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I often read cigar reviews that are several years old and sometimes almost ten years old. This leaves me wondering how consistent a cigar blend can be. Certainly the leaves from any field will vary to some degree from crop to crop. Secondly, if the sales of a particular blend start to drop off, does the manufacturer change the blend to lower his cost? Does anybody have examples where a beloved blend has changed noticeably? Was it always for the worse or have some actually gotten better from one year to the next?

Good question... In the past, I started leaning more towards the Nic/Honduran blended cigars as their flavors resembled those of the Cubans (which were banned from US)
But Dave, at John Hay's Cigars could probably give a better answer to your question???

Dave, Isle 9...

Too many variables to say definitively that any cigar blend remains consistent; tastes the same year after year after year. One variable to keep in mind is that your palate, sense of smell and taste, may change as you age. So even if a cigar may be consistent, it might taste different to you a few years later. The taste of a leaf of tobacco can/will also change as it ages.

That's why I appreciate cigar makers who label the blends by year, like Crowned Heads does with Las Calaveras and a few other offerings...or ascribe a number to a batch like LGD does with its Small Batch line. Having smoked several of each, I've noticed that cigars from the same year or batch don't always taste the same.

Let's not even get into individual memories...are you sure you remember exactly what a cigar tasted like four years ago?

Like my buddy MACS said: "I just go by 'is it good or not?'"

His way of saying his palate has changed and cigars change, so why try to worry yourself about how close they match in flavors?

That's my point. I accept that the ones bought a year ago may have just arrived and the ones bought this year may have been on the shelf quite a while. I accept that they may be made from different crops. My concern is when you enjoyed the ones you bought last year and this year, not so much or not at all. I am a believer in aging, so I accept that some flavor may be sacrificed for smoothness and balance.

One reason Padron and Oliva brands are in my top list of favorites. They hit my taste, strength, body profile perfectly. Or maybe my profile evolved based on those characteristics (chicken or the egg thingy). They are a steady smoke with solid construction. You know what you're getting with them day in and day out, box after box.

You know what you are getting even before you place the order.

Some may say that it's boring but for a majority of the time, I like to get something that is rock steady and know what to expect when I spark it up.

NINE!

LOL! Or the Fuente Opus X Lost City which was tobacco grown out of season for the movie, a one off that somehow keeps on supplying cigars 19 years later.

This ^^ for me, With respect to the 000 Series maduro ( and the Londres, Delicias, etc), and Oliva Master Blends.
I’m sure the higher end Padron maduros are consistent as well.

Another favorite daily type smoke, that for me has been extremely consistent over the years, is the Jaime Garcia.

La Perla Habana Black Pearl Morado

DPNewell was banned for questioning the blend of the re-release.
(Actually, it was just a re-banding, according to CBid.)

Someone was actually banned for questioning a blend? Who banned him? How does that violate the rulz?

Now to answer your Q…

It was DP Newell, the “Master” of online cigar auction bidding techniques.
It was because cbid was pushing a cigar that used to be great, and had high ratings, but was now pretty much a yard gar. DP was calling them out on this fact, kind of inferring that it was fraudulent.
Think he still has some scars from La Princessa’s spiked heels…..

Several answers of the many. First is a Cuban that happens to be my favorite. Monte Cristo #2. I had a great connection at the time. I had bought 6 boxes in 1987 and in the early 90s all Cubans took a big hit. I think it was a hurricane but I'm not positive. But I gave them after 3 years to replenish my supply and the taste had changed big time. I've tried them several times over the years and they've never returned to the cigars they once were. They are good but not great. I have 3 and a piece boxes ot 1987 stash left and I smoke one or two a year. No they aren't for sale as they can't be replaced.

Number two is more recent. Olivia O's. Since the sale of the company they have really improved. I'd tried some since they came out, I've been smoking cigars for 40+ years, and and never really liked them enough to buy them. I tried one that came in a sampler a couple of months ago and man do I like them. I've filled a drawer in my humidor (100) to age and won't touch them for 5 years. I've got a box to smoke in one of my tupidors and buy more when when I get a deal.

I age alot of cigars and replace them when I've smoked them. I notice small changes to them yearly. Most of the time with premium brands it's very subtle but it's there. There been a few that the decline was so great that I quit buying them but I haven't had that happen but a couple times over the years. You have to except that with a weather effective crop and hand made products. It's part of the hobby.

So kinda, sorta surmising that prior to the profile change, earlier Cubans were the reason for the “Cuban cigars are so strong” characterization?