Introduction to Hooten Young Cigars
This article was created for those who need to learn who the Hooten Young Cigar Company is or want to know more. I was granted an exceptional interview with Allison Trainer, who leads the tobacco division of Hooten Young, and Courtney Teekell, SVP of Operations and Brand. Special Mission Unit Member (Master Seargent Retired) Norman Hooten is the President. Tim Young is the Chief Executive Officer. During the interview, we discussed the cigar industry, the community, the brand’s message and packaging, and its history. Community, stories, and history took center stage and are the main themes they want our readers to become familiar with.
Mission and Community Building
Hooten Young Cigars wants its consumers to understand its mission of creating a community among Veteran and civilian cigar smokers. It would take little effort to visit the website to see that the company leans into its Veteran and Special Operations background. This is a significant and calculated move as many current and former brand owners are veterans and choose not to expose this substantial part of their lives and identity to their cigar brands. Based on our conversation, their goal is to create a community that flourishes on mutual respect and embodies the spirit of what it means to be a participant in this culture. The term brotherhood is often used in Veteran and First Responders circles. Still, the term encapsulates Hooten Young’s overall message regarding the cigar community of consumers who enjoy their excellent lineup of cigars. I can only look briefly to see how brotherhood is a familiar premise of the many groups and friendships we have cultivated in our private and public circles while enjoying cigars.
The Essence of Brotherhood
The term brotherhood is often used in Veteran and First Responders circles. Still, the term encapsulates Hooten Young’s overall message regarding the cigar community of consumers who enjoy their excellent lineup of cigars. I can only look briefly to see how brotherhood is a familiar premise of the many groups and friendships we have cultivated in our private and public circles while enjoying cigars.
Stories That Bind Us
Stories are an interesting idea that I had to gauge after completing this interview. I had never really thought of it until it was described to me. The stories we share while enjoying cigars are vital to the experience. Hooten Young wants it to be a part of that center stage. When you smoke a Hooten Young cigar, they like the brothers and sisters of the leaf to build that community and share the stories that make us who we are. Their cigars tell a story, each with a particular historical background, to evoke emotion and self-reflection. The boxes and packaging tell a story in their artwork, meant to be seen and heard without uttering a single word, as inanimate objects often do. Our stories make us who we are and are shared with our closest friends and family in our communities. Hooten Young does so with their cigars, craftsmanship, and artwork. Most importantly, they would love nothing more than our war stories, hardships, successes, and humanity to be told while enjoying one of their cigars. As a testament to this, they believe that although incredibly important, the blend of their cigars and the factories they come from are seconded to the experiences we enjoy while smoking them. Those who wish to learn more about the blends and factories are encouraged to look for that information as they also know it varies in importance depending on the individual cigar smoker.
History and Heritage
My favorite part is history. The history behind the company is intriguing and unique, but it is where the names of the cigars derive from that drives out the history lovers in us all. Each cigar represents something unheard of in the cigar industry and is revolutionary. Some of the cigar’s names include critical military operations such as Operation Gothic Serpent, known by its other names, the Battle of Mogadishu, and Black Hawk Down. Operation Overlord, or D-Day as it is commonly known. Operation Neptune Spear was the operation that resulted in the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Other cigars hold names such as Ma Duce, referring to the M2 Browning .50 caliber Heavy Machine Gun. This cigar has some of the most exciting packaging I have ever seen in the industry, and each is shaped as a .50 caliber round. The Operator and even the Paladin. Each cigar has a distinctive history tied to the military and the Veteran and or American Patriot experience.
Personal Reflections and Quality Assurance
This interview with Allison Trainer and Courtney Teekell was an experience I hope to continue in all future interviews. Hooten Young is a cigar smoker’s cigar brand. I have personally smoked most of their cigars and can attest to their quality and enjoyment. Their message can be openly shared here and should be industry-wide. By building community and sharing stories and history, we can all learn something new about ourselves and those around us while smoking great cigars.
With Respect,
Steven Ramos
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Editors Note:
At the Time of publication Allison Trainer is no longer with Hooten Young.