Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/6221
e mpathetic to the people of the world unfortunate enough to live in oppressive political regimes, Daniel Cabo created a vodka to help raise mon- ies to send to hospitals and orphanages in Cuba, North Korea, China, Vietnam and Laos. Now that's spirit! Cabo, now 44, has 25 years of alcohol beverage in- dustry experience under his belt, with a focus on South American markets. "I saw the poverty, the oppression," Cabo divulges, speaking of a business trip to Cuba. "The kids at the orphanages were begging on the street. I would go to the grocery store to buy them clothing and groceries." His concept of starting a business to promote free- dom was a waving flag in the form of his politically branded vodka. The tall, broad-shouldered, handmade bottle is composed of 99.9% silica (no lead, no glass). The grain-based, 80-proof, triple-distilled Nadared poi- gnantly displays a hammer cracking open a red star. With his base in San Diego, Cabo runs the compa- ny with Eva Lamackova, armed with creative market- ing expertise. Lamackova grew up in Eastern Europe and in 2009 was thrilled to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall. "Our focus is the vodka but the cause is not second- ary," claims Cabo, who hits the streets himself, along with his sales force and a smattering of distributors (two in California and representation in Florida, Ari- zona, Georgia, NY, Brazil, Asia Pacific, Germany and growing every day). "The majority of our net profits go to institutions that help champion principles of human- ity and individual liberty." The goal for Nadared is to build up the shelves and back bars with this small-production American-made organic vodka, with a strong effort to ensure that the walls keep tumbling down. SRP $19. For more informa- tion, go to www.nadared.org. —Meridith May BrAnd Spotlight For the Cause of humankind CREDIT: PHOTO: CATHY TWIGG-BLUMEL nadared—which stands for "NO RED," or simply "no more communism"—raises funds to help those in oppressed areas of the world. it also took a double gold medal at the San francisco world Spirits competition for its stellar taste profile. The nadared Berlin Wallbanger 2 oz. Nadared vodka ½ oz. Galiano 6 oz. fresh orange juice Enjoy freedom, responsibly. january–february 2010 / the tasting panel / 75