This New Hampshire Distillery's Latest Whiskey Has A 'Meaty' Twist

The world of spirits is constantly changing, as clever distillers develop new techniques and products, and consumer preferences push the market into new territory. Even with this unceasing innovation, however, rarely does any distillery strike out so far outside the norm as Tamworth Distilling has. Flavored whiskeys are plenty popular, but they tend to stick to the sweet side of the spectrum, with things like cinnamon, peach, and peanut butter dominating the market. Tamworth has taken the opposite approach, instead infusing its whiskey with something quite unexpected: venison.

The Deerslayer Venison Flavored Whiskey is exactly what it sounds like: A bottle of aged rye infused with hand-chopped and house-smoked red deer. But the flavors and aromas worked into this whiskey go beyond just meat. On its own, adding this particular type of game meat to the bottle might be enough to catch the eyes of hunters or the curious palates of adventurous drinkers. Tamworth Distilling isn't trying to make a gimmick here, but rather a delicious whiskey that evokes a particular time and place. In addition to the venison, the whiskey includes notes of cranberries, porcini mushrooms, juniper berries, and green peppercorns. Together, these ingredients build out the whiskey's complexity with layers of bittersweet fruit, earthy umami, bright spice, piney evergreen, meat, and smoke. The result is a whiskey that feels like a snapshot of a cool, autumn day in the woods.

It should come as no surprise, given the ingredient list, that this 49.5% ABV (99 proof) whiskey is a favorite in the hunting community. So it makes sense that its release coincides with the start of hunting season in New Hampshire, hitting shelves on September 15th. Those eager to sample the unusual brew can find it at Liquor & Wine Outlets in New Hampshire, Total Wine & More in Massachusetts, and in person at the distillery in Tamworth, New Hampshire. It's also available to order directly from the distillery's website in both the "bambi-sized" 200-milliliter bottle for $35 and the new "buck-sized" 500-milliliter bottle for $45.

If The Deerslayer sounds like your kind of whiskey, Tamworth Distilling has plenty of other unconventional spirits worth exploring, too. The excitement surrounding this venison-flavored whiskey when it was first released in 2020 inspired the distillery to explore a range of unconventional flavors, including several other spirits made with animal products. This isn't an unheard-of practice — oyster stouts include real oysters, and there is a type of mezcal called pechuga that is traditionally made with chicken or turkey breast — but Tamworth Distilling takes the concept to some truly unexpected places. For example, the company produces Spruce Goose, a whiskey made with white spruce and roast goose, among other ingredients. There's also the Crab Trapper, a bourbon infused with crab, corn, and a spice mix, as well as Eau de Musc, a spirit scented with castor glands from beavers. Whether it's the call of the wild or simply an itch to try something far outside the ordinary, Tamworth Distilling has plenty of unusual bottles to explore.