Absolut Elyx Handcrafted Vodka

Absolut Elyx Handcrafted Vodka. V&S Group / Pernod Ricard, Åhus, Sweden — Absolut’s luxury single-estate expression, manually distilled in Column 51 — a genuine 1921 copper rectification still operated entirely by hand — from single-estate winter wheat grown in the fields surrounding Åhus, delivering a silky texture and exceptional purity that copper catalyzation naturally achieves and that modern automated stills cannot replicate.

Column 51 is not a marketing concept — it is a physical object. The copper rectification still was manufactured in 1921 and operates at the Åhus distillery today, manually operated by a small number of distillers who have inherited the technical knowledge of working this specific still from their predecessors. The copper is essential: during distillation, the spirit contacts the copper vessel’s walls and reacts chemically, the copper ions absorbing sulfur compounds and other impurities that stainless steel — used in virtually all modern production — does not capture. The result is a naturally purer spirit from the same distillation pass, with a silky mouthfeel that the copper’s contribution creates organically.

The wheat is sourced from a single estate outside Åhus — a meaningful distinction from the standard Absolut Original, which draws from multiple Skåne-county farms. Single-estate production ensures that the wheat’s character — its specific starch content, its particular terroir expression — is consistent across every batch. Elyx has won the Double Gold Medal and Best Vodka at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 96-point score from Wine Enthusiast.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Exceptionally clean and rich with a pronounced silky sweetness. The copper catalyzation creates a purity of aroma that automated stills cannot achieve — no metallic notes, no grain harshness, just clean wheat and soft sweetness.
• Palate: The signature silky texture that Column 51’s copper creates. Full-bodied and luxurious with a velvety mouthfeel and delicate hints of vanilla. Prized by connoisseurs specifically for this texture.
• Finish: Exceptionally long and silky. The copper-distilled purity carries through in a finish that rewards sipping slowly rather than quickly.

Specs

• Producer: V&S Group / Pernod Ricard, Åhus, Sweden
• Still: Column 51 — genuine 1921 copper rectification still, manually operated
• Wheat: Single-estate winter wheat, Åhus environs
• Awards: Double Gold + Best Vodka, SFWSC 2013; 96pts Wine Enthusiast
• ABV: 42.3% (84.6 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Absolut Elyx taste like? Exceptionally clean and richly sweet on the nose. Signature silky texture on the palate with a velvety mouthfeel and delicate vanilla hints. Exceptionally long, silky finish that rewards slow sipping.
• What is Column 51? A genuine copper rectification still manufactured in 1921 and still in use at the Åhus distillery. It is manually operated by a small number of specially trained distillers. Copper catalyzation during distillation removes sulfur compounds and other impurities that stainless steel stills leave behind, creating the silky texture Elyx is known for.
• What is single-estate wheat? Elyx sources its winter wheat from a single estate outside Åhus rather than from multiple farms across Skåne county. Single-estate sourcing ensures the wheat’s character is consistent across every batch — the same terroir expression in every bottle.
• Is Elyx worth the premium over standard Absolut? For those who appreciate the difference, yes. The 1921 copper still’s manual operation and copper catalyzation create a silky texture that is physically different from Absolut Original. Best appreciated neat, over ice, or in a minimalist cocktail like a vodka martini where the texture and purity can be tasted directly.