New Empirical X Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit

Are you tired of the same old post-drinks cravings, wishing for a bolder, more adventurous experience? Well, get ready to cut straight to the chase, because the iconic chip brand, Doritos, has just unveiled a game-changing collaboration with Empirical – the Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit.

Image Source: Empirical

Picture this: a limited edition release that not only satisfies your Doritos cravings but also adds a spicy twist to your evening libations. The genius lies in the process – Empirical's unique production method extracts the essence of Doritos Nacho Cheese through vacuum distillation, utilizing real chips to capture and retain their essence. This method, unlike traditional distillation, operates at lower temperatures, ensuring that the full spectrum of flavors, from the corn tostada crunch to the umami goodness, is beautifully preserved.

Tina Mahal, the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Frito-Lay North America, expresses the spirit of the collaboration: “Doritos is all about disrupting culture and bringing our fans unexpected, bold experiences. We’re always pushing our fans to try new things, so we figure it’s time we disrupt the spirits category by offering our iconic nacho cheese flavor in a bottle.”

Image Source: Empirical

Empirical, known as an 'uncategorized' spirits company, provides the ideal playground for such innovative experiments. Lars Williams, Chef/Distiller & CEO of Empirical, emphasizes this freedom, stating, “Empirical is an ‘uncategorized’ spirits company, so it allows us the freedom to experiment with really interesting flavors and not have to be stuck in a gin box or tequila box or whiskey box. And we can take something that has a unique and amazing flavor, like Doritos, and evolve it into something completely new.”

Mark your calendars because limited-edition bottles of Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit will hit the shelves in January, priced at $65. You can secure your spot in the bold flavor revolution by pre-ordering starting tomorrow, December 13. Keep an eye out online and in select New York and California markets for this one-of-a-kind fusion of nacho cheese and spirits – a concoction that promises to redefine your drinking experience in 2023. Cheers to disrupting the norm and embracing the extraordinary!

Now, the big question: What cocktails can you create with this groundbreaking spirit? Fear not; Foodbeast has you covered with three tantalizing recipes that will take your taste buds on a wild ride.

Double Triangle Margarita

• 1 oz Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit

• 1 oz blanco tequila

• .75 oz fresh lime juice

• .75 oz agave syrup (3:1)

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a Tajín salt rim and a lime wheel.

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Mary Mary

• 1.5 oz Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit

• .5 oz tequila

• 3 oz tomato juice

• 1 barspoon lemon juice

• 1 barspoon Worcestershire sauce

• Big pinch of celery salt

• Big pinch of cracked black pepper

• Tiny pinch of cayenne 

Build all ingredients in a Collins glass. Add ice and pass a barspoon through the drink 3 to 4 times. Garnish with pepperoncini, seasoned celery and a pickled onion.

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Doritos Bangarang

• 2 oz Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit

• 1 pinch smoked sea salt

• 1 squeeze fresh grapefruit (or citrus of choice)

• Top with Pepsi

Fill Collins glass with ice. Add Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Chip Spirit, sea salt, grapefruit and top with Pepsi. Stir 3 – 4 times. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.