Tamworth Distilling has expanded its Deerslayer Venison Flavored Whiskey into a larger 500ml “Buck-sized” bottle, priced at $45. The new format launched on September 15, 2026, timed to coincide with the start of New Hampshire’s hunting season.
The whiskey previously existed only as a palm-sized 200ml bottle under the distillery’s House of Tamworth range. Strong demand from distillery visitors, online buyers, hunters and whiskey drinkers prompted the brand to expand production.
Deerslayer now joins Tamworth Distilling’s full core spirits lineup. The original 200ml “Bambi bottle” will remain available alongside the new 500ml counterpart.
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READ THE STORYThe whiskey is made with smoked red venison, aged rye whiskey and a range of autumnal botanicals. The team sources red deer meat, hand-chops it, and combines it with cranberries, porcini mushrooms, juniper berries and green peppercorns.
Each ingredient is chosen to evoke the New Hampshire forest. Juniper adds a piney note, green peppercorn brings a bright spice, and porcini mushrooms provide an earthy undertone.
After fermenting overnight, the mixture is slow-smoked over seasoned branches from New Hampshire’s boreal forests before final distillation in a rotary evaporator.
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“When we first released The Deerslayer in 2020, we knew we had made something unusual, but we didn’t expect it to take on a life of its own,” said Steven Grasse, founder and owner of Tamworth Distilling. “It went viral almost immediately on a bunch of country music radio stations and became a cult favorite amongst whiskey collectors, outdoorsmen, and people who simply wanted to try something they had never tasted before.”
Grasse added that the growing fanbase has allowed the distillery to streamline production. “As its fanbase has grown, we’ve been able to refine and streamline the production process by acquiring a larger and automated smoker.”
The bottling reaches 49.5% ABV (99 proof). According to the official notes from the brand, it is savory and smoky, with subtle spiced fruit on the palate and a lingering finish.
Matt Power, distiller and biochemist at Tamworth Distilling, described the aim of the recipe. “The goal is for it to taste like the New England woods in the fall — not just like a piece of venison in a glass,” he said.
Deerslayer is available in 45 states via TamworthDistilling.com, at NH Liquor & Wine Outlets, and Total Wine & More in Massachusetts.
