I agree, i don't mind a little "natural" tobacco taste in my cigars but when it just tastes like dirt it means the manufacturer did a crappy job of picking the tobacco or aging it. I got a 5 pack of RYJ Reserve Maduros that i am getting ready to try after a couple of weeks in Humidor so I will try to get a review posted. Hopefully they did a better job on these. I will keep my fingers crossed. On a side note, a friend of mine tried the RYJ 1875 and said it was one of the best cigars he has ever had, so maybe its not the brand, just the cigar.