Absolut Mandrin Vodka

Distillery Background and History

Absolut Vodka is produced in Åhus, Sweden, and its roots trace back to 1879 when Lars Olsson Smith pioneered a purer style of vodka distillation. The brand is now owned by Pernod Ricard. Absolut Mandrin is one of its citrus-flavored variants, offering a mandarin (and orange) twist on the classic vodka base. 

Master Distiller and Production Philosophy

Absolut doesn’t typically highlight a single “master distiller” for its flavored lines. The philosophy behind Mandrin is to retain the purity and smoothness of the neutral Absolut base while layering natural mandarin orange flavor—without added sugar, colors, or sweeteners—to achieve a citrusy expression. 

Source of Ingredients (Grain, Water, Yeast)

The base vodka is distilled from winter wheat grown in southern Sweden. Absolut uses local well water from Åhus. Yeast strains are proprietary to Absolut and used to ferment the wheat mash, producing a clean, neutral spirit. 

Distillation Process

Absolut Mandrin is produced via continuous distillation (column stills), yielding a neutral spirit. After distillation, mandarin flavor extracts are blended in. The citrus infusion does not involve further distillation. 

Maturation & Cask Information

Vodka is not matured in barrels. Mandrin is a flavored vodka and is bottled soon after blending—no cask aging is involved.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Bright citrus—mandarin, orange peel, fresh tangerine aroma. 

Palate: Juicy mandarin fruit, orange hints, clean vodka backbone, rounded texture. 

Finish: Smooth, lingering citrus with soft, clean fruit echo and minimal harshness. 

Food Pairing Suggestions

Citrus desserts (like lemon tart), fruit salads, light seafood (ceviche, shellfish), grilled shrimp, soft cheese, or even spicy Asian dishes where citrus helps brighten flavors.

Serving Suggestions and Ideal Glassware

Serve chilled, either neat or over ice. Use a vodka tumbler, narrow tasting glass, or small rocks glass. Mandrin is also great in cocktails: pair with soda water, in citrus spritzes, or mix in a Mandarin Mule or Mandrin Crush. 

Storage and Aging Potential

Once bottled, it is stable and does not age further. Store upright in a cool, dark place.

Grain Type & Mash Bill (if applicable)

Wheat-based vodka (winter wheat). The citrus flavor is added post-distillation. 

ABV (Alcohol by Volume)

40 % ABV (80 proof)