About Wild Hare Distillery
Wild Hare Distillery is a locally owned and operated, small-batch distillery that offers bottle purchase, tastings, tours, and handcrafted cocktails. We dream bigger than just selling the market’s smoothest, most delicious premium spirits. Co-owners Wendy Tilton and Jim Matz do their best to source as many locally made products and services for their distillery.
Our two spirit lines using natural ingredients to flavor & please the palate include:
DROVE – award winning line of premium Blue Weber Agave spirits
WHD – premium small batch whiskey and vodka line
Wild Hare Distillery also offers white labeling or create your own barrel of spirits options. Bottle purchase is available in select Arizona liquor stores, through reserved pick-up at our Tempe distillery, and can be shipped to 33 states!
Dare to be Smooth!
DROVE Roble Blanco Salvaje
2020 winner at the San Francisco World Spirits event (Only winner in the category for a product made in the USA.)
DROVE La Vainilla
2019 International Asian Spirits Award
DROVE La Canela
2020 Proof Awards in Nevada for Product and Label Design
Featured in Food and Beverage magazine in 2021
ASCoT Award (Total Wine & More) winner
WHD Straight Rye Whiskey
2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) Silver Medal
Our background is as unique as it comes in the distillery world. Owners, Jim Matz & Wendy Tilton, conceived the idea after moving from the east coast. We needed to do something challenging and different. (And, we certainly found it!)
Jim owned his own business for 17 years. He is great with equipment, problem solving and people.
Wendy, an academic and consultant by profession, tried her hand at “hooch making” with a dear friend from Texas. Since proximity changes relationships, and Wendy moved out west, Jim thought a small batch distillery could turn out to be a whole lot of fun, so here we are!
What do we care about most? Offering you the best possible premium spirit that is smooth and delicious. You tell us it is GREAT, or it is dumped! (Yes, some gets dumped.) So far, the feedback for DROVE is — “Wow, this is really smooth!” It was this feedback that gave Jim the idea — Dare to be Smooth! (The challenge begins!)
We also love to work with restaurants and companies that want to white label or contract with Wild Hare Distillery to create their own line of product! With Wendy’s interest to try new things and improve outcomes, a test distillery was perfect. It is great for small batch premium products. In addition, we can assess what you really want. So, rather than wasting time bringing a product to the market that is lackluster, you tell us what you love!
Now, it’s your turn. Come tell us your story. What do you think of our products? Honest feedback is appreciated, and don’t worry, Wendy will ask you a lot of questions (it’s her way).
Keep in mind, we can’t improve without you!