Absolut Tabasco is one of the more divisive expressions in the range — a collaboration with McIlhenny Company that infuses the Swedish wheat base with the iconic Louisiana hot sauce flavour. It is designed specifically for Bloody Marys, where hot sauce is already a key ingredient.
The nose is unmistakably Tabasco: vinegar, chilli heat, and red pepper. The palate is warm and spicy — Tabasco character, chilli, a hint of smokiness, and the Absolut grain smoothness preventing it from becoming painful. At 35% ABV, the lower strength keeps the heat manageable.
The finish is warm and peppery, with Tabasco lingering. A one-trick pony, but if that trick is Bloody Marys, it is a very good one. Not for sipping; absolutely for mixing.