The Bottom Line The Decisions That Made Me: Ben Branson (Seedlip)
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Jan 1, 2026 Ben Branson, the visionary founder of Seedlip, shares his journey from kitchen experiments with herbs to creating a global non-alcoholic spirits brand. He reveals how a childhood on a farm fueled his passion for produce and led to an unexpected career in distillation. Branson candidly discusses leaving a stable job, investing his life savings into Seedlip, and the adrenaline rush of launching in Selfridges. He also introduces his latest project, Silver, an innovative aged non-alcoholic spirit poised to make waves.
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Unconventional Early Career Path
- After a nine-month culinary course Ben travelled, learned fire breathing, worked as a snowboard instructor and in Botswana, exploring varied careers before settling on Seedlip.
- Those wandering years gave him wide experiences and informed his later approach to flavour and hospitality.
Kitchen Experiment Became A Global Product
- Ben Branson experimented with a copper still at home using herbs from his garden and a 1651 distillation book he found online.
- He refined recipes methodically and launched Seedlip in Selfridges where 1,000 bottles sold out in three weeks.
Curiosity Can Discover New Markets
- Curiosity without a fixed outcome led Ben to experiment with distillation and botanical recipes, which sparked a new business idea.
- Pursuing projects for exploration rather than immediate profit can reveal unexpected market opportunities.