Copyright Inc. Magazine
When David Adelman acquired American Harvest Vodka in 2021, he set his sights on one single bar for the relaunch of the premium, U.S.-made liquor brand: Zero Bond. The swanky members-only social club in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan opened in 2020. Since then, the hot spot—which costs up to $4,400 a year to join on top of a $5,000 initiation fee—has become the pinnacle of the city’s private club boom, attracting celebrities ranging from Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez to Elon Musk and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. These were the elite tastemakers that Adelman wanted to drink his brand‘s vodka martinis. Adelman understands the benefits of the members-only economy for an emerging brand. He, after all, is a member of this exclusive segment of consumers himself. The Philadelphia native has amassed a net worth estimated at $2.3 billion as an entrepreneur and investor, having launched Campus Apartments, one of the largest campus housing providers in the country, Future Standard, an alternative asset manager with $86 billion in assets under management, and Darco Capital, his family office. He is also a limited partner in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, and the WNBA’s future expansion team in Philadelphia, and very small investor in Zero Bond. But wasn’t these accolades that got American Harvest on the menu. He recalls Zero Bond founder and owner Scott Sartiano telling him, “One, I’m going to put you on the menu because it tastes really good. But two, no one’s heard of it. So people will believe that I’ve curated something special here, versus something off the shelf.” That endorsement reaped dividends. Three years after launching into Zero Bond, American Harvest Vodka has racked up more than 1,000 accounts, including Whole Foods, Total Wine, Delta Sky Club, and the restaurant chain Capital Grille. Being on the menu at Zero Bond has been a key part of the company’s pitch.
