Absolut Ads: How Two Words Changed Advertising

New York, 1981.

Flip through any magazine back then and the liquor ads all blurred together: glossy people at glossy parties holding glossy glasses.

Then a Swedish vodka arrived, its shape inspired by an antique apothecary bottle. There was no fancy label or paper sticker, just the words printed straight onto the glass.

That Swedish vodka? That was Absolut. It had crossed the Atlantic in 1979; convinced America was the place where a premium vodka could really shine.

Say less: the two-word Absolut ad

Now Absolut needed to introduce itself to America, and that meant finding the right ad agency. The brief, the instructions every agency had to work from, was simple: nothing that looked like a typical alcohol ad, no vodka on ice, no people having drinks in bars.

After two weeks of pitches, with as many as ten agencies presenting in a single day, the account went to TBWA, an agency founded in 1970 by four ad men: an American, an Italian, a Frenchman and a Swiss. And it all came down to a single idea.

The idea came from TBWA’s art director, doodling bottles at home one night in front of a TV re-run. He drew a halo over the bottle and wrote “Absolut. It’s the perfect vodka.”

His copywriting partner asked: why not cut it to just two words? ABSOLUT PERFECTION became the very first Absolut ad, published in 1981.

Another early sketch gave the bottle wings and called it ABSOLUT HEAVEN. When it ran as a full page in The New York Times, the space had been bought on standby to save money, so the paper chose where it went. It ended up directly opposite the obituaries.

In a world of busy, wordy ads, the creative leap was knowing what to leave out. There were no models, no celebrities and no lifestyle fantasy, just a bottle and two words that trusted you to get it. People did. Every ad was a little puzzle, and every puzzle had the same answer.

Run enough of those and something strange happens. The bottle stops being a bottle and becomes a shape your brain recognizes before you’ve read a word. That led to a pretty risky question…

What if we took the bottle out?

Imagine sitting in that meeting. Years had gone into teaching people to recognize this bottle, and now the idea on the table was to stop showing it.

That’s exactly what happened. By 1983, some Absolut ads had swapped the real bottle for other things in its shape.

It worked, because by then people didn’t need the bottle anymore. They knew the silhouette and they knew the two-word headline, so anything bottle-shaped with “ABSOLUT” in the caption was enough for their brains to fill in the rest. From that point on, the ads felt less like ads and more like a game people wanted to play.

And one of the most famous artists in the world was about to join in.

How Andy Warhol turned the Absolut ads into art

There are plenty of stories about how Absolut and Andy Warhol first met. One of them starts with a magazine. In the early 80s, Absolut was one of the biggest advertisers in Interview, the style bible Warhol had founded, running around 24 pages of ads a year. That’s how Absolut first got to know Warhol, back in 1983.

Warhol started out as a commercial artist, and he always had an eye for great packaging. He was a big fan of the Absolut bottle, and he even joked that he dabbed Absolut on his neck like cologne. So, in 1985, Absolut asked him to paint it. He painted it in black against a gold background, with lettering in blue, purple and pink. The ad was called ABSOLUT WARHOL so nobody would miss who made it.

It ran in the world’s leading fashion and art magazines, and every major newspaper covered it. Warhol was keen to do more, but Absolut wanted his painting to stay one of a kind, so he introduced the brand to other artists he knew instead.

Over the years, these partnerships grew into the Absolut Art Collection, with more than 850 works by more than 550 artists, now housed at Spritmuseum in Stockholm.

Absolut cities

Artists had shown the bottle could be anything. Next, it went everywhere.

In 1987, ABSOLUT L.A. kicked off a series of city ads with a swimming pool shaped like the bottle, surrounded by palm trees in the California sun. It looked completely real, but the whole scene was a miniature model built just for the shot.

Then came New York. ABSOLUT MANHATTAN was an aerial photo of the city, where the green rectangle of Central Park formed the outline of the bottle. To get the shape just right, part of the East Side quietly disappeared from the picture.

After the ad ran, New Yorkers excitedly called in to say they’d spotted their apartment buildings in it. They hadn’t. Those blocks had been cut out.

Around two dozen cities got the treatment, and before long, people treated them like major sports teams. Having your own Absolut ad meant your city had arrived.

Let the bottle become something else: Absolut in fashion and culture

From city streets, the bottle stepped onto the runway. In February 1988, the fashion world wanted in on the game.

