Tamworth Distilling Debuts Mosquito-Repelling Whiskey: Summer's Most Unexpected Essential

From the experimental minds at Tamworth Distilling comes Skeeter’s Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey, a first-of-its-kind “whiskito” created for one simple purpose: better outdoor drinking. Designed to be sprayed on cocktails, Skeeter’s enhances aroma, brightens flavor, and helps keep the focus where it belongs—on the drink, not the distractions. Because when the sun goes down, the only buzz you should be dealing with is the one in your glass. Skeeter’s (120 proof) is available online for nationwide shipping and in person at the bottle shop on site at Tamworth Distilling (15 Cleveland Hill Rd, Tamworth, NH).

Known for boundary-pushing, nature-driven spirits, Skeeter’s continues the distillery’s tradition of transforming the unexpected into something remarkably drinkable—while injecting a sense of playfulness and interactivity into the ritual of making and sipping cocktails at home. Inspired by New Hampshire’s peak summer season, when over 40 mosquito species emerge, the release reflects Tamworth’s ongoing dialogue between the natural world and the glass.

“Anyone from rural New Hampshire knows that bug season, which happens from May to mid-July, is no joke—we have mosquitoes and black flies the size of pterodactyls,” said Tamworth Distilling founder Steven Grasse. “At Tamworth Distilling, we draw inspiration from the land around us, and Skeeter’s is no exception. Skeeter’s is our premium solution to a pesky problem.”

At the heart of Skeeter’s is nootkatone, a naturally occurring compound found in grapefruit peel. Celebrated for its crisp, citrus-forward aroma, nootkatone brings a bright, refreshing character to the spirit—one that just happens to be less appealing to mosquitoes. The result is a more harmonious outdoor drinking experience, achieved through flavor rather than force.

“What started as a moment of frustration outdoors turned into a question: how do we make the experience better without compromising the drink?” said Matt Power of Tamworth Distilling. “Skeeter’s is designed to enhance what’s already in your glass—while making sure nothing else gets in the way.”

Built on a blended whiskey base, Skeeter’s balances a warm, woodsy foundation with lifted, aromatic top notes. Fresh grapefruit leads, followed by layers of eucalyptus, lemongrass, and soft green botanicals. Notes of very ripe citrus, coconut, fire-toasted marshmallow, and eucalyptus leaf are present on the nose; after a few minutes, it settles into a steady coconut-and-grapefruit-esque aroma, lending a campfire-smoke element. The profile is vibrant, slightly bitter, and clean—designed to complement cocktails rather than compete with them.

True to Tamworth Distilling’s “wilderness-to-bottle” philosophy, Skeeter’s is both playful and purposeful, blending natural ingredients, modern fermentation techniques, and a distinctly New England sense of place. It’s a spirit that doesn’t just belong at the bar, but outdoors, in the environments that inspired it.

Skeeter’s Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey (120 proof) launches for direct-to-consumer online purchase to 45 states, and is available online for nationwide shipping and in person at the bottle shop on site at Tamworth Distilling (15 Cleveland Hill Rd, Tamworth, NH).

COCKTAIL RECIPES

Whiskito Old Fashioned

Photo: Whiskito Old Fashioned (Photo Credit: Quaker City Mercantile)

• 2 oz Tamworth Distilling Chocorua Maple Rye

• 0.5 oz Demerara syrup

• 2–3 dashes orange bitters

• Cocktail cherry

• 2–3 sprays Skeeter’s Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey

Stirred up | Cherry garnish

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Skeeter Spritz

Photo: Skeeter Spritz (Photo Credit: Quaker City Mercantile)

• 1.5 oz Tamworth Garden White Mountain Gin

• 0.5 oz Tamworth Garden Mountain Berry Cordial

• Topped with Fever-Tree Sparkling Grapefruit

• 2–3 sprays Skeeter’s Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey

• Grapefruit slice garnish

Instructions: Add gin and cordial to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Pour over fresh ice, top with Fever-Tree Sparkling Grapefruit, and add 2–3 sprays of Skeeter’s. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.

ABOUT TAMWORTH DISTILLING

Tamworth Distilling is a craft distillery, founded and owned by liquor brand savant Steven Grasse, that focuses on creating truly one-of-a-kind, small-batch spirits that reflect the flora and fauna of lush Tamworth, New Hampshire. All ingredients used in the production of spirits are farmed or foraged within 150 miles of the distillery. In addition to showcasing local and natural ingredients, the brand highlights prominent historical American events, figures, and notable geography, including figures such as Henry David Thoreau and landmarks including New Hampshire’s famed Old Man of the Mountain.

Since the turn of the 20th century, Tamworth, New Hampshire has been a haven for artists, writers, thinkers, and innovators—from Henry James and E.E. Cummings to President Grover Cleveland. Grasse set up his distillery in accordance with the land around it, not against it. Taking a cue from the 19th-century Transcendentalists of New England, Tamworth Distilling pulls its inspiration from the surrounding atmosphere, its recipes from the crops it grows, and the histories buried in the soil below. The distillery has recently been celebrated by FOOD & WINE as a 2023 Drinks Innovator of the Year.

Tamworth Distilling | 15 Cleveland Hill Road, Tamworth, NH | 603.323.7916