THANKS WALTER.

YOU’RE WHY WE’RE HERE.

Walter J. Bade loved to create and consume art. Whether painting or drawing, spinning records by Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis, or crafting a vodka martini in his workshop, Walter valued originality in all its forms. As an aspiring artist, he also longed to connect with other artists — a collective of likeminded creators who would share ideas, trade tools and techniques, and inspire each other. Unfortunately, life got in the way, and Walter never found the community that would help elevate his game and bring his art to the world. 

Thankfully, the dream doesn’t have to pass with the dreamer — and The Walter Collective is proud to write the rest of his story. We’re here to create the finest spirits by bringing distillers, cocktail artists and beverage enthusiasts together in an energetic, collaborative relationship. From brainstorming unique grain bills to creating the missing tool in the bartender’s toolbox, our goal is to do something common in an uncommon way. And we believe that by bringing diverse perspectives, talents and strengths to the table, there’s no limit to what we can contribute to the craft spirits community.

Whether you’re part of the talented crew that helped distill our spirits, a bartender who believes in and uses our products, or a cocktail lover who’s shared their discovery with friends, thanks for being a part of our collective effort. Let’s keep doing great things together!  

— Matt Melaik, Founder    

MEET MATT MELAIK, FOUNDER OF THE WALTER COLLECTIVE.

Grandson of our namesake, Matt Melaik has always been a curious soul. Combine that inquisitive nature with his nuanced palate and love of spirits and The Walter Collective was all but inevitable. As he planned to pursue the “liquid arts,” inspired by Walter’s life and times, he knew that going it alone can limit creative potential and, frankly, be exhausting. So he set out to create exceptional spirits with a fertile collective of forward-thinking distillers, bartenders and creative partners who celebrate the art of craft distillation. And our award-winning Gin, Navy Gin and Vodka are just the beginning.

BETTER TOGETHER. Sourcing the highest quality ingredients is critical to The Walter Collective, but before that, we source the right partner for distillation — and we found it in Oregon Spirit Distillers of Bend, Oregon. Founder Brad Irwin knows the art and science of distillation and has one of the finest stills around, a German-made Kothe. We worked with head distiller, Brandy Pieper on both of our gin spirits, and appreciate her curiosity, attention to detail, kickass work ethic and sheer enthusiasm for the distillation arts. Through a collective effort, we are proud to be working with this exceptional team to perfect both the process and our gins.