Bijou
The Bijou, a cellar-worthy blend of aged Red Virginias from eastern North Carolina, is accented by naturally sweet bright Canadian leaves, small-leaf Katerini and a touch of honey. It is a mixture from the Cellar series by Cornell & Diehl: The Bijou matures unusually well thanks to this combination of different varieties and over time takes on a fuller aroma that enriches the taste. The estimated best aging time for Bijou is 10 - 15 years.
Characterisation:
The Bijou comes in the company's typical round tin with a ring-pull closure. Once opened, the tin can be closed with the additional plastic lid. For longer storage, it is better to transfer the opened tobacco into an airtight container. Wrapped in cardboard under the cover sheet are large, long pieces of a flake that has become so crumbly due to storage that it is more like a ready rubbed. This is dark and black-brown and interspersed with golden spots. The scent is mild and reminiscent of dried fruit. The compressed tobacco still contains a little residual moisture, so it should be allowed to dry briefly before plugging.
Plugging:
The crumbly ready-rubbed pieces of the Bijou are so easy to plug that you have to be careful not to pack the tobacco too tight into the pipe. The filling works best when lightly pressed or rolled into loose balls.
Light up:
The jewel only stands up slightly under the first flame. Nevertheless, you should press it gently with the tamper and set the fire carefully. It can take up to three flames for it to burn evenly, but then it's hardly any trouble.
Smoking properties:
The smoke of the Bijou is soft, but slightly spicy. Here the fine Oriental shows itself with spicy notes. This creates a hearty impression, which is also matched by the clear Virginia aromas of roasted bread and the mild sweetness that can already be smelled in the cold scent. You don't have to worry about being overwhelmed by excessive honey casing. The aroma is used to support it, so that the tobaccos have enough space to develop their taste. The Bijou smokes remarkable easy and relatively quick for a ready rubbed. So cozy smoking is recommended here. What remains is a little coarse, medium gray ash with a few unburned crumbs and some condensate.
Redolency:
The room note of the Bijou appears natural despite the aroma. The Oriental component doesn't seem overly stressful, but you should still be considerate of non-smoking company.
Conclusion:
The Bijou is a flake that has been matured to resemble a dark, gold-spotted ready rubbed. It is easy to pack and smoke, making it suitable even for beginners to use this variety of tobacco if they are a little mindful. The aroma is also not overwhelming for a tobacco containing Oriental. Soft, hearty, mildly honey-sweetened and with clear toasted bread notes, it offers the best in terms of both tobacco and aroma. This makes it a wonderful tobacco to enjoy comfortably. More experienced smokers will also appreciate it for its uncomplicated enjoyment every now and then.
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