Empirical Olive
Empirical Olive is a 36% ABV (72 proof) spirit in a 750mL bottle, vacuum-distilled in Brooklyn, New York by Empirical, the flavor company founded in 2017 by Noma alumni Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen. A smooth French wheat base is layered with the green, herbal, nutty profile of Gordal and Manzanilla olives and a touch of olive oil — savory depth without the brine — and bottled with no sugar added. Part of Empirical's new bartender-focused line that began with Cilantro in fall 2024, Olive was built to do one job beautifully: elevate your martini. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 36% (72 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Base: French wheat
- Botanicals: Gordal olive, Manzanilla olive, olive oil
- Origin: Brooklyn, New York
- Production: low-temperature vacuum distillation; no sugar added
A Martini Ingredient, Distilled
Where most Empirical releases chase a fruit or a grain, Olive chases a garnish — and turns it into the foundation of the drink. This is not olive brine in a bottle: the profile is a balanced umami, round on the palate, layering the fruit of two Spanish olive varieties rather than their salt. Its line-mates Empirical Cilantro and Empirical Stonefruit apply the same flavor-first logic to herbs and stone fruit. Find Olive in the liqueur collection and on the spirits shelf, or browse all of Empirical's releases at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Herbal, nutty and distinctly umami: dark herbs and cut grass over a round, savory palate, with a lingering olive-oil finish. Dry and elegant rather than salty.
How to Enjoy
Split the base of a martini with gin or vodka and a touch of extra dry vermouth, build a Gibson with a cocktail-onion garnish, or add a savory twist to a Paloma or Negroni.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empirical Olive just olive brine?
No — it is a distilled spirit, not a mixer. The olive character is green, herbal and nutty, with balanced umami instead of saltiness.
Does it contain real olives?
Yes — Gordal and Manzanilla olives (and olive oil) are layered over the French wheat base during production.
What is the best way to drink it?
As a split base in a martini with gin or vodka and dry vermouth, served ice-cold.
Savory, elegant and built for the martini — order Empirical Olive online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.