Everything You Need To Know About Hooten Young Whiskey

Hooten Young is a new whiskey company that’s putting out premium aged bottles. It was founded by Tim Young and former Special Mission Unit Member (MSG RET) Norm Hooten, the real-life “Hoot” from the 2001 Ridley Scott film Black Hawk Down.

Hooten and Young's friendship was cemented by a mutual love of whiskey and cigars, a pairing which inspired the duo to launch the brand. “We decided to make our own whiskey because we just wanted something that went well with cigars,” Hooten said in an interview with Task & Purpose, a news website for service members. “We weren’t finding a lot of things that paired well with our cigars, so we decided to do our own thing.”

Their cigars feature aged Nicaraguan tobacco in a variety of flavor profiles, from mild to bold. Each box pays tribute to a famous military operation, such as the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of Mogadishu, which Hooten fought in.

Their whiskies boast impressive age statements and are reasonably priced. In fact, the Hooten Young 15 Year won double gold at the New York World Wine and Spirits Competition. This barrel proof American whiskey is a TSR favorite, and is available in our whiskey shop.

Other bottles of note include the recently-released Warrior Proof. Bottled at 125 proof, this limited-edition 16-year-old American whiskey was created in collaboration with Jack Carr, the Navy SEAL and New York Times best-selling author of The Terminal List. The Hooten Young 12 Year American whiskey is also a World Wine and Spirits Competition award-winner.

The Hooten Young portfolio also includes a 5-year-old rye, 8-year-old American whiskey, and a series of limited-edition whiskeys finished in wine casks. A portion of the company's proceeds support veteran-aid charities, including SEALKIDS, which supports the families of Navy SEALs, and Folds of Honor, which provides scholarships for the families of fallen or disabled veterans.