SEASONAL NOTES

Sylva Walnut Spirit Captures the Depth of Winter Woods

Editorial Feature

19 December 2025

The artisan drinks brand crafting slow sipping spirits from trees

I’m drawn to makers who take familiar ideas and rework them with care, restraint and deep respect for their materials. Sylva Labs is one of those brands. Founded by Ben Branson, Sylva Labs is quietly redefining what a non-alcoholic spirit can be, creating drinks designed to be sipped slowly, with the same sense of occasion as a well-made craft gin or aged dark spirit.

Their latest release, Sylva Walnut, is a limited winter edition. Crafted using Black Walnut alongside Sweet Chestnut, Elm and malted barley, it draws directly from the surrounding forest and the changing season. Just 300 bottles have been produced, making it an intentionally small release, shaped by time, place and method rather than scale.

“Early one morning last year, on a cold, crisp day, I was out in the forest when I found one of our old elm trees had fallen overnight. When we extracted its flavour, I was stopped in my tracks. It had this deep, nostalgic character and took me straight back to antique shops I used to visit with my mother. Warm wood, old books, it was comforting, so giving and familiar. I knew we’d found the first wood for something special.”

Trees are the lungs of the world

Sylva Labs’ approach is grounded in their process. Working from their countryside lab on the Essex and Suffolk border, surrounded by meadows, waterways and forest, the team forage, harvest and prepare woods and grains with an attention more often associated with distilling than with alcohol-free drinks. Grain is malted, toasted, roasted and smoked to build depth, while wood is split, charred and carefully prepared to unlock flavour. These elements are then brought together using a bespoke ageing process that combines oxygen, pressure, heat and ultrasound to draw colour, structure and character from the wood. How I would love to experience that sensory wonder of the alchemy going on that lab, I don’t think you could reach any further from mass production than this.

Walnut is described as bold and grounding, capturing the stillness of winter woods once the leaves have fallen and the air carries a trace of smoke. It is designed to be sipped over ice, encouraging the drinker to slow down and pay attention, something Sylva has championed since its earliest releases.

What makes this release particularly compelling is how confidently it treats non-alcoholic drinking as a craft in its own right. Sylva Labs does not position Walnut as an alternative to something else, but as a complete experience, worthy of carefully selected glassware, thoughtful presentation and quiet moments of enjoyment. The accompanying mycelium gift box, grown rather than manufactured, reinforces the brand’s commitment to working in harmony with natural materials.

As someone who spends a great deal of time reading about trees and the role they play in our lives, there is something deeply satisfying about seeing my favourite of all trees the walnut, not only as a flavouring or a note from the seed, but as the foundation of a craft drink from the tree. Ben’s work reminding us that trees are not only part of the landscape, but a rich and often underestimated source of character, depth and flavour; “Trees are the lungs of the world; we want to show people they’re also the most incredible & underestimated larder.”

Sylva Walnut continues to push the boundaries of what non-alcoholic spirits can be, proving that with the right materials, methods and mindset, a drink without alcohol can still feel special, crafted and worth slowing down for. It’s firmly on my wish list.

You can find full details and purchase the limited edition release and glass set via the Sylva Labs website at sylvalabs.com, where Ben and the team share more about their process and the thinking behind this release.

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