Minimalist Packaging We Love: Empirical Spirits

Empirical Spirits, a liquor company and distillery based in Copenhagen, Denmark, are all about flavor. But not your average spirits flavors – weird ones, flavors that evoke memories or feelings. Made mostly from barley bases, their spirits combine interesting flavor profiles with storytelling and ethical production to create libations that are easy to drink on their own or with mixers.

Flavors include “Fuck Trump and his Stupid Fucking Wall” (a barley-based spirit with habanero), “The Plum, I Suppose” (a barley and pilsner base with plum kernel), and “Charlene McGee” (barley and pilsner base with smoked juniper). Nothing like saying, “mix me a ‘Trump and his Stupid Fucking Wall’ and soda, will you?” on a Friday evening!

The brand also sells two canned drinks, which are ideal for when you don’t feel like a mixed drink. They’re not beers, exactly; more like fermented carbonated drinks. One has a milk oolong tea base, and the other is a sour cherry base.

In addition to selling spirits by the bottle and can in retailers and on their webshop, Empirical Spirits have their own distillery and tasting room, located on the ultra-cool Refshaleøen (where you can also find street food market Reffen). There, you can take a tour and sip their delicious liquors. Tours are 100 DKK per person and are only held Friday – Sunday. We recommend that you book in advance!

As for the packaging? It’s reminiscent of old apothecary bottles, with the ingredients and name printed simply on the white label. The spirits come in 50 cl and 30 cl options – the smaller of which are sized for packing in hand luggage when traveling back home. The bottles are a beautiful addition to your home bar or liquor cabinet.