Smoked: Caldwell Lost & Found Pepper Cream Soda

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Caldwell Lost & Found Pepper Cream Soda lives up its name…and reputation. The first green band I smoked was last year after a relentless search to find this cigar. We went through a stretch of time when you could find boxes, bundles and 5 packs galore. Then suddenly they become difficult to find earlier this year. Patience and persistence pays off. I found another reasonably priced 5 pack and fired up another Pepper Cream Soda Green. The first did not disappointed and neither did this one.

It’s a medium body, med-mild strength stick. When I say med-mild strength, it may as well be mild in strength - like no nic buzz at all down to the nub of the corona. The ash on the Pepper Cream Soda even borrows from its name. The ash is solid salt and pepper looking. It held on tight to an inch and a half. The construction is sublime. My only minor issue was that the draw was a little tight – again, but the smoke output was more than adequate and the burn line was very even. Only two minor, short touchups and a nice cold draw start to finish.

The flavors jump out on the first few puffs - pepper, cream, oak, tea, coffee, chocolate and that unmistakable Lost & Found well aged tobacco taste providing vegetal, mineral notes. There is a hint of spice. My palate is not that attuned to precise spices. So I’m guessing – allspice. graham crackers, or cinnamon – or a combination of all three. And yes, on several puffs it was unmistakably cream soda. Other times there is a note of something akin to seltzer and saltines in there. Is there a way to grow carbonated, sweet tobacco for the soda? .

The retrohale is heavy on the pepper, but there is leather and those herbal, mineral notes of slate and chalk from the aged tobacco in there as well.

Caldwell Lost & Found Pepper Cream Soda green band is an excellent stick - an hour and change of a very enjoyable smoke. The range of flavors, the construction and the body & strength get 5s across the board. It’s certainly among the best of Caldwell’s Lost & Found series.