Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the Gellis Saunter is light brown and has some wrinkles to it along with some lightly raised veins. The seams are slightly raised and the caps are decently applied. There are two bands, with the primary being gold, black and purple, with an image of a dog and palm trees. The secondary band is black and gold and denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of hay and earth while the foot brings stewed fruit, cedar and light earth. The pre-light draw brings floral notes, cedar and dusty earth along with a mild spiciness on my lips.
Seth: Finished with a faint Colorado wrapper, the Gellis Saunter is silky in texture. There are few veins present on the cigar and those present are small to medium in size. The cigar is firm in hand with a nice cap and nice coloring of bands against the cigar. Aromas are faint and show some hay, tobacco and wood. Faint barnyard notes. Has a coloring of light, dry clay soil.
John: The Gellis Saunter came in cellophane and had a UPC sticker that included a QR code and the cigar information, along with an integrated tear space so it remained intact when opened. The primary band is the Gellis Family band and there is a secondary Saunter band in yellow on black. I weighed the cigar at 13.2 grams and measured the humidity to 60.7% with the HumidiMeter Pro. Aromas from the wrapper included sweet wood and bread at light-plus intensity. From the foot, I could pick out mild wood and hay.

Gellis Saunter

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with toasted cedar, earth and some light black pepper. At a half inch in, some sandalwood joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth, zingy black pepper and some sandalwood. At an inch and a quarter, the sandalwood is now very light. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper in the middle of the profile and light sandalwood in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.
Seth: The first third starts out with some cedar and hay notes. Cream is present as well with some faint tobacco qualities. Soft coffee bean flavor on the finish. Just under medium in strength and body. Average Connecticut experience.
John: The first thirds kicks things off with dry, spicy wood as dry wood defines the post draw. That wood lingers fairly heavily on the palate between puffs at medium strength. As the first third settles in, some creamy sweet wood is leading off. Some dry herbal tea flavor components join the center of the profile at medium strength and there is a sharp finish to it. By the halfway point, the dryness on the post draw has largely faded and been replaced by light tannins.

Gellis Saunter

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the toasted cedar lengthens its lead over the earth and some construction paper joins the profile. At a quarter inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and some black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper is back to the middle of the profile but is a bit dull. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is ahead of the earth, with dull black pepper in the middle and construction paper and sandalwood in the background. The strength remains at slightly below medium.
Seth: The second third is really in line with the first. Can’t argue on consistency. Flavors of coffee, cream and soft tobacco. Cedar and hay notes are present as well. The cigar is still under medium for strength and body.
John: My impressions in the second third begin with creamy tobacco, a light-plus strength herbal center and wood with earth to finish as tannins join in on the post draw. Mild bread mixes in with wood through the retrohale as the second third settles in. A mild savory component joins the front of the profile by the halfway mark.

Gellis Saunter

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the earth increases to become even with the toasted cedar up front. At a half inch in, the sandalwood has departed from the profile. The retrohale remains toasted cedar, earth and some black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, the toast level increases a bit. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar and earth are even up front, with the black pepper in the middle and light construction paper in the background. The strength bumped up to medium.
Seth: Like the second third, the final third is a repeat of the first and second. Cream, cedar, hay and soft tobacco notes. Some faint coffee bean flavors on the finish. Just under medium for strength and body.
John: The last third opens with creamy wood as a mild, dry wood joins the finish. As the last third settles in, dry wood and herbal flavors define the center of the profile. I can’t find any strength or flavor changes to remark on for the remainder of the third, it stays quite consistent.

Gellis Saunter

Burn

Aaron: The burn was straight throughout, and the ash held on in two inch increments.
Seth: Burn was perfect from beginning to end.
John: The burn was excellent with a straight burn through the entire review process.

Gellis Saunter

Draw

Aaron: The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.
Seth: The draw was a little loose.
John: The draw was slightly into the resistant spectrum, roughly 1-1/2 to 2 notches.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with toasted cedar, earth and some light black pepper. Some sandalwood joined in fairly quickly. The second third saw some construction paper join in and the black pepper became a bit dull. The final third saw the sandalwood depart and the toast level increased. Construction was absolutely perfect. The Gellis Saunter had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the toasted cedar, earth and black pepper. The sandalwood note was nice, but didn’t do enough to elevate the profile. Overall, a pretty average Connecticut shade offering, and not one I’d see myself coming back to as there are better offerings at a lower price point on the market.
Seth: The Gellis Saunter was an average Connecticut offering. I don’t know if Kyle has a regular Connecticut offering in his portfolio, or the last Connecticut he released, but this was not needed. It won’t compete against other established Connecticut releases on the market, and there are not enough Warped fans to keep the cigar going. Average in flavor delivery, very good in construction, and average in pricing.
John: The Gellis Saunter provided primarily wood and herbal flavors with occasional creaminess through the review process. Though the profile was relatively pleasant, I didn’t find the flavor combinations particularly engaging or dynamic. The burn was perfect and the draw was a minor amount into the resistant spectrum. If you set aside the price point, this cigar doesn’t deliver a memorable flavor experience that I would see myself wanting to return to. Total smoking time was a bit on the quicker side for me at 1 hour and 31 minutes.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$2.61

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.30

Cost/Point

$2.83

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$2.68

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Gellis Saunter