We went to Canada in 1976 for the Olympics and while there, picked up a Cuban cigar to see what all the fuss was about. This was at a time when Muriel Coronelas and Phillies Cheroots were 25c a box of five. The Cuban cigar cost $1.00.
So help me Hannah, I couldn't tell much difference between the two, other than the Cuban had real tobacco leaves inside while the American brands contained shredded/minced tobacco. I expected a really mild smoke and was disappointed at the sameo-sameo flavor. Never bothered with them again.
Cuban cigars, once exported outside of Cuba proper, really need to be aged for a minimum of two-three years, along with proper humidification (about 60-65% RH) for the best experience. There’s a month/year date stamped on the bottom of every box...you have to refer to that as a starting point.
Back before the Embargo (maybe for a while after that as well among the foreign importers, I don’t know), the importers would age the cigars themselves before releasing them for sale. The aging makes a BIG difference.