Slim wrote: " 'made' is a beter term, as they no long produce tobacco in the Canary Islands ... and haven't for quite some time now."
Actually, some brena tobacco is still being grown, though it was never used in many premium cigars. My past favorite Canary Island cigars were Monte Canarios, La Regenta, Don Xavier, and La Nubia. I still have a few of each, hiding in a cooler. None of these are in production by the original factory, though another Canary Island roller is making La Regenta.
Right now, I am smoking Goya #3s. Currently rolled in the Canary Islands (as I'm typing)they are entirely comprised of Cuban tobacco, filler, wrapper, binder. They are a classic clear Havana and nicely priced. Other cigars currently being rolled in the Canary Islands are Alvaro, Casanova, Condal, Peñamil, Vargas, Albero, El Greco, and Yvette.
For some peculiar reason, the false rumor was started that all Canary Island cigar production was dead. Perhaps, what should have been written was that U.S. Customs was having a difficult time with cigars coming out of the Canary Islands because many were clear Havanas or blends, like Condal...Havana filler-binder with a Connecticut shade wrapper. Often there was no designation on the box that Cuban tobacco was in the cigars.
Soon, the only Canary island cigars available in the U.S. were W.T. Dupont, Peñamil, and Dunhill Canary Island. They were all very mild and relatively bland. Without a Cuban component, they weren't much of a cigar. The Peñamil that's made for the European market is a Cuban/Central American blend, machine bunched.
But, Canary Island cigars are still being made for sale throughout the rest of the world. If you want them, they have to be ordered from a foreign source.
