Brandon from Apostate and the Barrel Burners are no strangers to each other or the cigar world. Its always awesome to see somebody that was apart of our club, branch out and start a cigar company.
What I like about Apostate is that the branding does not feel forced. It feels like they actually know who they are. Apostate cigars are blended with intention, using aged tobaccos from around the world and handcrafted under the supervision of Jochy Blanco at Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic. That is a solid foundation right there, because once you see that kind of attention behind the blending and production, you know they are serious about more than just having a cool concept. They back that up with the line “Keeping smoking spiritual since 2020.” That tells you fast this is a brand with its own identity and its own lane.
The Cigars
The lineup is what really makes the brand interesting to me. Apostate is not a one-cigar company leaning on one look or one story. They have a full range of cigars, and each one seems to have its own personality. The Initiatory comes across like a strong introduction to the brand, while The Deseret brings a San Andrés wrapper and notes they describe with cocoa, fruit, and even toasted marshmallow on the retrohale. The Liahona looks like one of those cigars that could fit a lot of different times of day, with a Connecticut wrapper and a profile they say works just as well with morning coffee as it does later at night.
Then you get into some of the blends that really help Apostate separate itself. The Feathered Serpent uses a Dominican-grown Corojo Candela wrapper, which is not something you see every day, and The Sword of Laban goes with a softer side of Corojo in a Churchill format. The Zarahemla brings a box-pressed format with Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper and Cameroon binder, while Moroni’s Trumpet looks like one of the darker, richer smokes in the lineup with a San Andrés Oscuro wrapper. Then there is The Endowment, which they present as their most complex cigar, built around transitions and a longer finish.
To me, that is what makes Apostate Cigars stand out. The brand has a theme, but it does not stop at the branding. The cigars themselves look like they were built to carry that same identity. The variety in wrapper, size, and flavor profile creates a cohesive brand identity, rather than a random assortment of blends.
Final Thoughts
Apostate Cigars feels like a brand for smokers who like companies that are willing to take a different road. With their own voice, style, and a lineup that looks like it was put together with real thought behind it. That always gets my attention.
If you are into brands that stand apart a little bit and are not afraid to do things their own way, Apostate Cigars is definitely one worth checking out.
