Vodka · Sweden · since 1879

Absolut

Swedish vodka in an apothecary bottle, with a flavor for every cocktail. Everything about the variants, the alcohol percentage, the Cosmopolitan and the glass that goes with it.

Vodka40% alcoholÅhus, SwedenClean, smooth & lightly grain-sweet
NIX18 - No 18, no alcohol
Bottle of Absolut Vodka 70 cl
40%alcohol · 70 cl
What is Absolut?

One village, one spring, one vodka

Absolut comes from Åhus, a village on Sweden's south coast. That is where Lars Olsson Smith began a new distilling method in 1879 that produced a much purer spirit: Absolut Rent Brännvin, 'absolutely pure spirit'. A hundred years later, in 1979, the brand was launched in America under the name Absolut, in a bottle based on an old apothecary bottle.

All Absolut is still made in Åhus, from winter wheat grown on surrounding farms and water from its own spring. The vodka is continuously distilled, which makes it clean and smooth, with a light grain flavor. Besides the original (40%), there is a long range of flavors, most with 38% alcohol. Absolut has been part of Pernod Ricard since 2008.

In brief

TypeVodka
Alcohol40% (most flavors 38%)
OriginÅhus, Sweden · since 1879
BaseSwedish winter wheat
Special featureContinuously distilled, everything from one village
GlassMartini glass or coupe; mixed long-drink glass
Types

What types of Absolut are there?

The original is the foundation; the flavors are there to make long drinks and cocktails simpler, without extra syrup or liqueur.

Bottle of Absolut Vodka 70 cl

Absolut Vodka

40% · 70 cl

The original with the blue label. Clean, smooth and lightly grain-sweet: the all-round cocktail vodka.

Best for: Cosmopolitan, Moscow Mule, Espresso Martini
Bottle of Absolut Citron 70 cl

Absolut Citron

40% · lemon

Vodka with lemon and lime. The vodka from the original Cosmopolitan recipe.

Best for: Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop, with tonic
View Absolut Citron →
Bottle of Absolut Vanilia 70 cl

Absolut Vanilia

38% · vanilla

Soft, creamy vanilla. Immediately makes an Espresso Martini or White Russian rounder.

Best for: Espresso Martini, with cola
View Absolut Vanilia →
Bottle of Absolut Raspberri 70 cl

Absolut Raspberri

38% · raspberry

Fruity and fresh, with the taste of fresh raspberries. Delicious with lemonade, soda or in a spritz.

Best for: Raspberry Lemonade, French Martini
View Absolut Raspberri →
Bottle of Absolut Watermelon 70 cl

Absolut Watermelon

38% · watermelon

The taste of summer: juicy watermelon, lightly sweet. With tonic or soda and plenty of ice.

Best for: with tonic, summer cocktails
View Absolut Watermelon →
Bottle of Absolut Passionfruit 70 cl

Absolut Passionfruit

38% · passion fruit

Tropical passion fruit in a vodka. The quick route to a Pornstar Martini.

Best for: Pornstar Martini, with soda
View Absolut Passionfruit →
Not sure?

For cocktails, choose the regular Absolut; pick a flavor if you often make the same highball.

To the cocktails →
What does Absolut taste like?

Clean, smooth and with a hint of grain

Nose

Grain & a hint of fruit

Barely any alcohol aroma; instead, hints of fresh grain and a light, dry fruitiness.

Palate

Smooth and full

Round and slightly sweet from the wheat, with a velvety texture typical of Swedish wheat vodka.

Finish

Short and clean

A short, dry warmth without harshness, leaving plenty of room for the other ingredients in a cocktail.

Sweet 1/5
Fruity 1/5
Spicy 1/5
Strength 3/5

Flavor profile of Absolut Vodka. The flavored variants are fruitier and slightly sweeter, but not syrupy.

How to drink it

Three ways to drink Absolut

Absolut is made for mixing. It can also be enjoyed ice-cold neat, but it comes into its own in a cocktail or highball with plenty of ice.

Cosmopolitan

40 ml Absolut Citron, 15 ml Cointreau, 30 ml cranberry juice and 15 ml lime juice, shaken and strained into a martini glass. The original recipe uses Absolut Citron.

Go to the recipe →

Moscow Mule

50 ml Absolut, 15 ml lime juice and ginger beer in a copper mule mug filled with ice. Fresh, spicy and ready in a minute.

Go to the recipe →

Absolut & soda

50 ml of a flavored variant (Watermelon, Raspberri, Citron) with 150 ml of soda or tonic in a highball glass with ice and a lime wedge. Light and refreshing, with no added sugar.

Glass: highball glass →
From the webshop

The right glass for Absolut

A martini glass for the Cosmo, a coupe for the Espresso Martini, a copper mug for the Mule, and a long drink glass for everything else. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.

Delivered 100% breakage-free
Royal Leerdam Cocktail Martini Glass
For Cosmopolitan

Royal Leerdam Cocktail Martini Glass

Set of 4 · 26 cl · the classic V-shaped glass
€ 21,95View
Bormioli Rocco America'20s Coupe
For Espresso Martini

Bormioli Rocco America'20s Coupe

Set of 6 · 22 cl · art deco coupe for sours and martinis
€ 35,95View
Speakeasy Moscow Mule Cup Curved
For Moscow Mule

Speakeasy Moscow Mule Cup Curved

45 cl · copper mug that stays ice-cold
€ 24,95View
Arcoroc Islande Long Drink Glass
For long drinks

Arcoroc Islande Long Drink Glass

Set of 6 · 33 cl · tempered glass, the affordable all-rounder
€ 14,95View
Frequently asked questions

Everything you still wanted to know about Absolut

Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.

To the cocktail recipes →
What percentage of alcohol is in Absolut?
Absolut Vodka and Absolut Citron contain 40% alcohol. Most other flavors, such as Vanilia, Raspberri, Watermelon, and Passionfruit, contain 38%. Always check the label, as this varies by variety.
Where is Absolut made?
In Åhus, a village in southern Sweden. All Absolut worldwide comes from this one distillery, made from winter wheat grown by farmers in the surrounding area and water from its own spring. The brand calls this "one source, one community".
What is Absolut made from?
Made from Swedish winter wheat and spring water. The wheat is fermented and continuously distilled, removing virtually all impurities and leaving a clean, smooth vodka with a light grain flavor.
Which Absolut do you use for a Cosmopolitan?
Absolut Citron. The original Cosmopolitan recipe, from the 1980s, was made with lemon vodka, which made Absolut Citron famous. You can also use regular Absolut; just add a little extra lime juice.
What is the difference between Absolut and Smirnoff?
Both are neutral cocktail vodkas. Absolut is Swedish, made from wheat, and has an alcohol content of 40%; Smirnoff is made from grain, filtered through charcoal, and has an alcohol content of 37.5% in the Netherlands. Absolut is slightly smoother with a light grain sweetness, while Smirnoff is a little drier.
How long does an opened bottle of Absolut last?
Indefinitely, as long as the bottle is tightly sealed. Vodka does not go bad. The flavored varieties contain natural flavors and are best consumed within a year of opening.