Absolut Deck
Promotional deck published for Absolut Vodka in Sweden.
In 2005, Absolut Vodka of Sweden produced these playing cards as a promotional pack. According to cardistry websites the pack was originally designed for a marketing tour organized by several magicians, including Doug McKenzie, Lee Asher, and Kostya Kimlat.
There are 10 different drink/cocktail recipes based on Absolut products repeated on the ace-10 pip cards in each suit, all with names or calls associated with the game of poker (e.g. Absolut Flush, Absolut Hold, Absolut Raise, etc.). The court cards are colourfully designed, all quite similar in style but with variations between the suits. The two jokers hold an empty vodka bottle.
In 2008 the company transferred ownership of Absolut vodka to Pernod Ricard.
Above: promotional deck published for Absolut Vodka in Sweden, 2005.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Activity for Absolut Deck
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Hamlet Cigars
Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.
G&G Armament playing cards
G&G Armament Airsoft replica gun playing cards from Taiwan.
Southern Comfort
Southern Comfort whiskey playing cards, USA.
Campari playing cards
Publicity pack for Campari, designed for the Portuguese or Brazilian market.
Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
Pretty Frills
‘Pretty Frills’ playing cards promoting curtain and blind accessories.
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace Kentucky bourbon whiskey promotion playing cards, 2014.
Axminster 100 playing cards
Special non-standard pack produced for Axminster Carpets Ltd.
Farmall playing cards
Farmall playing cards advertising International Harvester tractors, USA, c.2015.
Orange: Great Value, Free Rewards
“Orange: Great Value, Free Rewards” promotional playing cards published by Orange UK.
Eurocell® playing cards
Promotional playing cards produced by Eurocell® (UPVC window, door, conservatory and roofline system...
Trading Mart
‘Trading Mart’ playing cards published by RusJoker, St Petersburg, 2005.
Jack Daniel’s Playing Cards
Jack Daniel’s™ Old Nº7 Gentlemen’s playing cards produced by Hoyle Products, USA, 1994.
Heisey Glass Museum
National Heisey Glass Museum playing cards featuring artistic glass tableware and figurines, USA, 20...
Interhotel playing cards
Interhotel playing cards printed by Obchodni Tiskárny (OTK), Prague, and published by the Interhotel...
Pack of Cocktails
Pack of Cocktails playing cards published by Figure Dynamics in 1985.
Bell’s Patience playing cards
Bell’s Patience playing cards, United Kingdom, 2006
Glenfiddich the independent spirit
Glenfiddich whisky advertising playing cards from Scotland, United Kingdom.
Whyte & Mackay Lucky Lions
Whyte & Mackay Lucky Lions playing cards, United Kingdom, 2017
Goldfish
Playing cards advertising the Goldfish credit card brand, c.1996.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
