Seedlip

Branson spent two years experimenting before launch, drawing inspiration from a 1651 book titled 'The Art of Distillation', which documented copper-pot distilled herbal remedies. The brand name comes from a seedlip, the traditional basket his family used to hand-sow seeds on their farm in Buckinghamshire. Those agricultural and historical reference points shaped both the aesthetic and the founding intent of the brand.

The first 1,000 bottles sold through a London department store in November 2015. Each botanical in Seedlip's range is processed individually through a six-week sequence: maceration, distillation, filtration, and blending before the final product is assembled. The floral variant in the range features peas and hay sourced directly from Branson's family farm. The portfolio spans spiced, floral, and citrus-forward botanical styles, with an agave-inspired addition launched in early 2024.

In 2019, global drinks group Diageo acquired a majority stake in Seedlip, providing the distribution infrastructure to sustain the brand's international reach. Seedlip is now available in over 25 countries and stocked in more than 7,500 bars, restaurants, hotels, and retailers worldwide. The range sits in the premium bracket and is distributed through mainstream supermarkets and specialist retailers.

Seedlip helped establish the distilled AF spirit as a category suited to cocktail occasions in premium bar settings. Its early presence on high-end menus did as much to normalise spirit-serve alternatives as its retail distribution. The brand remains a central reference point for sober-curious drinkers and bartenders seeking AF options for classic serves, even as the number of producers in the category has grown substantially since 2015.