Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Desflorada
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Size: 5.25 x 48 Robusto
Strength: Medium
Price: $17.00
Released: September 2024
Quantity Released: Regular Production
Factory: TABACALERA LA iSLA, Dominican Republic

Aged for 1 year after rolling in Spanish Cedar before boxing.
My cigars received 3 months of naked humidor time.
This was Cigar Aficionado’s #16 of 2025.

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I’m falling into a bad habit. I am reviewing the onslaught of new blends with similar leaf stats. I admit that I am a creature of habit. Like you, I buy what I think I will enjoy. Brash blends are OK, but they tend to taste the same after countless stabs.

The aromas from the wrapper are moderate and fall into line with others using an Ecuadorian overcoat: Floral, honey, fresh fruit, barnyard, caramel, and black pepper.

I excise my PerfecPunch from the gates of hell where it has its winter abode. It makes a lovely 11mm hole. The draw is as clean as my tushy on a summer day, morose from over polishing.

Sucking away like my years in Mumbai Central Prison for evading a courteous response from a drunken chambermaid, it is clearly evident my PerfecDraw won’t be needed.

I smoked a couple sticks a month in and then two months. Mostly a ho hum response from my festering palate. I saw a couple reviews and the men of the bush loved it. I need to investigate further.

Very smooth start. Buttery, sweet, and creamy.

It seems that extra month or two of humidor time made a difference. I am amused from the first moments. It is mildly complex, it spreads out like a warehouse full of cheese…with only one rat, and there are serious hints that I’m going to get my $17 worth of a good time.

My first sip of water and the flavor profile detonates: Sugar cane, caramel, cedar & oak, ebony & ivory, peanuts, hint of lemon zest, milk chocolate, nougat & cream, ollie & stan, mild black pepper, and honey. Despite this sounding like an ACID, the balance is 50/50.

Strength began at a robust medium. No futzing around with a lighter-than-air insipidness you often see when a blend is billed as mild/medium.

So far, the Saunter is jogging. I had to get that out of the way. Will it freestyle sprint? I hope so. I bought a fiver.

It’s early morning. And I’m indeed having a good time.

Is the Saunter unique? Not really. It doesn’t have a rare quality aura. It is solid without breaking new barriers. Blenders and manufacturers often don’t take chances. Much like the movie business…they discover what has mass appeal and they copy the flavor of the month. And that flavor is Fuente, Casdagli, and Davidoff. The once very popular AJ style blends are OK for the masses, but the elite smokers want depth, complexity, and constant transformations.
More sips of water expose a savory quality. BBQ steak, lavender petals, peanuts, licorice, malt, and vanilla.

Spiciness becomes white pepper. It could use a little more kick. But I’m hen picking.

The Saunter is in the same price range as just about everything on the market. Was there a secret cabal held at some isolated geographic location? Was it decided that cigars in 2025 shall only be priced at $17 and higher? I know what cigars cost. I’m making one now. Profits are huge. $59 billion in sales this year. It will double by 2029.

The cigar blend stabilizes. No new input. Transitionally, the blend pauses. Still very good. My enthusiasm stalls. I begin thinking of other blends with this stylistic presence I’d just as soon spread my budget on: Daughters of the Wind, Lavida Habana Colorado, Valacari The Messenger, Sobremesa Brûlée Blue, Black Honey by Warped Cigars, Crowned Heads Le Pâtissier, Principle Aviator Series 10th Anniversary, Arturo Fuente Hemingway Untold Short Story, and Powstanie SBC22.

Medium strength does not waver. A great morning cigar with your coffee. No wondering why your mommy is staring at you from the corner pocket of your pool table. Pleasant encapsulates the entire experience.

The last bit of the cigar stays on course. Very often, a cigar lives or dies in L.A. in the last third. The Saunter keeps its head high. It finds its transitional center.

You can purchase the Gellis Family Cigars Saunter from sponsor Cigar Page. Instead of the going price of $17 per cigar, CP sells them for $15.00 each in a fiver and a box of 12.

RATING: 94

Sept. 3, 2026 Update: I decided on a Rekap this morning because sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. This morning, it’s a big don’t. I picked the Saunter for my morning cigar and thought why not. Cigar Page makes this an easy deal. No, not exactly a budget cigar but I’m a fan of Kyle Gellis and Warped. It is very difficult to find serious deals on his catalog, so a couple bucks off per cigar, is a gimmee.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS