Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile
Brief Overview of the Distillery
Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile is located in Tamworth, New Hampshire, in the shadow of the White Mountains. The distillery combines scratch-made distillation with a clear local grounding: its own grains, a herb garden, and foraged ingredients are used in everything from single malts to experimental flavored whiskies. The place is as much a destination as a production site, with a tasting bar, retail shop and seasonally themed experiences along the Swift River.
History
Steven Grasse opened Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile in 2015 with the ambition to create an experimental and place-based distillery. Grasse came to Tamworth after a career building prominent spirits brands, and he quickly built a facility capable of embracing both classic distillation and unconventional experiments. Since inception, the focus has been on cultivating and gathering local ingredients—from the herb garden to foraged elements in the surrounding forests—and transforming these into both a core range and numerous special editions. The distillery functions as a production site, shop, and events venue, and has established itself as a standout name in American craft distilling.
Raw Materials and Production
Production at Tamworth is anchored in local ingredients: the distillery works with grains grown in the region and supplements with herbs, flowers, and fruits from its own garden and surroundings. Copper stills stand on site, described as a central part of the daily distillation, and a test kitchen is used to develop new flavor profiles. The production is heavily handcrafted; they make 'scratch-made' spirits, where many components are produced or sourced locally rather than using industrial components. The team practices both traditional techniques and experimental methods to bring local botanicals directly into the final product.
Maturation and Barrel Types
The distillery's barrel house is visible and described as part of the experience; maturation takes place in these facilities. The product list also shows the use of specific casks, such as apple-brandy casks and French wine casks, as well as a category for 'rare casks' for select releases. This variation in barrel types is actively used to create differentiated aging expressions and special releases.
Whiskies
The portfolio spans a broad range: from single malt (Old Hampshire White Mountain) to rye, wheat whiskey, and a range of flavored or cask-specific releases. On the website, both bestsellers and special series are shown; some of the most prominent names are Skeeter’s Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey, Old Hampshire White Mountain Single Malt, Graverobber Unholy Rye, and several Chocorua editions. The range includes both age-dated or vintage bottles and experimental, locality-based releases, often related to local ingredients or special casks.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Age | Cask and Style | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skeeter’s Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey | Flavored Whiskey | Core Range | ||
| Old Hampshire White Mountain Single Malt Whiskey | Single Malt | Core Range | ||
| Graverobber Unholy Rye | Rye | Core Range | ||
| William Whipple’s Winter Wheat Whiskey Aged 7 Years | Wheat Whiskey | Aged 7 Years | ||
| Tamworth 1766 Rye Whiskey Aged 10 Years | Rye | Aged 10 Years | ||
| Chocorua Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 8 Years | Rye | Aged 8 Years | ||
| Old Baldy Spiced Apple Whiskey | Spiced Apple Whiskey | |||
| Chocorua Rye Whiskey Apple Brandy Cask Aged | Rye (cask-aged) | Apple brandy cask | ||
| Crab Trapper | ||||
| Eau De Musc | Core Range | |||
| The Deerslayer Venison Whiskey | Flavored Whiskey |
Whiskies: Style and Flavor Profile
The flavor directions cover several concrete threads: fruity elements (apple, blueberries, cider) appear in product names and cordials, floral notes from the herb garden (elderflower, angelica, lemon balm) are part of the ingredient list, and there are also releases with maple sweetness and spicy apple tones. Together these elements point to a profile where local botanicals and fruits play a clear role in both flavored and barrel-aged releases.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery is open to visitors on weekends with a tasting bar where you can order curated flights or cocktails, and a retail shop with distillery exclusives. Behind the buildings lies an herb garden that provides botanicals for the production, and in season guests can take a cocktail down to the Swift River. Opening hours are Friday–Saturday 11–18 and Sunday 11–17; visitors are encouraged to book an appointment for special group offers or events. Private cocktail classes and event packages for weddings and corporate events are also offered via the distillery's events contact.
The stated opening hours are Monday–Thursday: CLOSED; Friday–Saturday: 11:00–18:00; Sunday: 11:00–17:00.
Philosophy and Craft
Tamworth's value system is built on scratch-made production, local sourcing, and constant experimentation. The distillery's work with its own garden, foraged ingredients, and a test kitchen demonstrates an ambition to let place, season, and ingredients directly shape the flavor profiles. At the same time, the founder's 'story-first' approach to branding and cultural context in product development is valued.