• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Retail

Absolut Releases Its First New Flavored Vodka in Four Years

By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 16, 2017, 6:00 AM ET
Courtesy of Pernod Ricard
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Absolut vodka thinks there is room for another flavored vodka on liquor shelves and local bars.

Pernod Ricard this year will debut Absolut Lime, the first new flavor for the brand since the French beverage giant debuted Absolut Cilantro back in 2013. A roll out begins this month, with full distribution expected at the end of February. The move indicates that the alcohol maker thinks that the flavored vodka industry has some opportunities for growth, even though flavored vodka sales have declined in recent years in the United States.

Vodka—dismissively called “odorless, colorless, flavorless” by whiskey and tequila producers—found a formula for success when it began to popularize flavors. The flavor innovation fueled sales, giving consumers new reasons to return to the category whenever a new flavor would hit shelves. At first, big vodka brands focused on simple flavor additions like lemon and vanilla, making alcoholic spirits that could still be easily mixable.

But then things got crazy. Confectionery inspired flavors like birthday cake, cotton candy and Cinnabon started hitting retail shelves. There was even a bacon-flavored vodka (for a Bloody Mary of course).

Consumers were turned off by the wackiness. Flavored vodka—which had fueled demand for the spirit—dropped by 1.1 million cases in 2015, according to industry advocate Distilled Spirits Council. Brands that had previously led the movement—Constellation Brands’ (STZ-B) Svedka and Beam Suntory’s Pinnacle vodka—became more prudent about flavor innovation. But alcohol drinkers didn’t just ditch flavored vodka—they moved away from the entire category in favor of brown spirits like bourbon. A fundamental shift in drinking behavior took hold.

But vodka sales in the U.S. are still growing. And Pernod Ricard thinks that consumers are still interested in some of the more traditional flavors, especially citrus-based drinks.

“We launched Absolut Citron almost 30 years ago,” Nick Guastaferro, who runs Absolut’s U.S. business. “As we looked at the category, we realized that citrus was a top position for Absolut.” That classic flavor, Guastaferro says, is something that’s easier for bartenders and drinkers at home to understand.

After all, the second most popular cocktail in the U.S. is a vodka soda—and that’s often accompanied with a lime. “You can add lime juice to make more complex cocktails, but the idea is that the [Absolut Lime] liquid can stand on its own and you don’t need the lime. That step can be replaced,” Guastaferro says.

Absolut is one of the core brands sold by Pernod Ricard, which also sells Jameson whiskey, Malibu rum and Chivas Regal whisky. But when Fortune asked Pernod Ricard CEO Alexandre Ricard in a recent interview about which brand could be performing better in the U.S., he pointed to Absolut—which posted a volume drop of 2% to 10.9 million cases in the most recent year—as a laggard. Though Absolut is the second-most popular vodka in the U.S. after rival Diageo’s Smirnoff, it has ceded vodka market share, most notably to U.S. craft brand Tito’s, according to data by research firm Euromonitor.

“Absolut is a big ship,” Ricard said. “To turn a big ship around requires time, money and creativity. Those are the three ingredients we are playing with to get there.” Ricard thinks Absolut can do a better job communicating the values of the brand—including the fact that every ingredient used to make the vodka is truly local. All ingredients are sourced from a 50-mile radius of the distillery in Åhus, Sweden.

Another goal: streamlining the focus on Absolut. The company currently has 17 flavors on shelves but this year, it will refocus on just 10 flavors. Those are: Citron, Mandrin, Ruby Red, Apeach, Vanilia, Raspberri, Pears, Mango, Peppar and now Lime.

“We wanted to think about the flavors in our portfolio and build from a point of strength—classic flavors,” said Guastaferro. “This is a simple flavor that a bartender can play with—that’s really the thinking that led to the launch of Absolut Lime.”

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

Target worker stocks shelves
SuccessJobs
Target is starting to track employees’ unexcused lateness and absences with a points system—and if they rack up 12, they’re fired
By Emma BurleighJune 29, 2026
5 hours ago
a
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
Atomic Industries CEO: America spent 60 years retreating from manufacturing. The next 100 are about building it back
By Aaron SlodovJune 29, 2026
10 hours ago
green
RetailWorld Cup
France wearing green for the Statue of Liberty: inside the unusual interpretation of ‘national pride’ that makes World Cup jerseys
By Claire Rush and The Associated PressJune 28, 2026
1 day ago
Peter Rahal speaks on stage in front of a black and purple background.
RetailFood and drink
David Protein CEO says ‘diet trends are over’ because of GLP-1s: ‘What’s next is really hard to predict’
By Sasha RogelbergJune 28, 2026
1 day ago
psg
RetailSports
More than a club: how Paris Saint-Germain took inspiration from the Barcelona slogan and the New York Yankees cap to create a global business brand
By Nick LichtenbergJune 28, 2026
1 day ago
family
CommentaryColleges and Universities
More than 3 million college students are raising kids. Most won’t graduate
By Enyi OkebugwuJune 28, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
5 days ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
2 days ago
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
5 hours ago
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
Environment
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
By Catherina GioinoJune 28, 2026
2 days ago
Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's first-ever billionaire: He went from begging for burgers outside McDonald's to landing a $400 million contract
Success
Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's first-ever billionaire: He went from begging for burgers outside McDonald's to landing a $400 million contract
By Preston ForeJune 28, 2026
1 day ago
Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO
Success
Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 28, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.