The Empirical Doritos Spirit is easily one of the most unusual bottles on the back bar at Camp West, our cabin-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant in the West Seattle Junction. A limited-edition collaboration between Empirical, the boundary-pushing Copenhagen flavor company, and Doritos, this is a savory, nacho-cheese-flavored distillate that tastes startlingly like the chip it is named for. We keep it around because it is a genuine conversation starter, the kind of curiosity that rewards the adventurous drinker looking for something they have never tasted before in West Seattle.
About the Producer
Empirical was founded in 2017 in Copenhagen by Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen, both alumni of the celebrated restaurant Noma. The company describes itself as a flavor company rather than a traditional distillery, using low-temperature vacuum distillation to capture flavors that conventional methods would lose. This Doritos collaboration is a limited release, made using real nacho cheese tortilla chip ingredients, and bottled at 42% ABV (84 proof).
Style & Flavor
This is a flavored spirit unlike almost anything else, leaning savory and umami rather than sweet. It is built to mirror the experience of a nacho cheese chip in liquid form, an intentionally playful novelty distillate that bends the usual rules of what a spirit can taste like.
Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with tangy, umami nacho cheese notes. The palate moves toward corn-forward, toasted tortilla flavors, and it finishes on a soft, salty note. It is savory and unexpected from start to finish.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
A pour of the Empirical Doritos Spirit is $19 at Camp West, reflecting its rarity as a limited release. We suggest trying it as a small chilled neat pour or a shot so you can take in the full savory experience. Adventurous guests can ask our bartenders about working it into a savory cocktail. Availability is limited while the bottle lasts.
FAQ
Does it really taste like Doritos? Yes. It is distilled to capture the savory, nacho-cheese character of the chip, so it leans salty and umami rather than sweet.
Is this a permanent menu item? No. It is a limited-edition release, so we pour it only while our bottle lasts.
Curious enough to try it? Book a table, browse our liqueurs & amari list, or explore the full beverage menu.