lot like stoved Virginia to me. Taste was very similar to Mc Clelland Personal Reserve: Blackwoods Flake, a stoved Virginia. Even appearance is similar. Taste was sweet, perhaps pumpernickel bread drizzled in Karo syrup, or, dates/drie... Read More
d figs/etc. Couldn’t put my finger on a honey flavor. Good use of the Katerini to sweeten, but does not dominate and over power the Virginia. Smoky quality, much like a Perique blend. No dry time needed. Smokes well rubbed-out from the tin. Read Less
Full and smooth
May 25, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Well, I cracked openy tin tonight. Rebreaking in a brebbia 6006 3/4 bend. Nothing but good flavor. Not sure about the katerini, only to say it must dynamically balance the bite throughout the smoke. Burns great out of thecan.
Opened my tin up ... Read More
tonight (7-9) to find dreadful mold all over the broken cake! Humbugger! What happens if you tsmoke moldy tobacco? Hmm. Read Less
Outstanding!
May 17, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
WOW!, this has to be the best Virginia Blend Ive smoked. It's flavor complexity kept me wanting more and more. With a pleasing musky room note. I'm going to purchase more for cellaring. If you love Virginas, you need to try this.
Excellent blend.
May 13, 2016
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Very good, well aged red virginias with just a hint of katerini. I could smoke this all day long. Have been for a few days in fact. Excellent.
Great stuff
April 12, 2022
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Bready Vas, subtle topping, nice spice from the Orientals, complementing the Vas nicely. Delicious!
Excellent with age
March 10, 2022
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Winner! I bought many tins in 2016 and then waited. I opened my first one 2022 and it was excellent. I am now buying 5 a year to keep the cellar stocked.
Wonderful as is…
January 07, 2022
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
… but with 10 years in it I’m sure it’s magnificent. Grassy Virginias with slight hay fermentation and slightly sour earthy woody spicy vegetative orientals, a dash of honey for a tad of sweetness. This is delicious.
Oriental Virginia Supreme
October 08, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Old aged red belts and Katerini? Sing me up. The Katerini is upfront at first but then takes a back seat to the old belt reds and sings in the background with curry and coconut. Get it while it lasts people, this is destined for nostalgia.
tasty blend
August 31, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Virginias and orientals are always a great combo for me. This blend represents both of these componets quite well. Superb right away but, I am eager to try it with several years of age on it.
Soooo good
August 15, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Love this blend. Cellared for a year, cracked it and instantly fell in love. Sweet, bready, peppery, smooth. It does taste different depending on the pipe you use. There’s no way this tin is gonna age 10-15 years the way I’m smoking it. So I bought a... Read More
nother tin in hopes I can keep it there. Very underrated blend. Read Less
Burns slow and sweet
August 02, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
This is a winner for me. Not enough honey to consider an aromatic, just sweet enough to know it is there. Get some.
scrumptious
July 03, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Scrumptious - extremely tasty; delicious - goes good with JWBL (good sipping in the morning with my coffee black or in the evening with my Johnnie Walker Black Label)... Just thinking about it makes my mouth water... I have tried several types, and t... Read More
heir all good, but this bezhoo (Bijou) is fantastic... Read Less
scrumptious
July 03, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Scrumptious - extremely tasty; delicious - goes good with JWBL (good sipping in the morning with my coffee black or in the evening with my Johnnie Walker Black Label)... Just thinking about it makes my mouth water... I have tried several types, and t... Read More
heir all good, but this bezhoo (Bijou) is fantastic... Read Less
scrumptious
July 03, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Scrumptious - extremely tasty; delicious - goes good with JWBL (good sipping in the morning with my coffee black or in the evening with my Johnnie Walker Black Label)... Just thinking about it makes my mouth water... I have tried several types, and t... Read More
heir all good, but this bezhoo (Bijou) is fantastic... Read Less
Calling it a flake is generous
June 25, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Presentation is a broken flake at best, but closer to a ready rubbed. I didn't have anything intact in my tin. Not really a complaint, just an expectation reset. Flavor is typical of a Virginia/Oriental, with the Bright having a more significant say ... Read More
than I would prefer. The honey casing doesn't detract as much as it does in the Simply Elegant flakes. I neither love nor hate this. If I'm in the mood for such a thing, I'm more likely to choose Embarcadero from G. L. Pease. This isn't bad at all, just not one that I'm likely to repeat. Read Less
Found my VA Blend
June 24, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Been exploring VAs and VaPers recently. I must confess many have been a little too strong for my liking. Often biting, but I'm still perfecting the way I prepare, pack, and smoke them, getting better with each bowl. I think I've finally landed on one... Read More
