Cigars and the Military – A Brief History

Cigar smoking and the military have a long history. Indeed, soldiers from across the globe have smoked various forms of tobacco ever since the modern industry formed. And prominent military figures from Ulysses S. Grant to Winston Churchill have famously enjoyed cigars — especially during wartime. 

In recent years, many veteran-owned cigar companies have formed, and today, on Veterans Day, we’re going to focus on them and offer a few of our favorite cigars from these patriotic brands.

Veteran-Owned Cigar Brands

Room101 Cigars

Room101 may not have the overt appearance of a veteran-owned brand, but its founder Matt Booth is a Marine. Born from a philosophy of making things with character, Room101 has developed a well-earned reputation for crafting wildly unique yet excellent cigars.

Our Favorite Room101 Cigar: Johnny Tobacconaut.

Warfighter Tobacco Company

Warfighter Tobacco Company was founded by service members involved in the initial US operation in Iraq in 2003. Years later, veterans Scott Jansen and Chris Ferdico would meet up over drinks and lay the groundwork for what would become Warfighter Tobacco Company. Warfighter Tobacco Company partners with a non-profit organization called Cigars For Warriors to provide premium cigars and accessories to US troops serving in active combat zones. 

Our Favorite Warfighter Cigar: Night Shift

Rated 91 by HalfWheel, this unique cigar features an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper and Candela tobacco near the cap. 

Southern Draw

Formed on the “culture of honor” tradition of the American South, Southern Draw is a veteran-owned-and-operated brand that partners with non-profits like Warriors on the Fly, Cigars for Warriors, and the First Nations Development Institute. For years now, Southern Draw has crafted excellent cigars while remaining true to its core values of faith, family, and fellowship.

Our Favorite Southern Draw Cigar: Rose of Sharon

A fresh take on a classic shade cigar. Approachable, yet balanced with notes of graham cracker, nuts, and caramel.

Founders Cigar Company

Founders Cigar Company is about as patriotic as you can get. Not only do they feature the Founding Fathers on their cigar bands (Hamilton, Franklin, etc.), but they’re also a veteran-run brand born with the mission to bring people together through cigars following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Favorite Founders Cigar: Douglass Habano

Rich and oily, this smooth and spicy Habano boasts a Pennsylvania Broadleaf filler leaf.

Hooten Young

You may be more familiar with Hooten and Young as a whiskey brand, but they’ve expanded into the cigar game with a slew of exciting releases. And here’s a bit of trivia for you: Norm Hooten is the real-life inspiration behind a character from the movie Black Hawk Down.

Our Favorite Hooten Young Cigar: Operation Overlord

A classic Connecticut packed with rich Nicaraguan tobacco.

What’s your favorite veteran-owned cigar brand? Sign up for Cigar World and let us know with a comment!