Wonderbird Spirits

Wonderbird Spirits is North Mississippi's first distillery, located just south of Oxford on Old Taylor Road in Taylor, Mississippi. Founded in Spring 2019 by co-owners Chand Harlow, Rob Forster, and Thomas Alexander, the company was built around a singular mission: to produce a world-class gin rooted in Southern heritage and locally sourced ingredients. The distillery is recognized as Mississippi's first grain-to-glass gin operation, a distinction that has earned it significant regional and national media attention.

The production process at Wonderbird is distinguished by its use of Mississippi Delta rice as the base fermentation ingredient. Drawing inspiration from traditional sake-making techniques, the distillery ferments the rice to create a exceptionally clean base spirit, which then serves as a foundation for layering nuanced flavors and aromas. This approach gives their gin a unique flavor profile that sets it apart from traditional grain-based spirits. The grain-to-glass methodology means the company controls the entire production process from fermentation through distillation and bottling, ensuring consistent quality and traceability.

Wonderbird Spirits has garnered notable recognition from prominent national and regional publications. The distillery was named the Overall Winner of Garden & Gun Magazine's Made In The South Awards in December 2021, a highly competitive recognition program celebrating excellence in Southern-made products. The brand has also been featured in Southern Living Magazine, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Houston Chronicle, and Garden & Gun's 2025 guide to stocking the ultimate Southern bar, among others. A documentary short produced by the Ole Miss Journalism School further highlights the brand's grain-to-glass story and its place within Mississippi's food and beverage culture.

Beyond production, the distillery operates as an experiential destination, offering tours and tastings to visitors seeking an immersive look at the craft distilling process. The property provides a unique and picturesque setting for group visits, reinforcing its identity as both a manufacturing facility and a hospitality venue. This dual focus on artisan production and consumer engagement positions Wonderbird Spirits as a standout player in the growing craft spirits segment of the American South.

The company's geographic footprint is rooted in Mississippi, with distribution extending into regional and national markets as evidenced by coverage in outlets from Atlanta to Houston. Wonderbird Spirits represents a new chapter in Mississippi's beverage alcohol industry, bringing craft distilling credibility to a state not historically known for spirits production.