Absolut’s fashion story started in February 1988 with a single ad: a model in a metallic mini dress, the Absolut logo printed across the chest. In that ad, the model was our bottle.

People loved it. Nearly 5,000 of them phoned in to ask where they could buy the dress, but it was never put into production. Instead, that one photograph kicked off a project that ran for years, doing for fashion what we had already done with art.

Things got very glamorous from there. Celebrated photographers, models and designers took part. The pieces were never meant to be mass-produced, so they could be as theatrical as the designers liked, made for a dream world rather than everyday life.

Most of those pieces stayed out of public view for decades, until Spritmuseum finally put them on show in its exhibition Fashion Cocktail, from June 2021 to January 2022.

Musicians joined in too. For more than 40 years, working with renowned artists, musicians and designers has been at the heart of what Absolut does. Over the decades, artists from rock to dance music to pop have put their own spin on the bottle, and some of the newest collaborations go right back to where it all started, reimagining that famous silhouette for a new era.

Whatever corner of culture you looked in, the bottle had found its way there.

Show up for your people: Absolut and the LGBTQ+ community

In 1981, Absolut became the first spirit brand to advertise in LGBTQ+ magazines like The Advocate, at a time when working with the LGBTQ+ movement was still seen as controversial.

Over the years, Absolut launched the first spirits bottle to wear the rainbow flag, created with Gilbert Baker, the designer of the original flag. The rainbow bottle is now a permanent part of the range.

In 2020, the Absolut Love bottle took ink from racist and anti-LGBTQIA+ signs collected at rallies around the world and turned it into a bottle of love. We’ve been part of the community since 1981, and we’re not going anywhere.

Why Absolut ads still inspire creatives

If you want to see the story up close, head to Stockholm. Spritmuseum’s exhibition ABSOLUT ABSOLUT tells the whole tale, from a simple sketch to a bottle the whole world recognizes. The exhibition includes 150 unique items on loan from the Absolut archive, ranging from bottles and fashion to publications and advertising props.

The museum is also home to the Absolut Art Collection: more than 850 works by over 550 artists, all invited to reimagine the bottle in their own way.

The ads may have been retired, but the bottle is still a blank canvas. It started with a doodle, a halo and two words, and every new collaboration adds another chapter.

Our history of artistic collaborations go back more than 40 years. ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ is another chapter in our creative story, and it’s a spicy one.

When artists have been interpreting the Absolut bottle for 40-plus years, a stock clip of a volcano was never going to cut it. So, the team flew to Iceland, spent hours studying how lava moves, built a mini volcano by hand and shot it on 35mm lens, all for the moment the bottle rises out of the rock.

Watch the ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ ad:

We sat down with Giancarlo Martins, Creative Content Director at Absolut Vodka North America, who led the project, to hear how it came together.

ABSOLUT®  x TABASCO™: How the Spicy Vodka Collab Started

Giancarlo first heard about the collab in November 2024, when a colleague called him in the middle of some early Christmas shopping to say it was officially happening. In his words, it was “the perfect opportunity to create something unmissable.”

The creative concept, For Those Who Like It Hot, was all about dramatizing Tabasco’s distinctive heat in a way that would make people stop in their tracks.

Behind the Scenes of the ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Volcano Ad

Here’s the thing about ABSOLUT® TABASCO™: you don’t think about the heat, you feel it. So, when we asked Giancarlo what it was like shooting the volcano ad, he went straight there:

“This was one of the most complex productions I’ve ever worked on. Heat and spice are emotional experiences, not rational ones. We needed visuals as visceral as the product itself. We wanted to use dramatic visuals to show what ‘hot’ means. Our goal was to appeal to bold flavor seekers and produce something distinctive.

We filmed at a real volcanic formation in southern Iceland and built large-scale models to give the film a visceral, authentic feel.”

That’s the energy. And so, we went and found a volcano.

How the ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Ad Was Filmed in Iceland

How do you make heat look as intense as it tastes? Here’s Giancarlo on what made it such a challenging shoot:

“We didn’t want to cut corners, so we filmed real scenery. Several hours were spent watching how volcanoes and lava behave, studying the colors and the look of the surrounding rocks. Our props master had worked on Interstellar and other sci-fi films. Together with a visionary director, we didn’t want to simply put a perfectly shaped bottle in front of people. We built a model replica of the volcanic formation; filmed lava being poured into it and composited the footage. Watching the silhouette of the bottle emerge from the volcanic landscape became that ‘aha’ moment we knew we wanted.”

