SALUTE! - Sylva Labs
Meet Sylva Labs — a new name making a quiet but confident impact in the world of dark spirits, founded by Ben Branson, a true pioneer of the non-alcoholic spirits category. Sylva is the world’s first non-alcoholic distillery and sonic maturation lab, dedicated to celebrating the unexplored flavour potential of wood.
They’ve just unveiled Sylva Hazel — the second small-batch, aged dark spirit from Sylva, curated from locally sourced Hazel, Birch & Oak. Harvested directly from Sylva’s own forest in Essex, Sylva´s second release is bright, green & vibrant, balanced by Sylva’s signature warmth and complexity.
Sylva lab founder Ben Branson
Crafted in small batches and aged through pioneering techniques including sonic maturation, vacuum distillation and kiln roasting, Sylva Hazel offers a complex & sophisticated non-alcoholic alternative (<0.5% ABV), made for sipping from your nicest glass.
At Sylva, every element of production — from foraging and harvesting, to splitting, roasting, and charring — is led by a deep respect for wood and an obsession with flavour. The result is a one-of-a-kind sipping experience that honours the rituals of dark spirits while rewriting their future.
The result? Deep, layered, and unexpectedly luxurious — Sylva is not just an alternative, it’s a category shift. A reminder in his fast-paced world to slow down and sip something delicious.