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Unlit Impressions

The first thing I notice about this cigar (beyond its absolutely adorable little band and stubby size) is its wrapper leaf, which reminds me of an old waxed hunting jacket, complete with discolored creases and a weathered feel. It's definitely a Broadleaf varietal, but one that's been aged for a good bit, with a fine silty feel telling me that this blend is about to begin the "teething process." Marbled veins of khaki crisscross down the length of the barrel and make for a fetching accent atop that faded taupe outer leaf.

While the leather-like Broadleaf shell is instantly recognizable to the nose, and not just the eye, this earthen base aroma is mellow, allowing enough space for a cold glass of chocolate milk and some toasted pecans to plop down beside it. The foot smells of Ovaltine chocolate malted milk, mid-grade black pepper, and a patch or two of leather, with a vague nutty tannin note and firewood ash finishing it out. All told, aromas are surprisingly tame considering how potent the cigar supposedly is, at least according to Caldwell. 

And while the Lost & Found logo in the center of the brass-colored cigar band should seem out of place on a stick that was purposefully contracted, it looks right at home nestled betwixt the midcentury lettering reading Forever Fresh in muted white. All told, this is a snazzy-looking little smoke, and I enjoyed photographing it from all angles.

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Initial Smoke

Leathery and slightly salty, with a sweet, faintly funky retrohale, light-up leans in on the Broadleaf wrapper before going buttery and a bit toffee-like on you. Medium and velvety smooth toward the finish, things begin with a pleasant, mellow vibe, and gradually grow in body and flavor as you approach the first third.

1st Half

Dry and nutty, toasty and leathery, with plenty of soil notes to be detected, the smoke pulled from the V-cut I made gradually grows a bit darker and richer in flavor, without only a slight increase in body. Retrohales remain easygoing and pure-smelling, with the malted milk and roasty aromatics being commendable attributes. 

Mixed baking spices in controlled quantities, hay, dry cedar, and a continuation of underlying roastiness all make the remainder of the first half a clean, but somewhat unexciting introduction to the center section of the stick. Draw resistance is spot-on and allows the medium-bodied smoke to wisp to and from the lips and nose like a satin ribbon pulled from the confines of a palm bark box. Who says the act of smoking cigars can't be poetic?

2nd Half

The signature "funk" that the Broadleaf tobacco varietal is known for producing begins to ignite near the center of the cigar, which thankfully, is not too bovine-like in nature. Medium levels of half-burnt toast sans butter, playful touches of spice and peppercorn spiciness, as well as the evolution of that leathery backbone all collide to create a really nice midway moment. 

Here, some of that farmyard funkiness emerges from the evolution of these leather notes, which by now have become quite oily. When melded with the soil tastes and firewood ash being tasted, the mixture turns into a pleasant, medium-grade cigar flavor profile that isn't too coarse, but is still a bit unexciting as well. But just when I am about to deduct some points for mediocrity, chocolate milk spills out of nowhere, adding a faintly sweet, malty creaminess to the concoction. It's a bit of a late arrival, yes, but still one that deserves a nod of approval for its much needed layer of flavor and texture.

Body and flavor are toward the top of medium by now, with strength standing a notch or two further down. The draw remains excellent, smoke feel and formation are fantastic, and the burn is... something that we will discuss here momentarily. 

Parting Puffs

Any strength that has been languishing inside the cigar suddenly decides to strike right where that brass band once sat, and I welcome the blow with open arms. Potent but not overpowering, parting puffs are a mélange of creamy cocoa, dry tannins, toasted nuts, oiled leather, and both white and black pepper heat. Countering this spiciness comes an odd cooling sensation, which, without a flavor associated with it, cannot be labeled. It just is, and I find it to be a pleasant little last-minute surprise that lessens the impact of the nicotine and pepperiness being detected.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Slender cigars often struggle with heat issues and the threat of a dropped ash, both of which I was prepared for when I first sparked this blend. But the uneven burn down one side for much of the first third, which did result in a dropped ash, was not what I was expecting. Nor was I prepared for the cigar to suddenly self-correct and burn true the moment the ash fell, thus negating the need for a torch lighter touch-up. 

So while the burn wasn't the best, and the ash was equal parts off balance and flaky at times, the draw was ideal, and the smoke that unfurled was near flawless in medium-full bodied appeal. Sadly, the cigar did burn a bit faster than I would have liked, making this Shorty vitola feel even shorter with its sub-45-minute burn time.

Final Thoughts

Finding a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapped cigar in this size is no easy task. Not only is the wrapper leaf itself somewhat rare, but the petit corona vitola is not all that common. So from a novelty standpoint, Caldwell's Forever Fresh Shorty truly stands out. 

The blend itself also makes a damn good impression. Not only do I like the way it looks and feels in the hand, but its retro, mid-century vibe rules. It reminds me of something "The Ghoul" in the show Fallout might spark up, both before or after the end of modern civilization.

But speaking of falling, I found that this cigar did fall a bit flat at times when it should have been accentuating certain cigar flavor profiles or transitioning to new ones. So, in a way, this is a bit of a one-sided stogie that, to many Broadleaf buffs, may be considered a touch too unexciting or robust. It also is prone to having burn issues, which I found to be true in both cigars smoked.

However, there is no discrediting the enjoyment found within the smoothness of the smoke itself, and how the surprisingly mellow characteristics of the tobacco leaves used balance and blend with one another. The slimmer vitola also allows you the chance to taste more of that waxed jacket-looking wrapper leaf, and in the process, savor a short smoke that won't burn beyond 45 minutes to an hour.

Stogie Specs