Absolut and Tabasco Introduce Their First Spicy Vodka

Fans of spicy booze are in for a treat. One of the world’s most famous vodkas has teamed up with America’s most iconic hot sauce for a collab that brings the heat — just not too much. 

Absolut Tabasco is a new chile pepper-flavored vodka available throughout the U.S. — and in more than 50 international markets — starting this month. It’s the first-ever collaboration between Absolut Vodka and Tabasco Brand, each of them goliaths in their respective categories. 

Fittingly, both of the company’s core products — Absolut Vodka and Tabasco Brand Original Red Sauce — are made with just three ingredients. Distilled in Åhus, Sweden, Absolut Vodka is made from water, winter wheat, and a proprietary yeast strain. Tabasco has been produced on Avery Island, Louisiana, since 1868. Its famed pepper sauce is made from an aged mash of red peppers, salt, and vinegar. 

Flavoring for Absolut Tabasco begins with real Tabasco pepper mash, which is aged and fermented for up to three years in reclaimed oak barrels. (Many of those barrels were previously used for whiskey maturation.) A portion of the mash is then blended with Absolut Vodka, followed by other “natural flavor notes.” According to a press release, the result delivers “distinctive heat and aroma of the world’s most famous pepper sauce,” along with a mouthfeel reminiscent of the sauce. As with all Absolut flavored vodkas, no sugar is added. It is certified gluten-free. 

Absolut emphasizes that while the new collab brings plenty of spice, the focus is on flavor rather than raw heat. “Tabasco Sauce does not aim to be the hottest of hot sauces, but has the perfect level of kick which has contributed to its massive fandom,” an Absolut representative tells Food & Wine. “Similarly, Absolut Tabasco delivers against expectations for those that crave heat, but is not so overwhelmingly spicy that the average consumer would be overwhelmed by the heat level.”

The partnership has been in the works since early 2025, when Absolut initiated talks with Tabasco. Of course, the behemoth vodka brand — the world’s second-largest — is no stranger to flavored varieties. The Pernod Ricard-owned company launched Absolut Peppar in 1986, followed by Absolut Citron in 1988. Other current Absolut flavors include Wild Berri, Grapefruit, Peach, Vanilla, Raspberri, and Mango.

Absolut Tabasco was partially inspired by a growing demand for spicy vodka, which a 2025 Datassentials report forecasts will rise by up to 27% by 2029. A 2020 Technomic Flavor Trends report also suggests that a majority of Gen Z is more likely to purchase consumables when they’re advertised as spicy. That’s a key demographic for the world’s largest alcohol companies, one that’s slowly building its affinity for alcohol, from wine to spirits and cocktails. 

Fittingly, Absolut recommends the new product in a variety of mixed drinks, including Bloody Marys and Spicy Lemonade, or on its own as a pepper-infused shot.