Yes, you read that right: an Interstellar props master building a mini volcano and pouring lava into it.

Why the ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Ad Was Shot with 35mm Lens

In a feed full of filters and AI-generated effects, the team made a very deliberate choice:

“They created some fantastic effects while filming with a 35mm analog lens, rather than the ease of digital, which gave the advert a raw, documentary style.”

That grain, that texture, that slightly imperfect realness – it feels different. It’s the visual version of a first sip that actually bites back.

Absolut’s Creative Culture: Bold Ideas, Bold Execution

When we asked Giancarlo for his biggest takeaway from the project:

“Timeless work comes from protecting the creative, trusting the process, and refusing to cut corners, even when it would be easier. It’s a reminder that bold ideas deserve bold execution. And when we commit to that, we don’t just launch products – we create culture.”

Ready to Try ABSOLUT® TABASCO™?

ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ is for the curious ones, the people who think great ideas are worth the extra effort.

And the thing is, perhaps surprisingly to many, ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ is seriously versatile. It plays just as well with sweet and fruity flavors as it does with savory classics, so it’s a natural fit for the “swicy” crowd.

We’ve rounded up four drinks that show off its distinct taste, from a Spicy Bloody Mary to a Spicy Lemonade. Ready to turn up the heat?

Get all four recipes: 4 Drinks to Make with ABSOLUT® TABASCO™

We’re thrilled to announce the release of Absolut Tomorrowland 2026, a new collection of three limited-edition bottle designs that continues our partnership with Tomorrowland, promoting inclusion and unity through music.

The 2026 limited-edition bottles contain our award-winning Absolut Original Vodka – the perfect spirit for celebrating music, creativity, and togetherness.

Absolut and Tomorrowland: United We Dance

The ‘United We Dance’ partnership between Absolut Vodka and Tomorrowland is now in its fifth year and is still all about one thing: bringing people together.

Anchored in shared values of creativity and inclusivity, the collaboration celebrates music as a universal connector, with its latest collection serving as a tangible symbol of unity among audiences worldwide.

In 2025, Tomorrowland celebrated its 20th anniversary and we marked the occasion with a special limited-edition bottle created just for the milestone year. That collaboration paid tribute to two decades of unforgettable moments on the dance floor and set the stage for this new 2026 Absolut Tomorrowland collection.

What began as a way to support a single festival has evolved into a long running creative partnership, with Absolut Tomorrowland bottles, experiences, and cocktails all designed to champion openness, connection, and self-expression on and off the dancefloor.

Since 2017, the partnership has grown into a global initiative. Today, Absolut  Tomorrowland comes to life every year not just in Belgium, but also in France, Brazil, and Thailand.

Tomorrowland ‘Consciencia’ Theme

The Tomorrowland theme reveal is one of the most eagerly awaited moments in the global music calendar, a defining cultural moment that unites millions of EDM fans worldwide.

Tomorrowland’s theme is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the music world – it’s not just a stage; it’s the heart of the Tomorrowland experience.

Until now, Tomorrowland had never invited another partner to work with that concept or bring the theme vision to life anywhere else. At Absolut, we’re proud to be the first partner ever trusted by Tomorrowland to reveal the festival’s iconic design.

With this in mind, we’re proud to share that the 2026 limited-edition bottles offer a first glimpse of this year’s ‘Consciencia’ theme for Tomorrowland Belgium.

With Consciencia, Tomorrowland introduces a powerful artistic thread that begins in Belgium, journeys onward to Thailand, and ultimately culminates at Tomorrowland Brazil. More than a theme, Consciencia is a living narrative that travels across continents, connecting cultures and communities through one unified vision

Absolut Vodka at Tomorrowland Belgium 2026

As Tomorrowland’s official vodka, we will once again host an on-site experience that captures the energy and excitement of one of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, through a visual mix of culture, connection and a cocktail created exclusively for the Belgium 2026 event.

Absolut Tomorrowland Spritz

Raise a glass to Absolut Tomorrowland with the Absolut Tomorrowland Spritz – a dry, sparkling spritz with a playful, candy-like twist and a subtle nod to our Swedish roots.

Built directly inside the glass (no cocktail shaker needed!), it combines Absolut Vodka, rhubarb syrup, and lemon juice, then is topped with Prosecco and soda water. Finish with half a strawberry and a sprig of mint for the full festival-ready look. Check out the full recipe for the Absolut Tomorrowland Spritz.

