Sylva celebrates fruit woods in new release
Non-alcoholic ‘spirit’ brand Sylva has debuted an orchard-inspired expression for autumn, which seeks to embody the essence of harvest season and rural life.
Sylva Orchard is described as a celebration of fruit wood, and draws inspiration from founder Ben Branson’s childhood memories of fruit orchards and the nostalgia of harvest season.
Branson explained: “The first time we experimented with plum and apple wood last year, the taste took me straight back to my childhood. We decided to make a release in celebration of British produce, orchards and harvest time.
“Sylva Orchard is fruit-forward with gentle smoke evoking warm memories of slow days spent on the farm, and the golden period at the end of the summer when harvest is finished and the seasons change.”
The expression is the third non-alcoholic small-batch aged ‘spirit’ from Branson’s non-alcoholic distillery and maturation lab Sylva, which uses a pioneering production and sonic maturation process. The lab is part of Pollen Projects, a venture studio Branson developed in 2023.
The production of Sylva Orchard began with distilling regenerative pale malt barley from Suffolk-based Muntons, which delivers rich raisin and biscuit notes.
This base was then matured with plum wood from a Welsh family orchard, Worcestershire apple wood, and cherry wood from wild trees on the Colne Valley distillery grounds, which was gently smoked on cherry wood coals.
The blend was finished with spring foraged cherry blossom distillate from the same cherry trees.
The result is a ‘spirit’ that offers notes of red cherries, stewed plums, and crisp apple peel on the nose, which is followed by aromas of warm toasted malt, biscuit, vanilla, and hints of Bakewell tart.
On the palate, initial notes of juicy stone fruits lead into velvety malt and subtle caramel, while on the mid-palate, apple and plum wood emerge with mellow, honeyed warmth. A ‘whisper’ of smoke threads throughout, adding ‘depth and elegance’.
The finish is smooth and long, with a final emergence of dark berries, cherry blossom and smoke.
Sylva Orchard is recommended served neat over ice, or long with soda and a slice of apple. It can also be served in a Sylva Old Fashioned made with 50ml Sylva Orchard and three dashes of Seasn Dark cocktail bitters, garnished with a cherry.
Sylva Orchard is priced at RRP £40 (US$54) with the option to add a gift box. It is available to buy in the UK from www.sylvalabs.com from today (1 September), with select retail and hospitality to be announced.
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