 | |
| Type | Vodka |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | The Absolut Company AB (Pernod Ricard) |
| Origin | Åhus, Sweden |
| Introduced | 1879 |
| Alcohol by volume | 40% |
| Proof (US) | 80–100 |
| Related products | List of vodkas |
| Website | www |
Absolut Vodka is a brand ofvodka, produced nearÅhus, in southern Sweden. Absolut is a part of the French groupPernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard bought Absolut for €5.63 billion in 2008 (equivalent to €7.59 billion in 2023)[1] from the Swedish state. Absolut is one of the largest brands of spirits in the world (afterSmirnoff andBacardi) and is sold in 126 countries.
Absolut was established in 1879 byLars Olsson Smith. Smith challenged the city of Stockholm's liquor marketing monopoly with his vodka. It was sold outside the city border at a lower price than the monopoly's product. Smith offered free boat rides to the distillery andRent Brännvin ("Pure Vodka") was highly successful.[2]
In 1917, the Swedish government monopolized the country's alcohol industry. Vodka was then sold nationwide under the nameAbsolut Rent Brännvin. In 1979, the old name Absolut was picked up when the upper-price range Absolut Vodka was introduced.Renat is the name of another vodka product sold by Pernod Ricard Sweden AB.
Absolut Vodka was introduced to the global market in 1979. As of 2018[update] Absolut sells over 100 million litres (26,000,000 US gal) of vodka annually.[3] The vodka is made fromwinter wheat and is produced now[when?] only inÅhus.[citation needed]
Lars Olsson Smith was born in 1836 in Kiaby and died in 1913 in Karlskrona, Sweden. L.O. Smith was an entrepreneur, parliamentarian and founder ofAbsolut Rent Brännvin ("Absolutely pure spirit"). It was the inspiration for Absolut Vodka. L.O. Smith launched a method that removes contaminants such as glut in the spirits. L.O. Smith came from a peasant family in Blekinge and quickly made a career in the retail trade as a 6-year-old. He later moved to Stockholm and started manufacturing and selling vodka at his factory at Reimersholme.[4][5]
In the early 1980s in New York, Absolut Vodka was popular among the creative community. Absolut's first advertising campaign was created by TBWA for the brand's U.S. Importer, Carillon Importers, Ltd.
The brand has a long-running advertising campaign created byTBWA.[6][7] The first of these ads, typical of the rest, was introduced in 1981 and featured a picture of the bottle with a halo over the cap above the slogan "Absolut Perfection".[6]
Absolut's first advertising campaign ran for more than twenty-five years from its launch in 1980. The campaign has encompassed many different kinds of ads, such as art, fashion, cities, spectaculars, Hollywood, etc. Their advertising has won hundreds of awards, including charter membership in the American Marketing Association's Marketing Hall of Fame. Absolut was inducted into the Hall in 1992 along with just two other brands:Coca-Cola andNike.[8] Also in 1992,Freedom Rings were featured in the first gay-specific Absolut Vodka ad, entitledAbsolutSpada.[9]
In 1983, Carillon's president and CEO Michel Roux approached the artistAndy Warhol, whom he paid $65,000 to create an advertisement for Absolut as part of the brand's iconic Absolut Art Initiative.[10][11] In the 1990s, Absolut Vodka began granting theArtist of the Year title to select visual artists, a distinction that came with a guaranteed global advertising placement.[12][13][14] These campaigns blurred the boundaries between marketing and contemporary art, making the title a coveted marker of prestige in the creative world. By partnering with high-profile names likeDavid LaChapelle,Robert Rauschenberg,Keith Haring, andJean-Michel Basquiat, Absolut spotlighted both the brand and the featured artists on an international stage, solidifying the brand's connection to the world of modern art.[15] Over the years, Carillon commissioned the work of well-known painters, graphic designers, fashion designers, as well as many up-and-coming artists.[11] During the 2017Corporate Art Awards Ceremony hosted by the President of the Italian RepublicSergio Mattarella at theQuirinal Palace,[16] Absolut received bypptArt a special award "for their long-running collaboration with 550 artists on 850 projects to shape their corporate image and brand".[17] The talents included such names asDamien Hirst,Rosemarie Trockel,Helmut Newton,Javier Mariscal,Maurizio Cattelan,Louise Bourgeois,Alain Despert,Ron English,Giancarlo Impiglia, and many, many more.
In 1996 Richard Lewis theChiat/Day executive who ran the Absolut art campaign for the advertising firm published "Absolut Book: The Absolut Vodka Advertising Story" (Journey Editions).[18]
In 2005, Absolut invited American singerLenny Kravitz to participate in its promotional campaign. The song "Breathe" was recorded and released.[19][20] The song was remixed many times by various DJs.[21][22]
In 2007, Absolut introduced its new global campaign, "In An Absolut World",[23][24] created by TBWA/Chiat/Day.
In 2008, an advertisement placed in Mexican publications and on Mexican billboards featured a map of the U.S. and Mexico with the boundaries between the two as they were prior to the 1836Texas Revolution and theMexican–American War. Media outlets reported on some American consumers' reactions at the advert's perceived insensitivity to immigration issues.[25][26][27]Absolut responded that the adverts were purely whimsical, with no political or nationalist agenda, but its critics were adamant. Absolut later issued a public apology and withdrew the advert.[28]
In 2009, Absolut debuted a campaign with renowned fashion photographerEllen Von Unwerth[29] and actressesKate Beckinsale andZooey Deschanel to celebrate different Absolut drinks. In the same year, the brand launched the Absolut Art Awards to commemorate 30 years of collaboration with the world of modern art.[30][31][32]
In 2010 Absolut collaborated withSpike Jonze to create a short film entitledI’m here.[33] The short film was screened at festivals such asSundance Film Festival andBerlin Film Festival.
In 2012, Absolut partnered withSwedish House Mafia to create an original track and music video to promote Absolut Greyhound cocktail. "Greyhound"–which is the title of the drink, the video, and the actual music track–is a video created byTBWA\Chiat\Day, where three groups of racing enthusiasts converge on the Bonneville Salt Flats to watch robotic greyhounds speed across the plains, holding pink Absolut Greyhounds in their hands.[34][35]
In 2013, Absolut launched the Global 'Transform Today' Campaign by the creative agency,Sid Lee. The creative features four artists. Sid Lee recruited four international emerging artists to inspire younger generations. French artist, director and musicianWoodkid, American digital media artistAaron Koblin, fashion designerYiqing Yin and Brazilian graphic novel artistsRafael Grampa is featured.[36][37][38]
As part of this platform, Absolut launched the Absolut Creative Competition in 2018 which was an art competition.[39][40] In May 2019 Absolut announced the global winner that was selected by global juries such asMickalene Thomas, Aaron Cezar andBose Krishnamachari. Sarah Saroufim from Lebanon was declared the winner from 7,500 entrants with her design.
After pausing its production inRussia due to theRussian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Pernod Ricard resumed the export of Absolut Vodka in April 2023, leading to widespread criticism in Sweden. As a result, Pernod Ricard decided to once again stop its operations in Russia.[41]
| Acquisitions |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distilleries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spirits brands |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wine brands |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former brands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| People |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vodkas by country | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia |
| ||||||||
| Europe |
| ||||||||
| North America |
| ||||||||