United we dance!

—

Learn more about Absolut Tomorrowland 2026.

Before sipping that delicious-looking cocktail, let’s take a moment to raise our glasses to those bartenders everywhere. A special shout out to all you home bartenders out there! It’s time to celebrate World Bartender Day!

Celebrated on 24 February around the globe, World Bartender Day is the day where we celebrate the creativity, passion, and skill of bartenders who live and breathe cocktail culture. Cheers to that!

Celebrating World Bartender Day with Sweden’s Finest

To celebrate World Bartender Day, we’re heading to Stockholm, Sweden, to showcase some of the best in the business: Andreas Bergman, Hedda Bruce, Isac Johannson, and the crew at Tjoget, as well as Jack Parker and Josephine Sondlo, founders and bartenders at Bar Afterglow.

It’s only fitting that we celebrate this day by shining a spotlight on some of Sweden’s finest talents. After all, we – at Absolut – take pride in our Swedish roots. In fact, most of our production journey takes place in and around the small village of Åhus and all the ingredients for Absolut Vodka come from one source in southern Sweden.

So, let’s jump right in and meet the amazing folks who work their magic behind the bar!

Exploring Tjoget: Classic Cocktails with a Mediterranean Twist

First up, we visit Tjoget, located in the trendy neighborhood of Hornstull on the island of Södermalm in Stockholm.

“I’ve been a bartender my whole life,” says Andreas Bergman, Co-Founder of Tjoget. “I did that a lot together with Joel, who I opened Tjoget with about 13 years ago. I’ve worked extensively behind the bar and on the floor.” You might say that his time working behind the bar has paid off – Tjoget has been named as one of the Top 50 Bars in the World not once, but twice!

So, what’s Tjoget’s secret when it comes to bartending? “Don’t make it too fancy or too hard for ourselves or for our guests to be able to enjoy the drink,” says Hedda Bruce, General Manager at Tjoget.

“The concept of the drinks will always be like something that is close to classics but with a Mediterranean Tjoget twist,” she continues.

Mixing Up Creativity at Tjoget

“Tjoget is inspired by a lot of New York style cocktail bars,” says Isac Johannson, Head Bartender. “We always sit down – the whole team – and talk about the flavor and style of drinks. Then we try it again, and again and again for, maybe like, a month or two. So, everyone gets their say in the cocktail menu process, which is super nice,” he explains.

Bartending goes beyond simply pouring a drink – it’s a creative craft. A prime example of this is the Polo Lounge Martini, found only at Tjoget. “We make the drink like a pasta dish,” explains Andreas, who created the drink.

“When we make this cocktail, we take a pan, brown the butter, add some fresh sage to the brown butter. Then we add the liquid gold – Absolut Vodka. We then let it sit for a couple of hours, then we sous vide the whole drink and put it into the freezer overnight,” adds Hedda.

Trust us, the Polo Lounge Martini is an elegant and delicious martini.

Meet the People Behind Bar Afterglow

We now continue to the other side of Södermalm where we toast to Jack Parker and Josephine Sondlo. Jack and Josephine are the founders and bartenders at Bar Afterglow, a cozy cocktail bar tucked away on a quaint street in the area known as Sofia on Södermalm’s east side.

“Bars are supposed to be fun and relaxed, and I think that’s exactly what Afterglow is,” says Jack. “It’s comfortable, it’s fun – it’s not serious,” he adds. But making seriously great drinks is a whole another thing.

“If you look at the menu, everything is based on a classic…but how can we tweak the recipe to make it more modern?” says Josephine when asked where they draw inspiration for their drinks.

Bar Afterglow is all about mixing creativity with bartending, where flavors and colors often come together in unexpected ways. “My process for making drinks doesn’t make sense to anyone but me,” says Josephine laughing. “I just stick with it – I’m super stubborn – and eventually, I end up with something that’s crazy good!”

But as Jack explains, great drinks don’t have to be complicated: “I don’t want our drinks to be crazy complex – I’m not a complicated person. They (our customers) just want sweet and bubbly and pink drinks.”

Creative Bartending: Creativity Meets Sustainability

When it comes to creativity, Jack and Josephine are big fans of sustainable cocktail making, using limitations to ignite inspiration. “I think it’s of my best traits, working with those limitations – it’s like you can’t use stuff from all over the world or you have to re-use or re-make ingredients like five times,” says Josephine.

