Wilderton

Co-founded by Brad Whiting, a spirits industry veteran with experience at Clear Creek Distillery and Hood River Distillers, Wilderton applies traditional distillation methods to extract flavour from plants. Central to its production is vacuum distillation, a technique that operates at reduced pressure to lower the boiling point and protect heat-sensitive botanical aromatics that would be damaged or altered by conventional high-temperature distillation. This allows complex plant flavours to survive the extraction process largely intact.

In 2023, Wilderton opened what is reported as the first dedicated AF distillery and tasting room in the United States, at Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge. The facility serves as both a production site and a visitor venue. The brand sources many of its botanical ingredients from the Pacific Northwest, prioritising regional supply where available.

Wilderton's range covers different flavour profiles across its botanical drinks, from aperitivo-style bitterness to lighter aromatic styles, giving sober-curious drinkers and those in recovery the variety of occasions typically associated with spirits. The brand sits at the premium end of the AF spirits market, with distribution through specialist alcohol-free retailers and its own direct-to-consumer channel.