Hooten Young Ma Duece

Hooten Young has never been shy about drawing from military history, and the Ma Deuce cigar takes that connection quite literally. Named after the Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun, one of the longest-serving weapons in the U.S. military arsenal, the cigar is formed into Hooten Young’s patented Cartridge shape, giving the 6½" x 60 vitola the appearance of an oversized .50-caliber round. The concept was originally developed by Hooten Young family member Clint Aaron Taylor, who envisioned a cigar built around one of the most recognizable pieces of American military hardware.

The unusual shape is backed by an equally eye-catching tobacco arrangement, combining Ecuadorian Habano and Mexican San Andrés wrapper leaves over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. The contrasting wrapper tobaccos help emphasize the cartridge construction while adding another dimension to a blend that is intended to remain firmly in the medium-bodied range.

Once lit, the Ma Deuce cigar starts with herbal character and peppery spice before developing notes of cocoa, dried fruit, and dark chocolate. Sweet cream becomes more noticeable through the middle portions, eventually joining the chocolate for a richer profile before pepper returns toward the finish. The result is a cigar with plenty of personality beyond its unusual shape, using the Cartridge format as more than a visual gimmick.