Absolut Citron Vodka
Absolut Citron Vodka is the original citrus vodka, launched in 1988 and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) — natural lemon and lime flavour over Absolut’s smooth Swedish wheat vodka, famously the vodka that inspired the Cosmopolitan. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Flavour: natural lemon and lime, no added sugar
- Origin: Åhus, Sweden — winter wheat, continuous distillation (L.O. Smith, 1879)
- Claim to fame: Absolut’s first flavoured vodka (1988); the Cosmopolitan’s original vodka
The Vodka Behind the Cosmopolitan
Absolut Citron was Absolut’s first flavoured vodka, launched in 1988 — and it became the main ingredient in the blockbuster drink of the following decade: the Cosmopolitan. Whether the citrus vodka inspired the cocktail or the cocktail made the vodka famous is a bar-room debate; either way, Citron’s balance of tangy lemon and vibrant lime became the template for citrus vodka itself. Like all Absolut, it is made from winter wheat grown around Åhus and distilled continuously in one of the world’s most energy-efficient distilleries, with no added sugar.
Tasting Notes
Fresh lemon zest and a hint of lime on the nose. The palate is crisp and lively — bright natural citrus over the smooth, full-bodied wheat base, never syrupy. Clean, refreshing finish with lingering lemon brightness.
How to Enjoy
It exists for the Cosmopolitan — Citron, Cointreau, cranberry and fresh lime is the classic build. It is equally at home in a lemon drop martini, a citrus vodka spritz, or simply over ice with soda and a lemon wedge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Absolut Citron inspire the Cosmopolitan?
That is the brand’s own history — Citron, launched in 1988, became the defining vodka of the Cosmopolitan as the drink took over bars in the 1990s.
Is Absolut Citron sweetened?
No — it is made with natural lemon and lime flavour and no added sugar, so the citrus reads as genuine fruit.
What is the ABV of Absolut Citron?
40% ABV (80 proof), 750mL.
San Diego, CA orders ship fast from Del Mesa Liquor — grab Absolut Citron, the citrus vodka classic, and stock up on Absolut while you are here.