Editing Absolut Vodka (section)

==History==
[[File:Absolut Company Factory.jpg |thumb|right|The Absolut Company plant in Åhus, Sweden]]
Absolut was established in 1879 by [[Lars Olsson Smith]]. Smith challenged the city of Stockholm's liquor marketing monopoly with his vodka. It was sold outside the city border at a lower price than the monopoly's product. Smith offered free boat rides to the distillery and {{lang|sv|Rent Brännvin}} ("Pure Vodka") was highly successful.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.absolutad.com/absolut_about/history/story/ |title=The story |website=Absolutad.com |date=17 April 1979 |access-date=2020-03-14 |archive-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508182141/http://absolutad.com/absolut_about/history/story/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Lo-smith.jpg|thumb|right|L.O. Smith, the founder of Absolut Rent Brännvin]]
In 1917, the Swedish government monopolized the country's alcohol industry. Vodka was then sold nationwide under the name {{lang|sv|Absolut Rent Brännvin}}. In 1979, the old name Absolut was picked up when the upper-price range Absolut Vodka was introduced. ''[[Renat vodka|Renat]]'' is the name of another vodka product sold by Pernod Ricard Sweden AB.

Absolut Vodka was introduced to the global market in 1979. {{as of|2018}} Absolut sells over {{convert|100|e6L}} of vodka annually.<ref>{{cite web |first=Amy |last=Hopkins |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/06/leading-vodka-brands-experience-change-of-fortune/ |title=Vodka giants experience change of fortune |website=The Spirits Business |date=15 June 2018 |access-date=2020-03-14 |archive-date=14 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014121202/https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/06/leading-vodka-brands-experience-change-of-fortune/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The vodka is made from [[winter wheat]] and is produced now{{when|date=September 2024}} only in [[Åhus]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
[[File:Absolut vodka 04.jpg|thumb|Absolut Vodka bottles]]