As she explains, bartending is often about being resourceful – using what you have and being smart with your ingredients. “Here we use a lot of oxidized wines with those flavors that are not meant to be in a wine…but if you think about it as a cocktail ingredient, you can actually use those flavors and pair it with spirits,” she says.

From a Sex on the Beach to a ‘Pink and Orange’

A shining example of the creativity at Bar Afterglow’ is the ‘Pink and Orange’ cocktail, inspired by the classic Sex on the Beach.

Jack and Josephine took this 80s classic and gave it their own modern twist, blending berries and lime juice in a juicer and clarifying the drink so that it’s clear.

Explaining the creative process, Jack says: “We juice the juices, we make a grenadine, and then we blend the lingonberries and turn them into a juice as well. We then put it all together in a centrifuge, then strain everything out, add Absolut Peach, then carbonate the drink. Finally, we pour it.”

“I think it was a cheeky way of making that drink. We were like ‘Hell yeah, we’re going to use flavored vodka because no one else is doing it,” says Josephine. And, well, doing what no one else is doing is what Bar Afterglow does so well.

Happy World Bartender Day!

In the latest episode of Bars Worth Visiting we continue our quest to uncover must-visit bars around the globe, diving into the creativity, passion, and craft of master bartenders who live and breathe cocktail culture.

In the previous episode, we hit up acclaimed bar and restaurant Tjoget in Stockholm, Sweden. We’re staying in Stockholm to check out Bar Afterglow – the creation of bartenders Jack Parker and Josephine Sondlo and a hidden treasure tucked away on Erstagatan, a quaint street in Sofia on Södermalm’s east side.

Built from Scratch: A Bar as Unique as Its Cocktails

Step into Bar Afterglow and get ready to be wowed by its bold 80s-inspired décor. With room for 150 guests, Jack Parker and Josephine Sondlo not only started this place – they crafted every detail themselves, from the décor and tiles to the colors and even the bar height.

Bar Afterglow is all about creativity, chasing dreams, and creating a space that reflects the passion behind their drinks. “How badly do you want to do the things you want to do? And if the answer is that you really, really want to do it because it’s just fun, then you don’t really care about the money,” Jack explains.

Their dedication to innovation shines through every corner, including their drink menu.

Creative Cocktail Making – Classic Drinks with a Twist

“If you look at the menu, everything is based on a classic but how can we tweak the recipe to make it more modern?” says Josephine. Their unique approach to cocktail creation involves instinctively pairing flavors and colors until they work.

“My process for making drinks doesn’t make sense to anyone but me,” Josephine admits. “I just stick with it – I’m super stubborn –and eventually I have something that’s crazy good.”

Jack chimes in, “Most of my drinks are based on dessert.”

“We don’t want our drinks to be crazy complex – I’m not a complicated person,” laughs Jack.

More than “just another bar,” as you’ll see in the video, Jack and Josephine also focus on sustainable cocktail making, using limitations as a catalyst for creativity. By reusing and remaking products and avoiding ingredients from faraway lands, they embrace sustainability in every cocktail.

‘Pink and Orange’ – A Twist on Sex on the Beach

In this episode, you’ll also meet the ‘Pink and Orange’ – a signature cocktail inspired by the classic Sex on the Beach.

Jack and Josephine took the classic and added their own twist, blending berries and lime juice, straining it, adding Absolut Peach – our delicious peach-flavored vodka – and carbonating the mix.

“I think it was a cheeky way of making that drink. We were like ‘We’re going to use flavored vodka’ because no one else is doing it,” Josephine shares.

Bar Afterglow – A Home Away from Home

Visiting Bar Afterglow really feels like hanging out at Jack and Josephine’s home. “We don’t do service, service – it’s more like hosting; when someone comes home to your apartment or your house,” Jack explains.

With its familiar and laid-back vibe, Bar Afterglow is a place where you can rock up in your pajamas if you feel so inclined. “It’s comfortable, it’s fun – it’s not serious,” Jack says. “Bars are supposed to be fun and relaxed, and I think that’s exactly what Afterglow is.”

“The bar looks like a kitchen island – it feels familiar to people, like when you’re hosting your family or friends at home,” Josephine adds. “It doesn’t need to be complicated – it’s about people and giving them a good time.”

