The Distillery Behind Infamous Crab-Flavored Whiskey Unveils… Trout Brandy
Tamworth Distilling unveiled Saison De Frai, a smoked trout brandy flavored with fish roe. (Photo: Tamworth)
On Thursday, Food and Wine reported that Tamworth Distilling, the New Hampshire-based craft spirits producer behind the infamous Crab Trapper Whiskey, is now releasing a trout brandy, flavored with actual trout roe.
Founder Steven Grasse came up with the idea for trout-flavored brandy, and the spirits man who has compared his distillery to “Willy Wonka” was inspired by the Swift River, which flows past the distillery.
“I was enjoying a glass of Tamworth Garden VSOP Apple Brandy and watching the anglers fly fish in the backyard of the distillery,” Grasse said, according to Food and Wine. “And that’s where the idea was born to use trout as a flavor agent — in order to combine our unique approach to wilderness-inspired flavors with our team’s unwavering commitment to honoring and preserving the wilds of New England.”
Speaking of “wilds,” Tamworth Distilling has created undoubtedly some of the wildest spirits around.
In April, the brand created a wearable and drinkable perfume Gin. Named Sylvan Mist, the gin was designed to be sprayed atop a cocktail rather than consumed in liquid form. Tamworth cites the gin as hosting aromas and flavors of a boreal forest, freshly cut grass, violets and kiwi skin.
Tamworth additionally released a rye whiskey expression, titled Graverobber Unholy Rye. The whiskey is infused with maple syrup tapped from trees that grow alongside unmarked graves in New Hampshire, and was first released in October. The spooky whiskey was resurrected a just in time for Halloween.
The holidays appear to be a source of inspiration for Tamworth. In November 2021, Tamworth released a roast-turkey-flavored whiskey that was steeped in the flavors of a New England-style Thanksgiving dinner.
As for the brand’s latest aquatic-themed release, Food and Wine reports that the base of Tamworth’s trout-flavored brandy, simply titled Saison De Frai, is made from sustainably-farmed smoked trout.
The base is subsequently blended with Tamworth’s own Tamworth Garden VSOP Apple Brandy, and fish eggs are added before the spirit is bottled. The brand claims the texture is similar to bubble tea, and a 200-milliliter bottle hosts a suggested retail price of $65.
Tamworth’s Saison De Frai will be available for purchase on Nov. 17, and a dollar from each bottle purchased will go to the nonprofit organization Trout Unlimited to assist with trout conservation efforts.
“The proceeds from Saison De Frai will help support our dedicated efforts of conservation, protection and restoration of North America’s cold water fisheries and their watersheds,” Trout Unlimited New Hampshire State Council Vice Chair Randy Ouellette said.
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