The collaboration between Empirical, the Brooklyn-based spirits innovator, and award-winning fashion designer Frederick Anderson is a unique fusion of couture craftsmanship and boundary-pushing mixology, redefining what a spirit can be. Launched during New York Fashion Week, this limited edition spirit — crafted with Douglas fir, roasted pecan, and angelica root — marries Anderson’s southern roots with Emperical’s uncategorized approach, delivering a buttery, nutty profile with bright citrus notes. I had a chance to get personal with Lars Williams, Empirical’s founder, about the collaboration.
Interview with Empirical’s Lars Williams
The Manual: Can you walk us through the inspiration behind the Empirical x Frederick Anderson collaboration?
Lars Williams: We share an obsession with craft, detail, and origin. Frederick approaches couture with the same precision we bring to spirits. The idea was to translate his world into flavor, creating something that feels familiar to gin lovers — since that’s a go-to spirit for Frederick — but stands entirely on its own.
The Manual: The spirit is described as a “gin alternative” with Douglas fir, roasted pecan, and angelica root. How did you and Frederick decide on these ingredients, and what story do they tell?
Lars Williams: Douglas fir has been part of Empirical since our earliest days. Pecan connects to Frederick’s Southern heritage, adding warmth and depth. Angelica root ties it together with an earthy backbone. Together, they tell a story of American landscapes reimagined through couture and spirits.
The Manual: Empirical is known for its uncategorized approach to spirits. How does this embody that philosophy?
Lars Williams: It lands in gin territory without being a gin. That tension is where we thrive. The challenge was to create a profile that bartenders recognize but can’t pin down to a category. That uncategorized space is Empirical’s DNA, since we know people are seeking flavor experiences outside the old categories, especially in modern cocktail making.
The Manual: Frederick said this spirit was crafted with the same couture process he uses for fashion. How does your process mirror couture?
Lars Williams: In couture, every seam is considered. In our process, every distillation cut and blend is precise. We distill each ingredient separately under vacuum to capture nuance, then layer them back together. It’s tailoring in liquid form.
The Manual: The tasting notes evoke a “pine pecan pie with the structure of a tailored cocktail.” How did you balance those flavors?
Lars Williams: It’s about restraint. The fir brings brightness and lift, the pecan brings weight and comfort, and angelica keeps both in check. The balance is achieved by treating each note individually before combining them.
The Manual: What was it like to translate Frederick’s vision as a designer into a bottle?
Lars Williams: We both represent creative industries, and once we got together in the lab and studio, it was easy to connect creatively. It was collaborative and inspiring. Frederick came with a strong sense of heritage and aesthetic. Our job was to find the flavor equivalent, to turn his design language into a sensory experience that could live in a glass.
The Manual: The spirit is designed for martinis and gin & tonics. Why those serves?
Lars Williams: These are the cocktails where structure and clarity matter most. In a Frederick & Tonic, it’s bright and refreshing. In a Frederick Martini, it’s textural and elegant. Both showcase its versatility. We also love it in a White Negroni.
The Manual: Has being in Brooklyn influenced Empirical and this project?
Lars Williams: Absolutely. Brooklyn’s energy, its mix of cultures and disciplines, fits our mindset. Working with a New York-based designer like Frederick felt natural. The city encourages experimentation and cross-pollination.
The Manual: The limited-edition 375ml flask with a leather label is striking. Can you tell us about it?
Lars Williams: We wanted a vessel that felt couture. The leather label is engraved and hand-finished, echoing Frederick’s world of fashion detail. The smaller flask format makes it collectible, personal, and intentional.
The Manual: What’s next for Empirical?
Lars Williams: Empirical has long been part of the bartender’s (secret) toolkit. We provide flavors you cannot get anywhere else, which, in turn, sets bartenders free to create entirely new expressions for audiences moving beyond traditional categories. We will continue to build out the toolkit and continue collaborations where different worlds collide, creating spirits that let both bartenders and home drinkers embrace an uncategorized mindset. This project sets the tone: Empirical as a meeting point for creativity across disciplines.
