Our Story, Our Purpose

A Gin with a taste of Africa

Wilderness Spirits was born from a journey through one of the world’s most breathtaking yet fragile places, the Virunga National Park in Central Africa. In 2019, Belgians Alexis Lebedoff, his sister Sophie, and their friend Batiste Ryckaert were struck not only by the park’s raw beauty but also by its fragility. Home to the last remaining mountain gorillas, Virunga is a place where life hangs in the balance, threatened by poaching, deforestation, and conflict. From that experience, a dream was born: to create spirits that would carry the flavors of the wild while protecting the creatures that make these places so extraordinary.

Our first creation, Virunga Gin, was more than just a gin, it was a promise. Crafted with African inspiration, it embodies the strength and vitality of the last inhabitants of the misty mountains of the iconic region. And with each bottle, we give back. Around 20% of Virunga Gin’s proceeds go to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, an organization that has devoted over fifty years to protecting mountain gorillas. Thanks to their work, the population of these magnificent animals is slowly growing, proving that when people care, change is possible.

A Vodka with a taste of the Arctic

But our story didn’t end in Africa. In 2025, we carried our mission north, to the vast ice cold areas of Northern Canada. There, another icon of the wild faces its own fight for survival: the polar bear. To honor and protect them, we created Wapusk Vodka, named after Canada's Wapusk National Park, one of the world’s most vital polar bear breeding grounds. Pure, crisp, and refined, Wapusk Vodka reflects the Arctic’s essence. And just like with our gin, every sip gives back: roughly 20% of revenue supports the park, helping safeguard fragile ecosystems so that polar bears can continue to roam the ice.

At Wilderness Spirits, we believe that what we drink can make a difference. Our purpose is simple yet powerful: to create spirits that help wildlife thrive. From the jungles of Africa to the ice fields of the Arctic, every bottle tells a story of resilience, hope, and a future where humans and wildlife can flourish together.