Why Absolut Released A New Andy Warhol Bottle Nearly 40 Years After The Original
Absolut Vodka is bringing Andy Warhol's iconic art back into the spotlight with a new limited-edition bottle inspired by the rediscovery of Warhol's "blue" painting —nearly four decades after the pop art pioneer first created a design for Absolut.
Andy Warhol was an American artist and central figure in the Pop Art movement, known for his bold and iconic style that merged art with commercial imagery. Born in 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he began his career as a commercial illustrator before transitioning to fine art in the 1960s. Warhol's work often featured everyday consumer goods—like Campbell's soup cans and Coca-Cola bottles —and portraits of famous figures, such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.
His approach challenged traditional boundaries between high art and popular culture, using repetition and bright, contrasting colors to highlight the mass production and celebrity culture of his time. Warhol's New York studio, "The Factory," became a legendary space where artists, celebrities, and creatives gathered, making him a symbol of the vibrant art and social scene of 1960s America.
Releasing a new Warhol bottle now might seem like a bit of an odd choice, until you know the history behind it.
Warhol and Absolut: A Brief History of a Bold PartnershipBack in 1985, Andy Warhol became the first artist to reimagine the Absolut bottle, transforming the brand's apothecary-inspired shape into a cultural icon with bold, vibrant colors. Warhol himself reportedly approached the brand about the partnership. While he personally didn't consume alcohol, Warhol reportedly used the vodka as cologne .
His original "Absolut Warhol" painting from 1985, with its striking blues, pinks, and yellows against a dark background, is now considered a hallmark of both the artist's and the brand's history. The collaboration also opened the door for Absolut's ongoing involvement with artists, including Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, and Romero Britto.
But that initial partnership held a mystery. For years, art enthusiasts talked about a second Warhol painting created for Absolut that had never been seen publicly. In 2020, those rumors were confirmed when the "Absolut blue" painting surfaced at a Swedish auction. Along with the artwork itself, Absolut's original contract with Warhol was unearthed, verifying that Warhol had indeed created two pieces for the vodka brand.
Today, that rediscovered and recovered piece is on display at Stockholm's Spritmuseum in a new exhibit dedicated to Warhol, "Andy Warhol, Money on the Wall," curated by art historian Dr. Blake Gopnik. That exhibit opened last month and runs until April 27, 2025.
Celebrating Warhol's Legacy in Art and Pop CultureWarhol's fascination with consumer goods was always an essential part of his work. Whether he was painting soup cans or interpreting brands like Absolut, he saw everyday objects as reflections of contemporary society. Warhol believed that art could break down social barriers, allowing people from all backgrounds to connect over shared culture—and that spirit is alive in this release.
"Our collaboration with Absolut Vodka celebrates Warhol's enduring artistic legacy and cultural influence through his belief in the power of art to provoke thought and inspire change," says Michael Dayton Hermann, Director at The Andy Warhol Foundation.
"What he does that nobody does is that he realizes that it's all very well to make a picture of consumerism, of capitalism from a distance the way an artist would portray a bowl of fruit, but it's more powerful to, in a sense, jump in the fruit bowl and participate in the world of commodification, often ironically, satirically as a kind of joke," he says.
The Foundation will receive a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold, which will go toward its mission of supporting projects that challenge societal norms in the visual arts.
The New Absolut Warhol BottleThe new Absolut Warhol bottle aims to capture Warhol's distinct aesthetic, particularly the layered, screen-printed style he used in his Absolut art. This latest bottle features shades drawn directly from the newly rediscovered "blue" painting, giving the design a multi-layered look along with Warhol's image and signature.
"When we rediscovered this painting, I think it also presented us with the opportunity to bring it to life and remind the new generation of Absolut's rich cultural heritage for a new generation," says Deb Dasgupta, VP of Global MArketing for Absolut.
The new bottle is an understated take on the painting with the design on the back, while maintaining the classic Absolut-bottle look with a unique Warhol-inspired medallion on the front. The original Absolut Warhol bottle was also housed in the iconic bottle, the lettering was also colored, making it a bit more attention-grabbing while the new version focuses the art of the rear of the bottle.
"I think the vision for us at Absolut was to bring to life this painting in the bottle," says Dasgupta. It's been an absolute labor of love... Warhol remains an inspiration. Warhol remains relevant, and Warhol remains the icon that he is so when we brought to life this project, our vision was to introduce Warhol in a very modern and contemporary way."
Absolut Warhol's Milk PunchBeyond the bottle's design, Absolut has created a unique cocktail in Warhol's honor. Inspired by his notorious sweet tooth and his love for cornflakes, Absolut Warhol's Milk Punch is a creamy blend of Absolut Vodka, cocoa butter, banana liqueur, lemon juice, and cornflake-infused milk. Each bottle includes a QR code linking to a behind-the-scenes video that teaches drinkers how to mix up this Warhol-inspired recipe, blending modern cocktail craft with a taste of the artist's quirky favorites.
And if you can't get your hands on one of the limited-edition Warhol bottles, the good news is it will work with any bottle of classic Absolut.
Absolut Warhol's Milk PunchIngredients:
*Fat Washed Vodka
Melt the butter, add it into a jar together with the vodka, store in a fridge overnight, filter the liquid.
**Cornflake Milk
Mix the milk and cornflakes in a jar and store in a fridge overnight, strain out the cornflakes and store the milk in a fridge.
How To Mix:
DAY 1 | Preparation: Make Fat Washed Vodka & Cornflake Milk. Mix melted cocoa butter and vodka in a jar. Mix milk and cornflakes in another jar. Refrigerate both overnight.
DAY 2 | Mixing: Filter above ingredients and mix with rest of ingredients in a jar. Refrigerate overnight.
DAY 3 | Serving: Strain liquid through a cheesecloth and then a coffee filter. Serve over one large ice cube in a rocks glass and garnish.
