The man behind the world's first distilled non-alcoholic spirits talks about his love for old books and new ways to enjoy a fine drink
Ben Branson is a man of many hobbies—he paints, presses flowers, practices taxidermy and collects 1940s Penguin books. So, it wasn’t stretch for him to chance upon a 300-year-old tome on the art of distillation and proceed to buy a copper distiller online to try it out for himself. Two years later, that hobby culminated in Seedlip.
Branded “the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits”, these fragrant distillations have turned out to be what the beverage world never knew it wanted—a worthy base from which to concoct non-alcoholic beverages with the same complexity and refinement as their alcoholic brethren.
Available in two varieties, Spice 94 and Garden 108, these concentrations are not meant to be drunk alone. Diluted with a bit of tonic and spiked with a citrus peel, they make a fantastic alternative to a gin and tonic. Select bars in Singapore, like Nouri, Caffe Fernet, The Secret Mermaid and Native, are already serving Seedlip in non-alcoholic craft cocktails.
Ben talks to us about creating Seedlip, the book that started it all, and how it’s changed his drinking habits.