And trust us, a good time is guaranteed! So, whether you’re a local or just passing through, an evening at Bar Afterglow is a must-visit.

In celebration of the 2025 Absolut Haring artist edition release – a collaboration between Absolut Vodka and artist Keith Haring – the Absolut Drinks Team crafted three Haring-inspired cocktails to mark the occasion.

In this post we chat to Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Vodka Global Brand Ambassador to learn more about the Absolut Haring Fizz and take a look at the Absolut Haring Collins.

So then…

What is the Absolut Haring Fizz?

Much like Haring’s art, the Absolut Haring Fizz stands as a masterpiece in its own right. This drink is a bold East-meets-West fusion: crisp apple, zesty orange and toasted sesame with a kick of ginger, while its golden yellow hue mirrors Haring’s original Absolut artwork.

What is the Absolut Haring Collins?

The Absolut Haring Collins is a shake-and-serve cocktail that mixes Absolut Vodka, fresh orange juice, fresh lemon juice, spicy ginger syrup, and crisp, effervescent soda water. Best of all, the Absolut Haring Collins is an easy-to-make drink. Simply shake the ingredients with ice in a shaker, then double strain the cocktail into a Collins glass before topping up with soda water and garnishing with orange zest. The result is a drink that’s citrusy, clean, bubbly and spicy. These characteristics perfectly represent Haring’s lively works and boundary-pushing style.

Inspiration behind the Absolut Haring Fizz

Where the Absolut Haring Collins can be made in just minutes, the Absolut Haring Fizz requires a bit of prep, including allowing some of the ingredients to refrigerate overnight. Like great art, some creations are simply worth the wait – just like Warhol’s Milk Punch, which Rico created for the 2024 Absolut Warhol limited edition release. Despite their obvious differences, we asked Rico about how the creation of the Absolut Haring Fizz differed from the process for Warhol’s Milk Punch.

“With Warhol’s signature cocktail, we created to celebrate the rediscovery of his blue painting, we devised a drink that we thought he would like. We were fortunate, as there were plenty of stories about his sweet tooth and his love for cornflakes, which were the inspiration behind Warhol’s Milk Punch,” explains Rico.

“With Keith Haring, such information wasn’t as readily available and so we started to delve into his art,” continues Rico. “His drawings are brilliantly simple and so we looked at simple ingredients – oranges, apples and lemons, but explored how we could create something a little more complex with them. We also wanted to include ingredients that would be a nod to his love of Asian food.”

Making the Absolut Haring Fizz

The Absolut Haring Fizz is a truly unique cocktail made with sesame-washed Absolut Vodka, orange and lemon sherbet, apple and ginger foam, soda water, and is garnished with black sesame seeds.

“Creating new cocktails is always a case of trial and error, but we ended up with a drink using a lemon and orange sherbet that unintentionally came out almost the exact color of Haring’s original Absolut painting,” says Rico.

This drink from scratch requires two days, where the ingredients need to sit in the refrigerator overnight. But like great art, patience is part of the process.

“The orange and lemon sherbet is basically an oleo saccharum, which is Latin for an oily sugar. It’s made using equal parts orange and lemon zest and sugar, which you cover and leave overnight so the sugar draws in the oil,” explains Rico. “By the morning, the sugar has melted and once strained, you are left with a very intense, phenomenal tasting citrus-flavored oil that is made from everyday ingredients.”

Start by mixing apple juice, ginger syrup, lemon juice, and egg whites, then transfer the blend into a Nitro Siphon Canister. Charge it up with two N₂O cartridges and let it chill in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Once day two arrives, it’s time to bring the Absolut Haring Fizz to life. But before we dive in, there’s one more crucial component of the drink that deserves our attention.

Absolut Haring Fizz: An Asian Inspired Cocktail

“Given Haring’s connection to Asia, we were very keen to add some sesame flavor,” shares Rico. “We initially looked at using a sesame paste and sesame oil, but we decided to revert to a ‘fat washing’ technique because we wanted the flavor, but without the oiliness or thick paste.”

“Fat washing is a process where you typically add fat to alcohol, let the fat solidify and take it away. In this case, we used sesame oil instead of fat,” explains Rico.

“When you take the mixture of sesame oil and alcohol out of the freezer, you’re left with a spirit that has a luxurious taste of sesame. It was then simply a case of combining all the elements, shaking the sesame vodka with the sherbet, applying foam on top and garnishing with a thick black sesame line.”

