The Whiskey That Also Kills Mosquitoes

You've got a cold drink in your hand, the sun is going down, the grill is cooling off, and life is good. Then it happens. That unmistakable high-pitched whine right next to your ear. A mosquito. Then another one. And before you know it, you're swatting more than you're sipping, and that peaceful evening on the back porch has turned into a full-on war with the insect world. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone — and a small distillery up in New Hampshire has decided enough is enough.

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. It sounds like something a buddy would make up after too many campfire drinks. But it's real, it's on sale right now, and it actually works. Let's dig into what this thing is, why it works, who made it, and whether it belongs in your summer rotation.

Wait — A Bug-Repelling Whiskey Is a Real Thing?

Yeah, it really is. Tamworth Distilling has unveiled Skeeter's Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey, a 120-proof flavored whiskey designed to be sprayed onto cocktails to enhance aroma and brighten flavor while naturally deterring mosquitoes. That's not a marketing gimmick — there's actual science behind it, and the people who made it know exactly what they're doing.

At the core of Skeeter's is nootkatone, a naturally occurring compound found in grapefruit peel. The compound is known for its crisp, citrus-forward aroma and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a biopesticide ingredient derived from botanical sources. In other words, this isn't some synthetic chemical cocktail. Nootkatone is a naturally occurring mosquito-repelling essence. It comes from grapefruit. It also comes from Alaskan yellow cedar, both of which happen to be in this. The compound works as an insect deterrent while also delivering a fresh, bright citrus aroma that actually makes your drink smell and taste better. That right there is the genius of the whole idea.

The product isn't meant to be poured like a regular whiskey. The product is bottled at 120 proof and intended as a cocktail modifier rather than a standalone sipper. Tamworth Distilling suggests two to three sprays over a finished drink. Think of it like a finishing touch — the same way some guys reach for a couple dashes of bitters, you reach for Skeeter's and give your drink a couple spritzes before you head outside. Two or three spritzes and you're good to go. Easy as that.

Who Came Up With This Idea?

The distillery itself has a pretty fascinating backstory. Tamworth Distilling was founded in 2015 by Steven Grasse, a student of transcendentalism who grew up summering in New Hampshire. Steven is the founder of Tamworth Distilling and Mercantile and the creative mind behind some of the most iconic spirits brands of the 21st century, including Hendrick's Gin and Sailor Jerry Rum. Steven launched Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile in 2015 in the heart of Tamworth Village, New Hampshire. Inspired by the transcendentalist history of the area, as well as its agricultural heritage, he set to work creating one of the most imaginative farm-to-bottle distilleries in the country.

The distillery operates under a wilderness-to-bottle model and is known for using foraged ingredients in its spirits. That philosophy runs through everything they make. All ingredients used in the production of spirits are farmed or foraged within 150 miles of the distillery. So this is not some big corporate operation throwing stuff at a wall to see what sticks. These are people who are deeply rooted in the land, the seasons, and the natural world around them — and Skeeter's is a direct reflection of that.

The man behind the actual chemistry and creation of Skeeter's is distiller Matt Power. Matt Power is a fellow distiller, trained organic chemist, and accomplished organic pig farmer. When you've got a trained organic chemist running your distillery, wild ideas like mosquito-repelling whiskey stop being crazy and start being very possible. What started as a moment of frustration outdoors turned into a question: how do we make the experience better without compromising the drink? That's the kind of thinking that gets results. Not "how do we sell more units" but "how do we make sitting outside with a drink actually enjoyable again."

And inspiration came straight from the land they call home. Anyone from rural New Hampshire knows that bug season, which happens from May to mid-July, is no joke — they have mosquitoes and black flies the size of pterodactyls. 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. Forty mosquito species. That's not a bug problem, that's a full-blown infestation, and anyone who's spent time outdoors in the Northeast in summer knows exactly what that feels like.

What Does It Taste Like?

Here's where it gets really interesting, because this isn't just a novelty product with a gimmick. 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. That's a legit flavor profile. That's the kind of thing you'd expect from a well-made cocktail modifier, not from something that doubles as pest control.

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. Fire-toasted marshmallow and campfire smoke? Honestly, that sounds like a summer evening in a bottle. The profile is vibrant, slightly bitter, and clean — designed to complement cocktails rather than compete with them.

I'll be honest — the first time I heard about this, I was skeptical. My gut reaction was that something with dual purpose like this couldn't possibly deliver on both fronts. Bug spray smells like bug spray. Whiskey smells like whiskey. Those two things don't belong in the same sentence, let alone the same bottle. But when you look at the flavor notes — grapefruit, eucalyptus, lemongrass — it starts to make a whole lot of sense. Those are aromas that have long been associated with keeping bugs at bay, and they also happen to be aromas that work incredibly well when layered over a classic cocktail. The bug repellency and the flavor profile aren't fighting each other here. They're working together.

Tamworth recommends using a few sprays on cocktails like an Old Fashioned or a grapefruit-forward spritz, turning the bottle into more of a cocktail modifier than a traditional whiskey. An Old Fashioned with a couple spritzes of grapefruit, eucalyptus, and lemongrass aromas on top? That actually sounds pretty damn good. The smoke element in the base pairs nicely with the char notes already in a bourbon-based Old Fashioned, and the citrus lifts the whole thing without overwhelming it.

Tamworth's Track Record of Going Completely Off Script

For those who aren't already familiar with Tamworth Distilling, Skeeter's is not even close to the wildest thing they've made. These folks have built their entire reputation on doing things nobody else in the spirits world would dare try. Tamworth Distilling has built a reputation for asking questions most distillers wouldn't dare ask — can you make whiskey inspired by venison? What about a spirit flavored with green crabs? Or a bourbon that tastes like Thanksgiving dinner?

