Absolut India: Two Limited Edition Bottles Celebrating Diversity

Absolut India: Two Limited Edition Bottles Celebrating Diversity

Absolut is renowned for its innovative collaborations, with the first taking place in 1985, frequently partnering with artists across the globe to produce limited edition bottles.

Among our most beloved projects are those that celebrate various cities and countries, showcasing and celebrating each location’s unique culture.

For each limited-edition bottle in our city and country collaborations, we partner with local artists to capture the true essence of the country as seen through their eyes and their artistic expression.

In this post, we revisit Absolut India. This collaboration was particularly special because it involved not just one, but two separate collaborations occurring several years apart, resulting in two distinct limited-edition vodka bottles.

Join us we open the archive to Absolut India.

Embracing India’s Diversity

India, home to over a billion people, stands as the world’s most populous country and is celebrated for its incredible religious, cultural, and demographic diversity.

With 122 major languages, 29 of which have over a million native speakers, the linguistic variety is astounding.

Often referred to as the country of festivals, India is a place where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with a myriad of cultures, languages, and belief systems. This can be seen during the numerous festivals that fill the country’s calendar, each highlighting a unique aspect of its rich heritage. These festivals not only display the rich heritage and traditions but also underscore the diverse cultures that epitomize India.

At Absolut, celebrating diversity and inclusivity have always been of great importance to us, making our collaboration with Absolut India a natural fit.

The first Absolut India Limited Edition Vodka Bottle

In 2015, we launched the first Absolut India limited edition vodka bottle.

Absolut India was a delectable Mango and Pepper Flavored Vodka, highlighting mango as India’s national fruit and pepper to symbolize the nation’s passion for spices. In fact, India produces approximately 75 of the 109 recognized spice varieties listed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

For the artwork, we collaborated with Talenthouse India – Southeast Asia’s leading creative crowdsourcing platform.  A contest was held, where Talenthouse India reviewed 2,700 submissions to find the winning artwork.

The goal was to create an India-themed and inspired design, where artists could express what they love about India and what they believe represents the country in a fresh, inventive way for the Absolut India limited edition bottle.

The winning artist, Shaheen Baig from Mumbai, beautifully captured the essence of India’s vibrant and multifaceted nature. Her design vividly portrays the spirited chaos of the nation, featuring beautifully represented icons such as temples, tigers, and elephants.

We loved the collaboration and honoring the country so much we decided to do it again.

The Release of Absolut India 2.0

Three years later, in 2018, we released a second limited edition Absolut India bottle, which we called Absolut India 2.0. Unlike the first Absolut India collaboration, this limited-edition vodka bottle was not a flavored vodka.

Once again, we teamed up with Talenthouse India who ran a contest to identify a winner. More than 2,400 artistic contributions were reviewed before Ajay Boga emerged as the winning artist.

Boga’s stunning design was inspired by the strength and courage of the tiger, India’s national animal. India is home to 75% of the global tiger population, making the tiger a symbol of great significance.

Boga’s artwork beautifully incorporates various Indian patterns and elements, highlighting the nation’s diversity, culture, energy, and pride. Upon closer inspection, the artwork reveals intricate details: a peacock symbolizing elegance, a Banyan tree representing immortality, and depictions of India’s rich ethnic diversity. These elements seamlessly come together to form the majestic tiger, embodying the spirit of India.

Want to learn more about our Absolut India limited-edition vodka bottles?

Discover Absolut India