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What company was the first to introduce flavored vodka and what was the first flavor? In 1979, the United States was introduced to Absolut vodka from Sweden. Absolut has since become one of the leading brands of alcohol in the world due to its aggressive ad campaign which began in the 1980.
Absolut introduced the world’s first flavored vodka, Absolut Peppar, in 1986. Why pepper? The two main ingredients in a Bloody Mary are vodka and pepper. At the time Absolut Peppar was introduced, Bloody Mary bars were all the rage in the United States. Therefore, it only seemed fitting to Absolut to create flavored vodka that would make it even easier for bartenders to make Bloody Marys. There are now ten flavored vodkas in the Absolut line which include: Absolut Citron, Absolut Kurant, Absolut Mandrin, Absolut Vanilla, Absolut Raspberry, Absolut Peach, Absolut Ruby Red, Absolut Pear and Absolut Mango.
The Absolut bottle was inspired by a traditional 18th century pharmacy bottle that was found in an antique shop located in old town Stockholm. Absolut’s marketing department originally turned down the bottle design because of the short neck which made the bottle hard to pour from. Also, the marketing department didn’t like the fact that there wasn’t an actual label on the bottle. Despite the disapproval from the marketing department, Absolut proceeded forward with the bottle design and as they say, the rest is history.
For more information, visit the Absolut website.
Comments
Not true. It was Stolichnaya. Check out the Sept/October issue of bar Business Magazine online via our website.
Good article though. We're fans of your posts!
Interesting. According to the Absolut website, (and I quote):
"ABSOLUT PEPPAR was launched in 1986, seven years after ABSOLUT VODKA. Besides being the first flavored vodka in the family, it was also the first flavored vodka in the world."
Don't believe me? Check it here for yourself on the Absolut website:
www.absolut.com/products/peppar/description
I researched Stoli and looked all over their website. There was NO mention of any dates on when their first flavored vodka came out onto the market. I also did not see Stoli claiming that they were the first to introduce flavored vodka to the market either.
If Absolut and I are wrong, please provide the source of information that states so. I would never want to mislead my readers with bogus information.
Thanks!
Kathleen
Sorry dude. I'm with Kathleen on this one.
Kristine Bottone- LA Bartender Examiner www.examiner.com/x-6123-LA-Bartender-Examiner
Bar Bus - you trying to drive traffic to your website? As a Bartender and reporter it's important to cite your sources. I can't find any sources in the article you wrote claiming Stoli had the first flavored vodka, yet there are several sources I can find that back up Absolut was the first.
I agree with Kathleen. How do i know? I´m making the Absolut bottle in Sweden and know the history very well...
These "industrial" flavored vodkas are a bit one dimentional don't you think? I was hoping you would cover some of the more innovative examples such as Hanger One's Chipotlet or Kaffir Lime or Sub Rosa Spirits' Tarragon vodka or their Indian influenced Saffron vodka. As a SF writer, you must know that these craft spirits have made great in roads into the San Francisco bar scene. Go to DOSA on Fillmore & Post and check out their cocktail menu.
Kevin, Excellent point. I plan on covering other brands in the future in other articles I post on my page. As for this article, my main focus was to talk about the first flavored vodka that was introduced to the market. BTW, I am a HUGE fan of Hanger One.
I remember buying Cherry and Peach flavored vodka in the early
'60s. I think it was Smirnoff, but I'm not sure of that.
De Kuyper had flavored vodka in the 1960's, including cherry and lime flavor. I also have a bottle of Mohawk mint vodka from the late 60's or 70's. I don't know why or how Absolut has tried to claim they were the first, but they weren't- they just recycled an old idea.
I was a bartender for more than twenty years and I do remember a flavored pepper vodka and I'm pretty sure it was Stoli not Absolute. There was also a number of other flavored vodkas which were Smirnoff ptoducts. I also recall that the flavored went off the market for some reason then resurfaced some years later. There was even a Bufallo Grass flavor and I don't know what the hell that tasted like! In New York Smirnoff promotion for a drink called Harvey Wallbanger which used a float of Galliano a orange liqueur over a Screwdriver base. The result was a sweet drink that tasted like a orange cremesicle, very popular with the ladies.
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