And they followed through on all of those. In November 2020, the distillery released The Deer Slayer, a whiskey infused with venison. In June 2022, the distillery released Crab Trapper, a bourbon distilled with the invasive green crab. Distillers at Tamworth developed the whiskey after learning about the ecological damage caused by invasive green crabs in the Northeast coast. Crab Trapper went viral, and was featured on Food & Wine, Delish, USA Today, Smithsonian, NPR, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. That's not a distillery flying under the radar. That's a team that keeps cracking the code on what it means to make something genuinely new.

They've also made a whiskey flavored with castoreum — that's a secretion from a beaver's castor sac, for those who haven't heard of it. Tamworth Distilling's Steven Grasse put his creative mind to work with Eau de Musc, a whiskey infused with castoreum. The ingredient is an oily secretion from beaver castor sacs and has been used in the past as a flavoring agent, and also for perfumes. So yeah, mosquito repellent whiskey is actually pretty tame compared to some of their other stuff. These guys are playing a completely different game than the rest of the whiskey world.

The launch continues a pattern of unconventional releases from the craft distillery, which was recognized by Food & Wine as a 2023 Drinks Innovator of the Year. That award doesn't go to people playing it safe. It goes to people who are genuinely moving the needle on what spirits can be.

The "Whiskito" Concept — Brilliant or Bonkers?

Tamworth has coined the term "whiskito" for Skeeter's, and honestly, it fits perfectly. Skeeter's Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey is a first-of-its-kind "whiskito" atomizer that uses a natural grapefruit compound to ward off bugs while enhancing your summer cocktails. Wrapped in a charming, retro Americana design, it's equal parts bug defense and conversation starter. That packaging matters more than people give it credit for. Pull this thing out at a backyard get-together and every single person there is going to ask what it is. That's a conversation piece before you even crack it open.

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. That's a sentence that could apply to a lot of great whiskeys, honestly. The best spirits are always connected to a place and a way of life, and Skeeter's is no different. It's made from where it comes from, and it solves a problem that everyone in that region — and really anyone who enjoys a drink outside in the summer — has to deal with.

The fact that it comes in a spray format is also worth talking about. A lot of guys might initially think, "I don't want to spray my whiskey, I want to drink it." But think about how you actually use bitters in a cocktail. A few dashes here and there. You're not drinking bitters straight. Same idea here. 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. Two or three spritzes on top of your drink and you're good. That's it. No mess, no fuss, no DEET-smelling hands anywhere near your glass.

Where to Get It and What It'll Cost You

Here's the best part — this isn't some ultra-rare, limited release that'll run you $200 on a secondary market. Skeeter's Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey is available now for $24. Twenty-four bucks. That's less than a decent candle and a whole lot more useful come mosquito season. Skeeter's Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey at 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 at 15 Cleveland Hill Road in Tamworth, New Hampshire. So unless you're in one of the five states that can't get it shipped, you can order it today and have it ready for your next outdoor gathering.

If you're ever up in that part of New England, making the trip to Tamworth is worth it in its own right. Visitors can discover unique spirits at Tamworth Distilling, sample curated tasting flights and inventive cocktails, uncover limited-edition distillery exclusives, and wander the grounds and Tamworth Village. It's the kind of place that feels like it shouldn't exist but somehow does — a full-on craft distillery tucked into a small New Hampshire town making things the rest of the country is just now catching up to.

Is It Actually Worth Adding to Your Summer Lineup?

Here's the straight answer: yes. Not just as a novelty, but as a genuinely useful product with real flavor value. If you spend any time outside with a drink in hand — whether that's on the porch, at a tailgate, around a campfire, on a boat, or at the lake — mosquitoes are always part of the equation. You've got a few options. You can slather on traditional bug spray and hope none of it gets in your drink. You can light a citronella candle and pray the wind is on your side. You can spend all night swatting. Or you can spray two ounces of a 120-proof, grapefruit-forward whiskey mist over your cocktail and let nootkatone do the work while you enjoy the drink.

The flavour profile actually works. It's not going to turn your bourbon into a citrus bomb. Celebrated for its crisp, citrus-forward aroma, nootkatone brings a bright, refreshing character to the spirit and happens to be less appealing to mosquitoes. That brightness is additive, not overpowering. It lifts what's already in the glass without bulldozing the base spirit you already carefully picked out. And at 120 proof, it's got enough presence to make itself known without watering things down.

There's also something deeply satisfying about solving a problem with whiskey. Bugs have been ruining outdoor drinking for as long as humans have been drinking outdoors. The usual solutions feel like a compromise — either you protect yourself from bugs or you enjoy your drink, but rarely both at the same time without some kind of workaround. Skeeter's removes that compromise entirely. 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.

The Bottom Line

Tamworth Distilling keeps proving that whiskey doesn't have to be a stuffy, rules-first category. Founded by Steven Grasse, the branding entrepreneur behind Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry, and several other drink brands, the distillery has earned a cult following for releases that blur the line between spirits, storytelling, and experimentation. Skeeter's fits right into that tradition while also being the most practical thing they've put out yet.

At $24, it's an easy call. Stock it next to the bitters on your bar cart, toss it in the cooler when you head out, and pull it out the next time someone complains about the bugs. Two spritzes. Done. That's the kind of problem-solving this country was built on — practical, clever, and just a little bit crazy. The whiskey world needed something like this, and Tamworth was exactly the right team to deliver it.

If you haven't heard of Tamworth Distilling before now, consider this your introduction. These are people who genuinely love what they do and aren't afraid to go wherever the idea takes them — whether that's venison, invasive crabs, or the mosquitoes that have been crashing your porch nights for years. Do yourself a favor and grab a bottle before bug season peaks. Your cocktail — and your sanity — will thank you.