You can find the full cocktail recipe for the Absolut Haring Fizz on AbsolutDrinks.com.

“What are some of the best bars in the world?” If you’re like us and you’re passionate about cocktails, you’ve definitely pondered this question.

And the conclusion we’ve come to is that there are MANY great bars around the world, and we want you to join us as we visit them. 

What can we say? At Absolut, we love cocktails, and people, and life. And we love bringing these things together!

Great Bars in the World: Tjoget, Stockholm, Sweden

We start our journey in Stockholm, Sweden where we visit the buzzing bar and restaurant, Tjoget. Nestled in the vibrant Hornstull neighborhood on the inner-city island of Södermalm, Tjoget has firmly established itself as a beloved Stockholm institution.

Since its opening in 2012, it has captured the hearts of both locals and travelers from afar. “The ambition was to open the best bar,” shares Andreas Bergman, Founder Partner, Tjoget. Despite remaining very much a neighborhood bar at heart, Tjoget has achieved the remarkable distinction of being named one of the Top 50 bars in the world, not once, but twice. 

Introducing the Crew at Tjoget and the Polo Lounge Martini

“Tjoget is like a family,” says Pepe, Head Waiter at Tjoget. In this video, we meet the founder and crew at Tjoget, learn about the bar’s history, its clientele and what they believe is the secret to their success. We’ll also learn how to make one of Tjoget’s signature drinks, the Polo Lounge Martini.

“We’re gonna make a drink like a pasta dish,” explains Andreas Bergman, Founder Partner, Tjoget, about the inspiration for the drink. The Polo Lounge Martini is a variation of a classic stirred Martini, made with fat-washed Absolut vodka using brown butter and sage, showcasing their adjoining restaurant’s love for incredible Mediterranean cuisine.

Trust us, it’s a drink that’s in a league of its own, much like the bar and the people behind it.

If you’re ever in Stockholm, a visit to Tjoget is a must. But until then, pull up a seat and say “Hej!” to the crew at Tjoget.

Don’t forget to subscribe to AbsolutDrinks.com so you never miss a drink or an episode!

In this video, Rico teams up with the crème de la crème of New Orleans, Louisiana to tackle the mission of rating and finding the world’s worst cocktail!

Who would want to do that?! Well, you’d be surprised! Joining Rico are Mason Hereford and Lauren Agudo from Turkey and the Wolf, Phil Cenac from Hungry Eyes, Nathan Barfield from Hot Stuff, and Colleen Quarls from Molly’s Rise and Shine.

The crew bravely tastes four “delicious” shots—the Tapeworm, Shells & Snaps, the Prairie Oyster, and the Bloody Brain. They’re also given a little – ahem – “palate cleanser” in the form of some Swedish Salty Licorice

Now let’s look at what’s in store for our brave panelists!

Tapeworm
Most people wouldn’t be able to get beyond the look of this shot, which quite literally looks like, errrrrr, a tapeworm. The Tapeworm shot has gained a reputation for being one of the most outrageous, both in appearance and flavor.

It mixes Absolut Peppar, a dash of hot sauce, ground black pepper, and a squirt of mayonnaise, it challenges even the most adventurous drinkers. 

As the panelists eye the shot, the question is: will they muster up the courage to give it a try?

Shells & Snaps
Next, the guests are invited to experience both Swedish midsummer and a Swedish crayfish party (kräftskiva) – both at once. A chilled shot of Absolut Vodka paired with a crayfish – skål! And yes, wearing a midsummer wreath (“midsommarkrans”) on your head and having a tiny maypole (“midsommar stång”) next to your glass is absolutely mandatory.

Will the visiting panelists fully embrace their visit to Sweden, or will they “offend” the nation by passing up this tradition?  

The Prairie Oyster
The Prairie Oyster is one of the oldest and most notorious shots of them all. Made with egg yolk, Cognac, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, hot pepper sauce, malt vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Yes, it’s a challenge!

As the panelists prepare to try this “unique shot”, they’ll be putting their taste buds and courage to the test, curious to see if its status meets their dread! 

The Bloody Brain
There’s no other way to say it nor play it down – the Bloody Brain shot is horrifyingly gory to look at, resembling, well, a bleeding brain. 

Despite its gory appearance, the Bloody Brain shot is actually sweet, creamy, zesty—and dare we say—delicious! But we didn’t tell the panelists. 

