Denmark-based spirits start-up Empirical has secured a tie-up with PepsiCo’s Doritos brand for a cheese-flavoured distilled spirit in the US.
Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit, which goes on sale next month, carries an ABV of 42%. The liquid has undergone Empirical’s “vacuum, low-temperature distillation” process and is categorised as a spirit, rather than as part of an established white spirits segment.
The limited-edition expression will be available through selected of-premise outlets in California and New York with an SRP of US$65 per 75cl bottle.
“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 flavour in a bottle,” said the senior VP of marketing at PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division, Tina Mahal.
Empirical, which positions itself as a “flavour company”, was founded in Copenhagen six years ago. Earlier this year, the firm released two namesake spirit drinks, Soka and Symphony 6, in the UK.




