Wanna Do a Shot of Doritos? You can with Nacho Cheese Spirit From Empircal

You be the judge, the $65ish per bottle of chip spirit, does it taste like the real deal or not?

Doritos Unleashes the “Cheat Code” to Flavortown: Nacho Cheese Spirit is Here!

Move over, spiked seltzer, there’s a new flavor sheriff in town, and it’s nacho cheese-flavored! Yes, you read that right. Doritos, in collaboration with Empirical Spirits, has unleashed the Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Vacuum Distilled Spirit, a boozy ode to America’s favorite cheesy triangles.

Gone are the days of chasing Doritos with your favorite tequila. This 42% ABV spirit captures the essence of Nacho Cheese Doritos in liquid form, offering a bold, tangy, and surprisingly complex flavor profile. Think: a warm hug of nostalgia, with a kick.

But how do you distill the soul of a Dorito?

Empirical’s mad scientists employed a vacuum distillation process, extracting the flavor compounds from actual Nacho Cheese Doritos. This method, used for delicate botanicals like rose petals and jasmine, ensures the spirit retains the chip’s iconic taste without the crunch (and the orange dust fingers).

The result? A spirit that opens with a blast of umami and tangy cheese, followed by deeper corn notes and a lingering salty finish. It’s surprisingly smooth, making it perfect for sipping neat, on the rocks, or in creative cocktails.

But is it just a novelty? Early tasters seem to think not. The spirit has garnered mixed reviews, with some praising its uniqueness and surprisingly nuanced flavor, while others find it a bit too…well, cheesy. But hey, that’s the beauty of a bold flavor like this – it’s sure to spark conversation (and maybe a little nacho cheese craving).

Here are some ways to enjoy your Nacho Cheese Spirit:

• Neat or on the rocks: For the purists who want to experience the unadulterated Doritos flavor.
• Nacho Cheese Old Fashioned: Swap out the bourbon for a smoky mezcal and garnish with a lime wedge and a Doritos crumb (optional, but highly recommended).
• Spicy Margarita: Add a kick of jalapeño to your classic margarita and rim the glass with crushed Doritos for a spicy-cheesy surprise.
• Dorito-tini: This one’s for the adventurous. Muddle a few fresh cilantro leaves with a lime wedge in a shaker, then add the Nacho Cheese Spirit, dry vermouth, and a splash of orange juice. Shake, strain, and garnish with a cilantro sprig and a Doritos flag (because why not?).

Whether you’re a die-hard Doritos fan or just a curious sipper, the Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit is definitely worth a try. It’s a playful and unexpected take on flavored spirits, and who knows, it might just become your new “cheat code” to Flavortown.

Are you willing to enjoy the nacho cheese adventure?

P.S. The spirit is currently available in limited quantities online and in select New York and California markets, so grab a bottle before it disappears into the snack vault of history. Priced at $65 per bottle, it’s a bit of a splurge, but hey, sometimes you gotta treat yourself to a taste of liquid nacho cheese magic.