Vitola: Robusto- 4.5” x 50 ring gauge
- MSRP $7.50
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
In March I reviewed the Mayhem, first of three releases under CLE’s Wynwood Hills label. It took me until last week to get to the second of the three sticks: Unhinged. I decided not to wait that long before hitting the final of the trio: Deranged.
Wynwood Hills Deranged, like the others in the WH series, are available in a single vitola for about $7.50. It uses Dominican and Honduran leaf for the filler and binder, along with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Each of the three releases in this line are said to have their own unique blend, although I’m sure there are some commonalities, especially between this one and the Unhinged, which is also said to have “Dominican and Honduran filler and binder.”
I’ve smoked one of these before this review. I bought the review stick at Burns Tobacconist, where I work.
Prelight
If you want to know exactly how I feel about how these cigars are packaged and presented, check out my previous reviews. Otherwise, just be satisfied when I say this style of packaging makes me very happy.
The wrapper of the Deranged was a medium-brown, milk chocolate color with somewhat lighter markings around the veins, which I’ve found typical of Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. It was smooth and a touch oily, while smelling of hay and cedar. Giving the foot of the cigar a good sniff, I picked up touches of earth and hay mostly.
A straight cut with my Xikar Xi gave me an excellent pre-light draw that tasted of wood and grass, with a slight metallic overtone.
Flavor
I applied fire to the Wynwood Hills Deranged and immediately got plenty of hay and wood on the palate, with a dull pepper heat and slight mineral flavor come in after that. The retrohale was very peppery with more wood and a slight sweetness. That wood and hay combo continued through the first third, with some sweetness and a slight citrus note mixed in, while the pepper and copper twang played supporting roles.
In the second third I got an increase in cedar flavor with the grassy and sweet flavors dipping down. The increased woodiness also allowed more of the mineral flavor to come through. Pepper died off a bit.
During the final third, the coppery mineral note I associate so often with Ecuadorian Sumatra came to the fore, along with more cedar. The other flavors died off by comparison.
Construction
I got almost an inch before I tapped ash for the first time. The burn line was very even and the draw was excellent.
Value
As with the other entries in this series, the Wynwood Hills Deranged represents excellent value.
Conclusions
Of the three Wynwood Hills blends, Deranged is my least favorite due to the amount of coppery flavor in the mix from the Sumatra wrapper. It was still a very good cigar, though, and if Ecuadorian Sumatra is your thing, it definitely delivers a quality smoking experience at a very good price.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
