🥃 Absolut Citron
Absolut Citron is the citrus-flavoured version of Swedish Absolut vodka: 40% ABV (80 proof on US labels), no added sugar, launched in 1988.
If you are looking for a lemon vodka, Absolut Citron is the Swedish Absolut line that made the style familiar. It is 40% ABV, the same strength as the classic Absolut Vodka. According to Difford's Guide, it was launched in 1988 and helped popularise citrus-flavoured vodkas. Absolut describes it as the most popular flavour line of the brand.
According to Pernod Ricard, the composition is water, vodka (grain spirit) and natural flavourings, with no added sugar. Its nutritional values match the classic version: 66 kcal and 9.5 g of alcohol per 30 ml, so Citron does not differ from Absolut Vodka in calories. Difford's Guide names citrus flavour extracts, including mandarin, orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit.
Why this matters for you. This is a flavoured vodka (EU category 31), not a classic one: the flavour of the ingredients is dominant. Compare it with Absolut Vodka by the label rather than by smell, which makes it easier to choose between the brand's lines. The strength is 40% ABV; the WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1988 — launch of Absolut Citron (per Difford's Guide) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 31 'Flavoured vodka' |
| EU category | 31 — flavoured vodka |
| Raw material | winter wheat vodka with natural flavourings |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Absolut Citron → kind of → 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What is made from it
- 🥃 Cosmopolitan
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Absolut, 🍸 Vodka, 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Absolut Mandrin, 🥃 Absolut Raspberri, 🥃 Absolut Vanilia, 🥃 Absolut Vodka, 🥃 Absolut Mandrin, 🥃 Absolut Raspberri, 🥃 Absolut Vanilia, 🥃 Absolut Vodka, 🍸 Flavoured vodka, 🥃 Wyborowa
Frequently asked questions
Does Absolut Citron have sugar added?
According to Pernod Ricard, no sugar is added: it is water, vodka and natural flavourings.
What proof is Absolut Citron on a US label?
It is 40% ABV, which is 80 proof, the same strength as the classic vodka.
Which citrus flavours does Difford's Guide name?
Citrus extracts, including mandarin, orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit.
What drink made Citron famous?
It is the vodka of the classic New York version of the Cosmopolitan; the line was launched in 1988.
How should I serve it?
Chilled, or as a base for citrus mixed drinks.
What to read next
- 🥃 Absolut Raspberri — Absolut Raspberri is Swedish Absolut vodka with raspberry flavour: 38% ABV (76 proof) according to Difford's Guide, launched in 2004.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Wyborowa — Wyborowa is a Polish rye vodka brand from Poznań; history from 1823; 40% ABV (80 proof); first vodka with a registered international trademark (1927); owned by Pernod Ricard.
- 🥃 Cosmopolitan — Modern classic cocktail of citrus vodka, Cointreau orange liqueur, lime juice and cranberry juice; light pink, shaken hard and served in a large cocktail glass with a lemon twist.
Similar
🥃 Absolut Mandrin · 🥃 Absolut Raspberri · 🥃 Absolut Vanilia · 🥃 Absolut Vodka · 🥃 Sobieski Raspberry · 🥃 Sobieski Vanilla
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Pernod Ricard: Absolut (Absolut Vodka, Citron, Mandrin: ingredients, 40 % ABV, nutrition per 30 ml)
- Difford's Guide: Absolut Citron (40 %, 1988, citrus extracts)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I (categories 15, 20-22, 31; legislation.gov.uk)
- World Health Organization: Alcohol fact sheet