"Empirical Spirits is a flavor company," as this producer likes to say: their spirits are unlike anything else available. Born out of the R&D kitchen at the intensely famous restaurant Noma, these distillates are pushing the boundaries of what spirits can be or even are. The 'Ayuuk' most closely resembles a mezcal, though it is not made from agave. The smoky Pasilla Mixe chili is the sole botanical and the source of all the complexity in Ayuuk. Empirical sources it directly from Mixe farmers in the mountains of Oaxaca, and they macerate it in a spirit made from Danish heritage purple wheat and pilsner malt. After distillation, the best parts of the batch are rested in an oloroso cask, allowing the flavors to infuse and mature with each other, giving a smooth, distinct and savory finish. This is wild stuff - somewhere between mezcal, bright Irish whiskey, and clear corn distillates. Just gorgeous.