Life-long Philadelphian David Adelman has a knack for building billion dollar empires. So when Adelman was spotted in late February in Boston’s North End neighborhood; and sitting courtside at the Sixers-Celtics game, the city began wondering what he may be up to now? Bostonians are about to see -and taste- his latest endeavor, American Harvest Organic Vodka.
DAVID Adelman likes to build things.
On this seasonably warm February evening, the affable co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers is wandering around Boston’s West End neighborhood prior to the Celtics-Sixers game at The Garden, which ended in a disappointing loss for his beloved team.
He is taking notes about everything he sees and hears, because -as you may have read- the lifelong Philadelphian is trying to build a new downtown arena in the City of Brotherly Love, and the development around The Garden is his muse.
But unlike almost all arenas and stadiums rising across the US, including our own, he and his partners are not asking for public funding. They are bankrolling the entire $1.55 billion themselves, a bet on his hometown based on a sincere belief that if they build it, they will come.
To most, that’s not only a daunting figure, but an almost impossible challenge as well. For Adelman, it’s a passion play, and it’s something he has been doing his entire career.
He is the CEO of one of the largest privately owned operators of off campus housing in the United States called Campus Apartments, Inc., developing and managing more than 25,000 beds on more than 75 campuses.
He also founded and built FS Investments from scratch, an alternative investment company with $78b under management. That’s right. $78 billion.
“The area around The Garden is extremely well designed and executed,” he said following the game, as he sipped an espresso martini in North End hot spot, Bricco.
“You’ve got it all here; a welcoming environment with great energy, multiple options for pre-game dining, and an outstanding transportation hub. We plan to bring a world class facility to a part of downtown Philadelphia that has struggled with crime and homelessness for decades. We believe we can revitalize Center City (Philadelphia) and build an arena Philadelphians can be proud of.”
Given that the projected completion date isn’t until 2031, one would think he has enough on his plate for the foreseeable future, but not Adelman. An admitted workaholic with mad energy and a “never say die” attitude, Adelman is building something else designed to capture your attention.
As the founder of Darco Spirits, he intends to bring his “Midas touch” to his newly reimagined American Harvest Organic Vodka and Beach Whiskey (you’ve likely seen the stunning blue and red sea glass bottles at liquor stores across New England), the same way he did with Campus Housing, FS and the arena.
“I’ve always loved vodka, but I could never understand why no one ever tried to take on the 1000-pound gorilla,” referring to the colossal brand Tito’s without saying it by name. It’s no secret that every high-end vodka on store shelves hails from another country, and that irks the Ohio State graduate.
“America has given up on trying to produce a world class, premium vodka. I don’t get that. When people travel, some people like Hilton’s (he built and owns a Hilton Garden Inn) and Marriotts, and some prefer elevated experiences like the Ritz or the Four Seasons. In American vodka, consumers have few choices, so we set out to produce the very best.”
Adelman fell in love with the brand, first as a consumer, and then sealed the deal to purchase the company when he visited the distillery and the third generation farming family who grow the red winter wheat in rural Idaho, which is used in American Harvest Vodka.
“It’s a magical place,” he added, “where the air is clean and the night sky is bright. It’s the kind of place you want your vodka to come from.”
Made with single source ingredients including pure spring water from Idaho’s Snake River Aquifer and aromatic red winter wheat grown on an eighty-acre parcel of pristine farmland, AHV, as Adelman affectionately calls American Harvest Vodka, is smooth and silky with no burn, and a subtle sweetness that pleases the palate.
“I refuse to attach my name to something that isn’t the very best. In addition to being USDA certified organic, AHV is non-GMO as well as gluten free,” he explains. “The red winter wheat is grown without fertilizers or pesticides, which for me, allows for the smoothest of finishes. My hope is that my daughters and their children will want to run this years from now, and keep it a family owned business.”
Apparently Boston agrees.
“It’s the smoothest vodka I’ve ever tasted,” asserts BostonMan Magazine publisher Matt Ribaudo. “AHV is absolutely the new go-to for my dirty martinis.”
Served on cocktail menus in the North End and downtown Boston’s tiniest of restaurants, as well as high end bistros and steakhouses in New York, Philadelphia, Miami and Las Vegas, it is giving more established premium brands a run for their money.
Adelman is a stickler for details and it shows in everything he does. Sister brands Beach Whiskey Island Coconut, Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon, and his newest innovation, whiskey-based canned cocktails, speak to his quest for perfection, quality and creativity.
“David doesn’t do things half way,“ said Rebecca Running, Darco’s CEO, who previously worked in management for other iconic spirits brands. “I wanted to lead in an entrepreneurial environment that produces great craft brands, and David makes the resources available to do so.”
Beach represents a state of mind and not a physical destination. High quality ingredients like clear bourbon-mash whiskey, cane sugar and natural essential oils are found in the bottles, which yield a light, balanced and refreshing finish.
Last year, Darco Spirits introduced canned cocktails made with their whiskey rather than more traveled base spirits like tequila and malt in four outstanding flavors: Pineapple Coconut, Mango Lemonade, Watermelon Peach and Strawberry Lemonade. They are a hit on rooftop bars, decks, patios and anywhere near the water.
Is there anything left for Adelman to build?
He smiled at the question, “I love tequila. It’s one of my favorite spirits. Don’t be surprised if you see an elevated brand from Darco Spirits one day soon!”
But first things first: bring back the value and quality of the good ‘ol American vodka.
And there are no two better cities to do that in then Philadelphia and Boston.
For more information on having American Harvest Organic Vodka in Boston area restaurants, lounges, and nightclubs please email Matt Ribaudo at: matt@bostonmanmagazine.com
