Svedka
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Svedka is a brand of vodka manufactured in Lidköping, Sweden and owned by New York-based Constellation Brands.
The spirit is 80 proof (40% alcohol). A one litre bottle is produced using about 1.5 kg of wheat and spring water. Svedka is bottled unflavored, as well as in citron, clementine, raspberry, and vanilla flavors.
It should be noted that Svedka was not sold in Sweden up until recently and the spirit has no history or manufacturing tradition (such as Absolut) in the country. In fact, it is a bulk spirit industrially manufactured by the Swedish Farmer's Co-op (Lantmännen) by order of Constellation Brands. It is a brand entirely invented by Constellation Brands to play on stereotypes of Swedish vodka and culture. The marketing techniques employed in the U.S. would most probably be called an abomination in Sweden, if they were carried out in this gender-conscious country.[1]
The design of the bottle takes its form from the classic Swedish medicine bottle of the 18th/19th centuries. It shares a similar design to competitor Swedish vodka Absolut.
Svedka is priced lower than high-priced vodkas at about the price of average vodka brands such as Smirnoff. It has received several industry awards, including a rating of 93 points from Wine Enthusiast in 1999 and 2004, and a Silver Medal in the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Svedka was acquired by Constellation Brands in March 2007 for about $384 million.[1] [2]
It is probably best known in the US for the controversial ad campaign created by the New York-based agency Amalgamated introduced in late 2005, with a futuristic "spokesbot" designed by Stan Winston. The ads make the claim that in the year 2033 Svedka will be the most popular vodka in the world. The ads poke fun at baby boomers, Scientologists and numerous other current pop-culture targets.
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
- Svedka's Official Site (Requires Flash)
