Above: Absolut Karnival

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A Swedish spirits mainstay seems to be right at home in Port of Spain.

Absolut Vodka announced Thursday that it would be debuting a new vodka under a carnival theme in time for this week’s Carnival festivities in Trinidad’s capital.

The limited-edition Absolut Karnival is meant to “capture the transformative energy of Carnival,” with flavours of passionfruit and orange blossom.

The Karnival bottle includes designs by Brazilian graphic novel artist Rafael Grampa.

“Absolut, like the Carnival festival itself, recognizes that we all have the power to create our own future. We are free, there are no rules, and the possibilities for transformation are infinite. The bottle design had to evoke this special Carnival feeling,” said Franz Drack, global marketing director at Absolut, in a release.

The company is launching it this week in a carnival parade, joined by a group of masqueraders and local Carnival band “Harts,” on March 3 and 4.

Absolut said it would be sending an “Absolut Karnival Cocktail” truck down the parade route.

Of course, Absolut will have to fight a decidedly uphill battle to compete against local rum giant Angostura for carnival-goers’ affections.