Absolut expands oak focus in travel retail

Pernod Ricard Travel Retail is to release barrel-rested vodka Oak by Absolut, a follow up to 2013’s Absolut Amber expression.

Pernod Ricard Travel Retail has released Oak by Absolut, a barrel-rested vodka, into the channel

The 40% abv vodka is a combination of original Absolut Vodka and barrel-rested, oak macerated Absolut.

Production incorporates Swedish, American and French oak in a method involving virgin casks, macerations and ex-bourbon barrels.

The resulting vodka offers “a new depth of character and richness, a smooth and subtly smoky flavour” with notes of “vanilla, caramel and toasted oak”, says the company.

Oak by Absolut follows the 2013 US release of Absolut Amber, a vodka aged for a minimum of six months in ex-Bourbon barrels, American oak and Swedish oak, along with roasted American and French oak chips.

“Oak by Absolut is not the same liquid as Absolut Amber. Absolut Amber had a similar offering and tested how consumers responded to this new, more complex innovation,” a spokesperson told The Spirits Business.

They added that through “continuous exploration and testing”, the company saw opportunities to “adapt” the recipe, making Oak by Absolut “even smoother and more versatile”.

Per Hermansson, director of sensory design at Absolut, commented: “I was inspired to create Oak by Absolut by the emerging trend of unique barrel-aged cocktails that brings a new versatility and flavor to even the simplest of cocktails.

“I wanted to see what could happen if we brought this new flavour dimension directly to the base spirit. The end result is better than we could have ever imagined.”

Suggested serves for Oak by Absolut include the Oak Mule (ginger beer and a squeeze of lime), the Oak Sour (lemon juice and simple syrup) and the Oak Apple Pie Shot (apple juice, lemon juice and cinnamon syrup).

Oak by Absolut is available now in Gulf Travel Retail at an RRP of US$28.99 for a 1-litre format. The product will then be rolled out across the Americas Travel Retail in February, Europe Travel Retail in March, and Asia Travel Retail in August.