‘First’ non-alcoholic distillery in US to open

Zero-ABV ‘spirits’ brand Wilderton will open what is thought to be the first dedicated non-alcoholic distillery and tasting room in the US next month.

Due to open on 1 July, the distillery and tasting room will be located in Hood River, Oregon.

Described as a ‘significant milestone’ for the non-alcoholic ‘spirits’ sector, the site will also serve as a hub to educate visitors on the category and the Wilderton brand, and focus on community engagement.

Wilderton CEO and co-founder Brad Whiting said: “In the traditional spirits world, I have seen first-hand how a home distillery and tasting room provides a powerful anchor for exploration, innovation, and brand transparency.

“This is crucial in the non-alcoholic space as we introduce a whole new experience to our guests and elevate the appreciation of our craft process and products with bartenders. Spearheading this milestone and doing so in my hometown of Hood River feels especially sweet.”

The distillery will house a production facility, including a 1,500-gallon stainless vessel for the extraction of raw botanicals, and a 1,000-gallon stainless vacuum pot still.

The tasting room will be open daily with walk-ins welcomed, while tours of the facility, and the research and development lab must be pre-booked. The tour offering will also include a ‘sensory journey’ through the botanicals used to make the brand’s products.

Guests will be able to enjoy free guided tastings of the brand’s range and purchase non-alcoholic cocktails.

The site also features outdoor seating facing the waterfront.

The Wilderton range includes the ‘spicy, smoky’ Earthen, the ‘bright, floral, citrusy’ Lustre, and the ‘herbal, refreshing’ Bittersweet Aperitivo.

Prior to the construction of the new facility, Wilderton was produced at a partner site in Portland.

Seth O’Malley, Wilderton founding distiller, added: “Having the right equipment hand-picked by our team for extraction and distillation at our own Wilderton distillery means we have more opportunities to tinker and continually refine our offerings. It also gives us space to develop new products, including limited edition releases and seasonal offerings.

“In addition to creating our own production space, it was equally important for us to have a physical space to build community, share ideas, and connect over the rich world of botanical spirits.”

The non-alcoholic distillery will be open to the public every day from 12pm to 6pm.

A report by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis in December revealed the value of the no- and low-alcohol category in 2022 surpassed US$11 billion in 10 key markets.