Absolut

Established in 1879, Absolut Vodka is one of the world’s most iconic vodkas. Founded by Lars Olsson Smith who developed an entirely new way to distill liquor in 1877, the brand is sold in 126 countries and produced near Ahus, Skane County, Sweden. Smith defied the liquor market in Stockholm and subsequently upset the monopoly in the area with his vodka, selling the brand at a lower price than other products and refusing the government’s mandatory liquor license. Smith originally sold the brand under the name “Absolut Rent Brannvin” and manufactured the spirit at his first facility in Reimersholme, central Stockholm. Thanks to endorsements by famed artist Andy Warhol, Absolut Vodka became the American icon it is today, holding 45% of the US market for vodka. The Absolut Ahus distillery produces half a million bottles a day for their US customers alone, clearly establishing the brand's status as a leader in premium-crafted vodka.