Level 750ML

Level 750ML is a Swedish vodka distilled from winter wheat in Åhus, Sweden, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750ml format. Now discontinued, this expression earned a score of 90–95 points from Wine Enthusiast, which called it "a superb unflavored vodka that's going to turn lots of heads."

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Åhus, Southern Sweden  |  Style: Dual-Distilled Unflavored Vodka  |  Distillery: Åhus Distillery (The Absolut Company / Pernod Ricard)

Production & Heritage

Level was produced at the historic Åhus distillery in southern Sweden — the same facility responsible for Absolut. What separated Level from its parent brand was a dual distillation technique: a continuous distillation step stripped away congeners for smoothness, followed by a batch distillation step designed to reintroduce character and depth. The base spirit was made exclusively from winter wheat grown in the fields surrounding Åhus and hydrated with local spring water drawn from the same region. The result was a vodka built to have noticeably more flavor and body than typical column-distilled competitors — a deliberate move by The Absolut Company, which is owned by Pernod Ricard, to challenge the premium vodka category from a different angle.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a bittersweet, concentrated quality carrying oily, kernel-like undertones. With air, those heavier notes dissipate, revealing a clean, dry cereal fragrance that hints at the winter wheat base.

Taste: The palate entry is rich and grainy-sweet, immediately telegraphing more flavor intensity than most unflavored vodkas. At the midpalate, an oily, viscous texture develops alongside a subtle citrus-edged bitterness that adds complexity. The overall impression is full-bodied and notably characterful.

Finish: Medium in length with a gentle warmth rather than any harsh burn. The grainy sweetness fades gradually and dissipates cleanly, leaving minimal residual heat.

How to Drink Level

Level rewards neat sipping more than most vodkas — its batch-distilled character gives it enough backbone to stand alone, ideally chilled or at a cool room temperature. It also works as a capable cocktail base where you want the spirit to assert itself rather than vanish:

• Vodka Martini: The grainy richness and viscous mouthfeel fill out a dry Martini without requiring excessive vermouth.
• Moscow Mule: Level's subtle bitterness and body push back against ginger beer's sweetness, creating a more balanced drink.
• Espresso Martini: The kernel-like, oily depth pairs naturally with coffee liqueur and freshly pulled espresso.

Best For

• Collectors seeking discontinued premium Swedish vodka
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Swedish wheat vodkas to French alternatives
• Cocktail enthusiasts who want a vodka with genuine flavor presence in stirred drinks
• Gifting a vodka aficionado something rare and no longer in production

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Level Vodka taste like? Level delivers a rich, grainy sweetness with an oily, viscous texture and a touch of citrus-like bitterness — significantly more flavorful than most unflavored vodkas on the market.

How does Level compare to Grey Goose? Level was launched as a direct competitor to Grey Goose, but the two take very different approaches: Grey Goose is French, distilled from soft winter wheat using a single continuous column distillation, while Level adds a batch distillation stage that gives it noticeably more body and grain character. Level tends to read as fuller and oilier, whereas Grey Goose leans lighter and cleaner.

Is Level good for sipping neat? Yes — the dual distillation process was specifically designed to retain enough flavor and texture for neat drinking, making it one of the more rewarding unflavored vodkas to sip on its own, slightly chilled.

Where is Level Vodka made? Level was produced at the Åhus distillery in southern Sweden, operated by The Absolut Company (a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard). The winter wheat and spring water used in production were both sourced from the surrounding region.

What foods pair well with Level Vodka? Traditional Scandinavian pairings work best: cured salmon or gravlax (the grainy sweetness complements the fish's richness), pickled herring (acidity and brine balance the vodka's oily body), rye bread with butter (echoes the cereal character), smoked trout (mirrors the subtle bitterness), and aged hard cheeses like Västerbotten (their nutty intensity matches Level's kernel-like depth).

What sizes does Level come in? Level was primarily available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Level worth the price? Level was positioned as a super-premium vodka during its production run, competing at the same tier as Grey Goose and Belvedere. As a discontinued product, remaining bottles carry additional collectibility value, and the dual-distilled profile genuinely delivers more complexity than many vodkas at or above its original price tier.

Why Level?

Level's defining achievement was proving that vodka could carry real flavor without added botanicals or infusions. The combination of continuous and batch distillation — an unusual and more labor-intensive approach — produced a spirit that Drinkhacker described as "perhaps the most flavorful vodka I've ever had." With the product now discontinued, remaining bottles represent a snapshot of an ambitious experiment by one of the world's most established vodka producers. For anyone who believes vodka should be more than a neutral carrier in cocktails, Level remains a compelling case study in what the category can achieve.