that suits my taste. Bijou is a delicious VA Oriental blend that offers a smooth yet very flavorful and complex smoke with no bite. The oriental leaf adds a perfumy top note and I don't know if it's the honey of the aged VA that lends the sweetness, but it's definitely has a nice sweetness that lingers on the tongue. Will definitely be buying more and stashing away a few tins in the cellar. Read Less
Raisins and honey
May 09, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Its 3 am and I needed a smoke. Almost nearly out I figured I'd dip into this again after its been ages for around 7 month's. The jar immediately greets me with the smell of raisins. The smoke however has a hint of honey married with Virginia and Ori... Read More
entals. This is such a pleasant and unique smoke compared to everything else in my cellar and the only downside I can think of when it comes to this blend is how they don't offer it in bigger bulk! Read Less
Complex, Delicious
February 28, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I am mostly a cigar smoker, and recently decided to move towards pipes. This is an incredible blend. It opens with chocolate notes, and lots of rich sweet smoke. By the half-way point it pours out powerful oud notes as the chocolate takes a back seat... Read More
to sweet grass. Exceptionally smooth and not overly sweet. It's a good blend for some quiet contemplation. Very spicy, towards the end of the bowl. Sensitive to overheating. If you notice some powdery white features, recognize that this is sugar and not mold. Mold will brush off easily, but genuine tobacco sugars are an almost gray/brown crystalline residue that does not rub off. Personally, as a cigar smoker, seeing sugar deposits is like a jackpot to me. Read Less
Excellent Sweet Red
November 23, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Medium-sliced soft flake rubs out easily. Rich tin note of honey, sweet leather and toast.
Great Bland
November 17, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Aged Virginias deep sweetness and Orientals sour flavor. By age it will be even better.
Very disappointed
August 26, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I hope this will get better with age. As of right now it’s like smoking old gym shorts and kitty litter.
I prefer it fresh
May 08, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Since this blend already comes with some age (some of the Virginias are from 2003), and since the honey contrasts the sour and tangy notes from the Katerini very nicely, I prefer to smoke this one fresh or with no more than 6 months in the tin. With ... Read More
age, the note of honey fades and that balance between sweet and sour goes away. Of course, I cannot speak to its quality with 10 to 15 years of age yet. Read Less
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Recently bought a tin of C&D Bijou based on the blend description and I am impressed! It's not often I try a new blend but that may change. The tin note is mouthwatering and tangy with raisins and figs which doesn't go away after it's lit. Very c... Read More
hewy, thick mouth feel with a noticeable spice on the finish. Overall it's thick and smoky and leaves you excited about the next bowl... Read Less
A Wonderful Sweet/Sour Balanced Blend
April 07, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I've long anticipated grabbing a tin of Bijou due to the reviews and positive remarks it has received since its conception. And I can say that it has lived up to its hype. The Virginas and Orientals are incredibly balanced with a sweet/sour relations... Read More
hip. The natural citrusy and dark fruity notes stay steady with the spicy, sourness from the Orientals.
The honey topping is evident but by no means substantial. I would even say that this blend would be just find without the honey topping, however, it is a welcome addition. Because of the makeup, it did recall my enjoyment of Dunhill's London Mixture sans the honey topping. The tin I'm smoking is only a few months old. If the purpose is to cellar this blend for further development, it will be a prize worth possessing when aged. I bought a total of 5 tins. Ill certainly be adding more my cellar and for current use. Read Less
Enjoyable
February 17, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
Easy, flavorful and downright nice in my pipe!
Disappointed
April 29, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
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 smoke... Read More
d 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. Read Less
Not pleased
November 16, 2017
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
I allowed mine to age a bit. Cracked the tin, and, greeting by mold.
I tried picking out the mold, and smoke. Not really able to give a fair opinion, the flavor was obviously tainted by the overwhelming musk of the mold.
Obviously C&D has not ... Read More
totally fixed their mold issues.
Unfortunately I bought two tins. I've never opened the other, fearing I'd only get angrier if it's moldy as well. Read Less
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
For me this tobacco lacked flavor. And I mean completely flavor-less. Smelled great in the tin, but had no flavor in the pipe. It was also hard to manage, hard to light, difficult to keep lit. Maybe I got a bad batch, I don't know. All I know is I w... Read More
asted 10 bucks, and about an hour of my time across 3 smokes, trying to give this tobacco a fair shot at impressing me. Read Less
Good blend with potential
June 09, 2017
Product: Cornell & Diehl Bijou 2oz
The 2003 Virginias make this already an "aged" blend. With some more time I imagine the younger leaf gets more rounded too. Looking forward to trying again in 5-10 yrs.