History

Wild Hare Distillery is a locally owned and operated small-batch distillery that offers bottle sales, tastings, tours, and handmade cocktails. Co-owners are Wendy Tilton and Jim Matz, who seek to use as many locally produced products and services as possible. Their two spirits lines are DROVE and WHD, where DROVE is a champagne-grade agave spirit and WHD includes small-batch whiskey, gin and vodka – including Red Headed Hare. The distillery also offers white labeling or the option to create your own barrel-aged spirit. Bottles are sold in select Arizona stores, can be picked up at the Tempe distillery, or shipped to 47 states through a partner. The motto reads: Dare to be Smooth!

Production / Manufacturing

DROVE - 100% Blue Weber agave, nectar imported from Jalisco (highlands and lowlands). During distillation the agave flavor is preserved via a pot still, and the products are naturally flavored without added sugar, colorants or extracts. The nutritional information and organic claims appear on selected products such as DROVE Cristal and other variants – all focused on purity and authenticity.

WHD - WHD encompasses small-batch whiskeys, vodkas and gins. The products include WHD 90 Bourbon, Barrel Strength Bourbon, The Red Headed Hare and two rye whiskeys as well as a line of vodkas and gins. The provider also describes a signature “Leveret” gin blend in collaboration with external partners. The products are produced in various styles and strengths, often with notes of age-related or material characteristics such as pure rye or bourbon, and with mention of patented releases (e.g., Black-Swan multi-barrel combinations).

Tastings and events

Wild Hare offers tastings and guided tours: visitors are guided through the process and sample a range of products, and events can be arranged for small groups or private events.

Products / Whiskey series

DROVE (agave spirit)

• Cristal: 100% blue agave, organic and non-GMO, nectar imported from Jalisco (highlands and lowlands), no sugar or artificial colors.
• El Roble Blanco Salvaje: char 2 oak barrel with medium toast and Madagascar vanilla beans – bourbon-mouthfeel, vanilla and caramel notes, suitable in Old Fashioned or neat.
• La Canela (Cinnamon): base 100% Blue Weber agave, organic and non-GMO, infused with organic cinnamon sticks.
• Amburana: 100% blue agave, rested with amburana wood; spicy and sweet flavors of rice pudding, cinnamon and vanilla.
• La Vainilla (Vanilla): Madagascar vanilla beans added for 3–4 weeks, subtle yet persistent vanilla flavor without sugar or colors.
• Hungarian Oak: Roble Hungaro’ – infused with uncharred oak for 21 days; light smoke notes and a whiskey-mouthfeel.
• Leveret (Collaborations): Leveret gin with more than 30 botanicals, designed to reflect a journey and history behind the brand.

WHD (whiskey, gin, vodka)

• WHD Whiskey 90 (Bourbon): Distilled in Tennessee with a sour-mash recipe, aged in new American oak barrels 3–4 months and finished in another new barrel (with a #2 char) for a honey-caramel finish.
• WHD Rye 90 Whiskey (Single Barrel): Straight Rye Whiskey, 95% rye and 5% barley, about 3.5 years old, single barrel.
• WHD Rye Barrel Strength: Rye Barrel Strength at over 116 proof, from the same recipe as the 90-proof version, but straight from the barrel – powerful heat and caramelized aftertaste.
• WHD Barrel Strength (Bourbon): Blend of rye and bourbon elements with high strength and a characteristic finish.
• WHD Red Headed Hare: A 100-proof blend of WHD 90 Bourbon and Barrel Strength Rye, aged in a special “Black-Swan” barrel, balancing bourbon sweetness with smoke/rye finish.
• WHD Vodka: 100% corn, six times distilled and charcoal-filtered for a smooth experience.
• WHD Chocolate Vodka: Vodka infused with cocoa nibs from Uganda.
• WHD Gin: Citrus-infused gin; 11 botanicals macerated for 24 hours, then pot-distilled; notes of lemon, lime, orange, floral notes and green tea.

Visits / Experiences

• Distillery tour & tasting: 120-minute overall experience, roughly 35–45 minutes for the tour and longer tasting time. The venue can accommodate 8 people in the tasting room and up to 16 in the distillery area; there is also a private suite for an additional fee. Tours and tastings are often on Fridays and Saturdays, and tickets include six tastings.
• Opening hours: Friday and Saturday; times can vary – expect to check in advance for availability. You should contact the distillery to reserve a spot and get details on current times.
• Location: Tempe, Arizona (Kyrene Commerce Center). Visits are recommended to be pre-booked via the contact details in the available material.

Philosophy

• Locally rooted and small-batch approach: Wild Hare stands for locally sourced products and collaborations, and aims to be as environmentally conscious as possible through active measures such as reusing cooling water from distillation and using a 1000-gallon water tank to save water.
• Natural flavor and transparency: DROVE products are produced without added sugar or colorings, and the agave flavor is preserved through the use of pot stills. The company emphasizes natural flavor and craftsmanship over artificial additives.
• Customer experience and engagement: Emphasis is placed on the customer experience through tours, tastings and cocktail experiences in an intimate setting, as well as opportunities for private events and white labeling.