Made with Absolut Wild Berri, fresh lime juice, Irish Cream Liqueur, and a splash of grenadine, it’s a nice surprise shock for those brave enough to try it!

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International Vodka Day, celebrated annually on October 4, is a global nod to one of the world’s most versatile spirits. From classic cocktails to neat pours, vodka has earned its place in bars and home setups around the world.

October 4 is the perfect excuse to mix something new, revisit a favorite or raise a glass to the drinks vodka has helped define.

If you’re looking for inspiration, Rico dives into vodka’s history, shares home mixing tips and shows how to make three of our most popular vodka cocktails.  Watch the video above.

Is October 4 National Vodka Day?


If you’re in the U.S., October 4 marks National Vodka Day. Elsewhere, it’s International Vodka Day or World Vodka Day — either way, it’s a good day to pour something worth celebrating.

Looking for some drink-spiration? Watch Rico and award-winning bartender Hedda Bruce from Tjoget in Stockholm, Sweden, as they demonstrate how to make the ultimate Espresso Martini.

How To Celebrate International Vodka Day

International Vodka Day is your chance to celebrate vodka in a style that suits you. That might mean a classic cocktail like a Moscow Mule or Cosmopolitan, a flavored vodka serve or something a little more experimental.

If you want a good place to start, the video below shows Rico making two versions of a Vesper Martini — one classic, one with a more luxurious twist. Try it at your next home party and see which one people reach for first.

What Drink Should I Make for International Vodka Day?

That depends on what you’re in the mood for. A Vodka Tonic is always a solid choice, while a Cosmopolitan, Mule or Espresso Martini brings a little more flair to the glass.

Many of the world’s best-known vodka cocktails are built on just a few ingredients, which means you don’t need much to make something worth pouring.

So, whatever cocktail you mix and however you decide to celebrate, we say cheers to International Vodka Day!

Absolut Boston was a Local Limited-Edition Vodka Bottle release and one of our many collaborations over the years.

Released in 2009, Absolut Boston was the third installment in our Cities series, a series celebrating incredible cities (and later countries) around the globe.

Batter up! Join us as take a stroll down memory lane to revisit Absolut Boston.

The “Green Monster” – the inspiration for Absolut Boston

What better way to capture the essence of Boston than by celebrating the iconic “Green Monster” at Fenway Park?

On each bottle, an inscription read: “In a city rich with monuments commemorating a nation, the one that stands above all is a dented green wall 37 feet tall, 240 feet long, and some 310 feet from home plate down the left-field lane.”

With its green backdrop the Absolut Boston limited edition bottle was a tribute to the infamous “Green Monster”, the nickname of the left field wall at Fenway Park, home of Boston Red Sox baseball team.

Another Kind of Boston Tea Party

When we set out to create Absolut Boston, we wanted to capture the city’s rich history—but with a twist! After all, doing things differently is part of Absolut’s DNA.

So, what better way to honor Boston than by tipping our hat to the most famous tea party in history? No, not the kind with crumpets and cucumber sandwiches, but the legendary Boston Tea Party of 1773.

In a playful nod to this revolutionary act, we infused Absolut Boston with the bold flavors of black tea and the delicate notes of elderflower. This unexpected combination struck a chord with bartenders and the good folks of Beantown alike, proving that sometimes the best way to celebrate history is to mix it up a bit—literally! Tea, anyone?

Beyond the Bottle—Preserving Water Quality and Green Spaces

To celebrate the launch of Absolut Boston, we constructed our own “Wall of pride” on Boston’s Boylston Plaza.

Made up of 28 green tiles, created and signed by various celebrities with ties to Boston, which were then auctioned off to raise money for charity.

We donated $50,000 to the Charles River Conservancy, a charity that strives to keep Boston’s drinking water clean and preserve the many green areas around the city. At Absolut, we understand the importance of pristine water.

We source our water locally from wells in southern Sweden that extend over 140 meters deep. This water has been naturally filtered through the Swedish bedrock for thousands of years, offering a unique mouthfeel that can’t be replicated in a lab. Given that 60% of vodka is pure water, this element is crucial in creating our vodka.

Join us in raising a glass to honor the legacy of Absolut Boston, a bottle that distilled the true essence of the city.

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Want to learn more about the Absolut Boston Local Limited-Edition Vodka Bottle? Explore Absolut Boston