RODMAN’S BAD ASS VODKA WRITTEN BY AMBER G. CHRISTENSEN-SMITH
///
PHOTO BY VICTORIA JOHANSSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Distillery stories start in many ways. We often hear about
Fast forward to just under a year later and Rodman Bad
people sitting down for a drink together, or struggling through
Ass Vodka was being packaged, marketed, and distributed.
some life battle, and then making a complete 180 with their
Business was looking great for their celebrity named and
life and deciding—of all things—to distill spirits. This story
endorsed startup. Then North Korea happened. Rodman’s well
isn’t much different…except it is quite different.
publicized and controversial trip to North Korea was disastrous
In the fall of 2012, Andreas Johansson had an idea. Not to just sell vodka, but to do it with someone he was friends and business partners with already. The key difference here is
on its own, but the problems multiplied when Rodman enrolled himself into rehab for alcoholism the very same month. However, against all odds, Rodman Bad Ass Vodka has
Andreas had to ask, “Do you still own your own alcohol rights?”
recovered and is finding popularity now. Andreas offered up
rather than just asking, “Do you want to go into business with
some great insight on his own personal journey and advised us
me?” Who was this infamous person? Dennis Rodman to be
regarding how working with a celebrity plays out…and if it is in
exact—the retired sports star, household name, and walking
your favor to pursue such a relationship.
controversy, himself.
84 WWW.ARTISANSPIRITMAG.COM