Lost & Found Antique 2007 review by Don José
- Joe Murdie
- Sep 25, 2022
- 4 min read
Hey team, Don José here back with another review.
Today we have the
Lost & Found Antique 2007
by Caldwell
If this is your first time here, my reviews rate each cigar on 10 factors and each factor gets a rating out of 10 giving me an overall out of 100. The 10 factors are: Construction, Draw, Burn, Flavour, 1/3 overall, 2/3 overall, 3/3 overall, Journey (how well it flows), Complexity & Value for money.
Intro
For those that don't know, Caldwell 'Lost & Found' is a program that takes overstock that’s been aged, “lost,” forgotten or even unsold by out-of-business companies and releases the cigars to benefit a charity.
The factories remain undisclosed and the anonymous cigars are repackaged under the name Lost & Found.
Caldwell Lost and Found Antique cigars are a totally different beast from the usual L&F series however. The Antique line is a limited release within the L&F banner that is reserved for the most rare and aged cigars only.
This 2007 offering is said to have released 700 sticks... I'd love some confirmation on that, it seems like very few.
With each release they tell you about the cigar, pretty much everything other than what it was actually rolled as... leaving the big question of what actually is this stick? and well, we may never know for sure... but there are hints... like for example, who makes a Colorado Robusto with Indonesian binder and Dominican fillers? Maybe Davidoff? Anyway, let's just review it aye?
Overview
Caldwell describes these cigars as “the oldest, most special, best-tasting cigars…The caviar of what we do with Lost & Found". These truly are unique and special, elevating the brand to a whole new level. Each Lost & Found Antique Line blend is unique and benefits from extra aging.
Details:
Brand: Caldwell
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Colorado Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Dominican Republic
About the wrapper.
Colorado is the middle of the cigar wrapper colour scale, Colorado wrappers are a brownish red. They contribute a full-bodied flavour, but have much softer aromas than any of the darker wrappers. Growing methods can be a combination of shade-grown and full sunlight.
The second most often used Connecticut shade wrapper is Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade. Basically, they’ve taken U.S. Connecticut seeds and planted them in Ecuador.
Due to its rich volcanic soil, climate, and naturally cloud-filtered sunlight, Ecuador has become THE country for growing a number of wrappers that originated in other countries, including Habano,
The Connecticut-seed shade wrapper grown in Ecuador has many of the same qualities as the indigenous Connecticut tobacco. It’s generally mild, silky, and offers a sweet aroma, except it is slightly richer in flavour and a bit darker in colour than U.S. Connecticut Shade.
let's get into the review.
First thoughts
So the first thing that jumps out visually is something that has next to nothing to do with the review... it's the little hand written '2007' on the inside fold of the cellophane. Very cool.
Other than that, the cigar is obviously aged and has a few small bumps and scrapes - not surprising for a stick thats 15 years old!
The cold draw gives lots of sweet molasses and a touch of cedar.
Construction
As mentioned above there are a few little issues with the wrapper, but I feel like those can be forgiven due to the age, so I wont make it down for them in this case. Other than that, its a nicely rolled stick, good shape and nice and firm.
Burn & Draw The draw is great, almost excessive... and thats possibly due to the burn being quite fast. Ash is more grey than white and a little spaced.
Flavour & Complexity Nuts, toffee and natural tobacco are heavy in the first third. It has a dense, oily, mouth feel and a touch of floral. As it progresses, the nuttiness remains and cedar floats in and out.
Strength 45% - Mild - Mid
Enjoyment / Journey This is a great smoke and the whole 'found' 2007 thing makes it fun and interesting... but 15 years is a long time to age a cigar really, and while this cigar hasn't gone bland, and it's clearly been stored well thought out its life, I do wonder if it might have actually been better say 10years ago?
Overall A really interesting cigar, fantastic smoking for its age and some nice flavours. It has mellowed a bunch, maybe slightly too far, but if you like a tasty, mild cigar then this really is a solid option. Other than that the rarity of this stick makes it well worth smoking if you can, because well, when will you get to again?
I rate this cigar 87 points.
A look at the numbers.
Construction -- 9/10
Burn -- 8/10
Draw -- 9/10
Flavour -- 8/10
Complexity -- 9/10
First 1/3 -- 8/10
Second 1/3 -- 9/10
Third 1/3 -- 9/10
Journey -- 8/10
Value -- 10/10
About the author
Joe Murdie aka Don José has been reviewing cigars in New Zealand for over 10 years now, originally as a writer for NZBlokes, a mens magazine.
Outside of Cigars Joe is an international award winning film-maker based in Wānaka, OTA.
