Sylva expands UK on trade with Master of Malt Trade deal

Sylva expands UK on trade with Master of Malt Trade deal

Sylva has partnered with Master of Malt Trade to expand UK on-trade distribution of Sylva Orchard, its permanent non-alcoholic release.

Posted on

18 June 2026

Sylva, the pioneering maturation lab dedicated to unlocking the untapped flavour of trees, has secured, via its distributor Speciality Brands, a brand-new partnership with wholesaler Master of Malt Trade for its permanent release Sylva Orchard.

Sylva began production in December 2024 with a singular focus on creating dark, complex non-alcoholic spirits designed to be sipped slowly.

First released in September 2025 as a limited edition, Sylva Orchard quickly secured listings with Michelin stars restaurants and recognised bars in the UK including The Fat Duck, The Ledbury, CORE, Heckfield place, Waltz, Equal parts, Archive & Myth, taking full advantage of the growing demand for no & low drink options. This led to Orchard becoming the first Sylva expression to be available all year round.

Master of Malt Trade's customer range includes bars, restaurants, nightclubs and hotels, independent retailers, wholesalers and events companies across the UK. The new exclusive deal aims to turbo-charge the brand's current availability and is an important development in its UK growth.

Ben Branson, Founder of Sylva, says "We released Sylva Orchard less than a year ago and were blown away by the reception of the liquid, so much so that it became our first permanent edition. Partnering with Master of Malt Trade is a fantastic opportunity for our brand. It will boost our availability with the on-trade channel, especially with customers looking for quality, premium brands that offer a point of difference, unique story and high-quality liquid"

"We are delighted to be working with Sylva as an exclusive partner on this new and innovative non-alcoholic offering. Master of Malt Trade has seen our non-alcoholic offering grow 10% in the first half of 26 vs the same period last year and this has in turn, grown our volume in the category by 20%." Says Lisa Halstead, Buyer, Master of Malt

Sylva Orchard is produced at Sylva's maturation lab in the Colne Valley, using a unique distillation and maturation process invented by founder Ben Branson. Inspired by Branson's childhood memories of fruit orchards and the rituals of harvest season, apple wood, plum wood and cherry wood are paired with regenerative malt barley to create an expression with depth, texture and warmth best enjoyed neat over ice or in cocktails.

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