It could be that the blend changed or the batch was bad, but it could also be your palette? Sometimes I go on a streak where I enjoy one type of smoke for a while and then suddenly find them flat or out of whack. I'd say try revisiting them in a little bit. Sounds frustrating when your go-to changes in flavor. Another question I had is are you changing the type of drink you are having with the smokes? That can also affect it. The same goes with what you eat before it.
Good observations and suggestions. I've had boxes of Tres Mystique that were excellent top to bottom and boxes of Robustos that just plain sucked. Flat, devoid of depth, richness. It happens. Cigar-level variation is perhaps a different phenomenon from box-level variation. And variations of production over periods of time is potentially yet another level of variation.
I'm starting to become aware of a developing myth about the "
dumbing down" of the VSG. I have not smoked many bone new VSGs lately but ones with even a year on them have ben spectacular. Recent production is still good enough for me, at least, to put down boxes of Tres and Illusions for sleeping.
Wilkey
