This New Hampshire Distillery's Latest Whiskey Release 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.
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 flavoring agents of this whiskey include 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.
How to hunt down a bottle of Deerslayer venison-flavored whiskey
Given the ingredient list, this 49.5% ABV (99 proof) whiskey became a favorite in the hunting community soon after its initial release in 2020. Apparently demand for this woodsy whiskey is continuing to grow, because a larger bottle of it is now hitting shelves on September 15, coinciding with the start of New Hampshire's hunting season. 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 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 among the varieties of mezcal there's one 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.