Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, in southern Sweden. Absolut is owned by French group Pernod Ricard; it bought Absolut for €5.63 billion in 2008 from the Swedish state. Absolut is one of the largest brands of spirits in the world (after Officer’s Choice, Smirnoff, Bacardi) and is sold in 126 countries. Absolut Vodka is distilled from wheat grown in southern Sweden.