Today marks Armed Forces Day, an annual opportunity to recognise and thank the men and women of the British Armed Forces community — serving personnel, reservists, veterans, cadets and their families — for their commitment, sacrifice and service to our nation 🫡🇬🇧. It is a day of appreciation and reflection, making it the perfect time to talk about a British cigar company whose identity is built around military history and giving back to those who have served.
Recently, I had the opportunity to smoke The Most Secret 👇
It’s the latest cigar from Trident Military Cigars. Before I get into the review of this cigar, it’s worth taking a closer look at the story behind the company and what inspired its creation.
About Trident Military Cigars
Trident Military Cigars was founded in 2019 by veterans Hugh Dixon and Nick Preston, united by a shared passion for cigars, military history and the Armed Forces community.
Their vision was to create premium yet affordable cigars for both newcomers and experienced smokers, while honouring military history through every blend they release. Each cigar tells a story, celebrating remarkable people, operations and moments from Britain’s military past.
The company is built upon three core values— Commitment, Courage and Selflessness —and those values extend well beyond the cigars themselves. Trident actively supports the Armed Forces community by donating £1 from every cigar, tin and cigar punch sold to charities supporting veterans and their families. Hugh and Nick are passionate advocates for ensuring nobody suffers in silence.
Their mission is to honour the past, support the present and help build a stronger future for the Armed Forces community.
That all became a reality when their business was officially launched in 2021.
The Founders
Hugh served for over four years in the Parachute Regiment, serving with A Company, C Company and the Patrols Reconnaissance Platoon before continuing his military career with 144 Airborne Medical Reserve Regiment as a Combat Medic Technician.
His military service allowed him to travel extensively and meet people from all over the world, experiences that helped shape both his appreciation of cigars and the community that surrounds them. His ambition is not only to grow Trident Military Cigars but to ensure the business continues giving something meaningful back to the Armed Forces community.
Nick enjoyed a distinguished 23-year military career, serving with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, The Rifles and later the London Regiment as a reservist. During that time he completed four operational tours in Iraq and one in Kosovo, serving as a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle gunner and anti-tank specialist.
His passion for cigars began as a child, watching his father enjoy one every Christmas. Over time that grew into an appreciation not just for cigars themselves, but for the friendships, conversations and moments of relaxation they create.
How I first discovered Trident Military Cigars
I first heard about Trident Military Cigars back in 2021, around the tail end of the pandemic thanks to Cigar Club London. Whilst the reason the company was set up felt incredibly important, I’ll be honest — I was a little sceptical about what their cigars may be like. Modern day independent UK cigar companies weren’t particularly common at the time, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Thankfully, those doubts quickly disappeared after smoking The Warspite. It was a genuinely impressive cigar and showed me they were serious about producing good quality cigars.
Over the years I have bumped into Hugh and Nick on several occasions, including one of their Trident cigar evenings held at London’s Century Club. They were fantastic herfs and gave folk the opportunity to meet Hugh and Nick in a relaxed setting. They’re both approachable, passionate and clearly care deeply about what they’re building.
It’s also been enjoyable watching the company grow over the past few years, with each new release demonstrating increasing confidence and consistency.
As mentioned at the start of this post, I was fortunate enough to sample their latest cigar, The Most Secret.
The Most Secret
It officially launched in April 2026 at London’s historic In & Out (Naval & Military) Club. If you ever get the opportunity to visit, its a wonderful private members club with a terrific garden terrace where you can enjoy a cigar. A fitting venue for a release celebrating British military history.
The cigar pays tribute to the courageous men and women of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) — the secret organisation established during the Second World War under Winston Churchill’s famous instruction to “set Europe ablaze.”
These operatives worked behind enemy lines carrying out espionage, sabotage and resistance missions under extraordinary circumstances, often with little hope of rescue. Their bravery remains one of the great untold stories of the war.
To match that attention to detail, the tobacco is aged for 24 months before rolling, followed by a further 18 months of ageing after rolling, creating a refined and balanced smoking experience.
The cigar
- Vitola: Toro (6 x 52)
- Presentation: Box of 4
- Wrapper: Habano
- Binder: Habano
- Filler: Honduran
My review
I smoked this on a warm summer evening a couple of weeks back after going for a swim. I was completely relaxed and ended up sitting in a local park, which felt like the perfect setting to enjoy a cigar without distractions.
The draw was slightly tight when I first cut and lit the cigar, but it opened up nicely after the first few puffs.
From the outset, I was greeted by fresh floral notes accompanied by a distinctive sweetness. That sweetness was the defining characteristic early on, reminding me of custom rolls I’ve enjoyed in both Cuba and the Dominican Republic thanks to its fresh, vibrant profile. The smoke was light-to-medium in body, with an almost almond-like quality.
As the cigar progressed from the first into the second third, the sweetness became more restrained, allowing the floral notes to take centre stage. Throughout this stage, the profile remained exceptionally smooth, balanced, and refined.
In the final third, a peppery spice emerged, adding a kick and provided a satisfying finish to the cigar.
Final thoughts
I’ve enjoyed watching Trident Military Cigars evolve since first discovering them back in 2021.
What started as a veteran-led passion project has grown into one of the UK’s most interesting independent cigar companies. They’re producing consistently enjoyable cigars, telling fascinating stories from military history and, perhaps most importantly, giving something tangible back to the Armed Forces community through their charitable donations and advocacy for veterans’ mental health.
As for The Most Secret, I think it’s another excellent release. The floral notes, distinctive sweetness and balanced profile make it stand out.
My rating 8 out of 10.
For more information about Trident Military Cigars check out their website:
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