This has been one of my go to sticks since it came out. The latest batch I have has me convinced this is not the cigar it once was. Has anyone else noticed this ?

Sad, I hear this a lot. I wonder if the cigars have changed on purpose or just the year to year difference in the crops. Wine is like that. That is why people name the vintage.

I guess it pays to buy a bundle if you find something good.

It could be that the newer batch was fresh. Many cigars need a rest to make them better and it seems MOW may be in that group.

+1
A lot of AJs stuff needs a nap.
Also, as noted, year to year variations, etc.

You are always going to have variations in any kind of crop year to year. Cuban cigars are famous for this, with people going on about how boxes from a certain month and year are superior to others. You hear less of this with non-Cubans, in part because most don't have the decades long track record to compare against that most ccs do and in part I think because production methods for their cigars are more varied, with mixes of vintages and tobacco from different countries in the same cigar. That said, I still see it in cigars I've smoked a lot of. I thought my 2010 and 2012 tat brown labels where better than my 2011s.

Thought it was just me. Bought 2 boxes recently and they have a damp newspaper taste to them. They also go out very easy. Guess I'll follow the above advice and let them sit awhile.