Cuba Aliados Original Blend Toro - Pack of 5

I have been a huge fan of Cuba Aliados cigars for 30-odd years since my brother first introduced my to fine cigars. The first box of fine cigars I ever bought was a box of Cuba Aliados Valentinos, and they immediately became my favorites, especially the slightly darker ones with EMS wrappers. I loved the rich, creamy, chocolate notes of the aroma and taste and purchased many boxes over the years even as the price went continually higher during the premium cigar boom a few years later. I certainly tried many brands over the years but never found anything I liked nearly as much. At some point I stopped smoking many cigars at all, though I had stockpiled a few boxes; I cannot even remember why I slowed down. When I was in a situation to enjoy them more regularly I went through what I had. I started looking for more and quickly realized that the brand seemed to have really fallen out of favor, and selection got more and more limited. I kept seeking them out, finding boxes here and there from my usual source, but even those dwindled. I started buying 2-3 boxes any time I could find them until I was not able to find them at all. Eventually I learned that CA had stopped making them at all and eventually went out of business, and I was devastated. I was down to less than a box and getting desperate. Just a few days ago I was doing another fruitless search and discovered, to my delight, that Oliva was making a couple of lines under the Cuba Aliados name, including one that was touted as the original CA blend. The price was a bit eye-watering, but I swallowed deeply and ordered one box as a test. They came today, and I could not wait to rip the box open and try one. It was an excellent cigar, beautifully constructed with a beautiful natural wrapper and perfect draw! Alas, the flavor and aroma did not have even a hint of the old CA I knew and loved. I will certainly enjoy smoking this box, but I will not likely purchase more. I would have paid the price and ordered more if they had been even close, but I don't see buying these again. I can buy many brands I like better that are not as expensive. Meanwhile I will be searching for something that really "lights my fire." There was just something about the CA blend that, to me, really set them apart, even if construction and draw were not always perfect. These are probably better cigars than my star rating suggests, but it is hard for me to give them a 5 since I was expecting something with at least a hint of the old Cuba Aliados brand.