Origin
Empirical is a flavour company that apply culinary and scientific innovations in flavour to spirits and beyond. With a chef’s palate that focuses on flavour and detail, and a scientific philosophy on exploring the world around them, Empirical blends innovative techniques, fermentation, and high-quality local ingredients to create new discoveries in spirits. They are on a constant search to discover flavours to share around the world.
Process
What Empirical do could be described as a unique blend of Eastern and Western alcohol production techniques. They are always tweaking their methods, so there is a continually series of releases. The process can be broken down into seven parts: grains, barley koji, brewing, ingredients, distilling, cuts and blending.
The kernel inside plum stones is the foundation of this spirit. Rather than tasting of stone fruit, the kernel lends a marzipan, bitter almond flavor. Distilled marigold kombucha brings another side of floral and tannic notes reminiscent of plum skins; the combination is sort of the suggestion of plum, hence the reference to the Robert Frost poem. A perception of sweetness with a refreshing finish. Keep refrigerated.
32% ABV.
Flavour:
Sweet, marzipan, floral, bright.
Recommended Serve:
Neat or over ice with Citrus soda.
Other suggestions:
The Plum, I Suppose & Lemonade
Plumtini
A Negroni, I Suppose
The smoky Pasilla Mixe chilli is the hero here. We source it directly from Mixe farmers in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, and macerate it in a spirit made from Danish heritage purple wheat and Pilsner malt.
After distillation, we blend the most desirable cuts. This blend is then rested in a sherry cask, allowing the flavours to infuse and mature with each other, giving a smooth, distinct and savoury finish.
43% ABV.
Flavour:
Earthy, dark red fruit, smoky.
Recommended serve:
Over ice, with Cherry soda.
Other suggestions:
Ayuuk & Cherry Soda
Ayuuk Flip
Ayuuk Margarita
Helena is a double fermented clear koji spirit. Made from barley koji, pilsner malt, and Belgian Saison yeast, this product blends Eastern and Western fermentation methods to create a smooth base spirit with subtle nutty aromas and a delicate sweet barley character. Koji provides a signature flavour profile that yields a sweet, umami, and floral note.
40% ABV.
Notes
Bright, clean, floral.
Serve
With iced green tea and lemon verbena as a garnish.
Delicately fizzy, CAN 01 leads with an acidic gooseberry flavour balanced by a flowery oolong tea, and rounded out by freshly cut toasted birch and an undercurrent of pomelo zest.
10% ABV.
Key ingredients:
Oolong tea, toasted birch, green gooseberry.
Notes:
Store in a cool place.
Gluten-free & vegan.
No sugar has been added.
Effervescent, enlivening, fruity… Walnut wood gives a sturdy depth to the notes of zesty sour cherry, aromatic black currant buds, and lemony maqaw pepper.
8% ABV.
Key ingredients:
Sour cherry, black currant buds, young pine cones, walnut wood.
Notes:
Store in a cool place.
Gluten-free & vegan.
No sugar has been added.
Can 03 opens with citrusy front notes of lemongrass, lemon myrtle and Andaliman pepper. Carob, coffee chaff and golden Yunnan tea provide a warming earthy depth with the fragrant coconut-like fig leaf rounding out this highly refreshing blend.
4.5% ABV.
Key Ingredients:
Carob, fig leaf, lemon myrtle.
Notes:
Keep refrigerated at all times.
Gluten-free & vegan.
No sugar has been added.
4 x 330ml
