The proud Filipina-Polish drew from her rich cultural background, strong family bonds, and learnings from growing up with a beverage industry icon to deliver a world-class product that is distinctly Filipino
It is as sweet a story as any of a father bringing his daughter to work. Alexandra Dorda, 30, shares an early memory: “I remember being as young as five years old and every time we went to a restaurant my dad would take me to the bar to meet the bartender, see if our products were stocked, and check out the cocktail menu.” Her father Tad Dorda, co-founder of leading spirits brands Belvedere and Chopin, is widely credited in the industry for having changed the general perception of vodka and bringing Polish vodka in particular to the forefront. “My father is truly a pioneer in the vodka category,” the proud daughter shares. “His passion for his craft inspired my love of the spirits industry.”
While the love has always been there, perhaps following his father’s footsteps was not always part of the plan. Alexandra majored in international relations at Stanford University and then went on to work for the Chobani Yogurt brand in Manhattan. She did go back to Poland to help out in the family business doing some marketing and new product development for them: “I loved seeing what it took to bring a new product to life and all the elements that need to come together– from liquid and design to packaging and sales.” But she eventually moved on to become an investor in a private equity fund where she was “investing in sectors such as telecommunications, agriculture, and infrastructure.”
Still, that strong entrepreneurial and creative spirit she inherited from both parents proved to be too powerful to ignore. It was during her stint as an investor when she started producing small batches of Kasama Rum. Kasama is the Filipino word for together and draws from the local culture’s penchant for gatherings. Of course, it is no coincidence that Alexandra chose to produce a Filipino product. “I am so proud to be a Filipina– my mother is from Quezon City, and I spend as much time as I can in the Philippines. Every time I visit, I am in awe of the talent, creativity, and tenacity of Filipinos. Most of all, I am so amazed by how Filipinos are filled with warmth and joy no matter the circumstances. I chose the name ‘Kasama’ because it speaks to the warmth of Filipino hospitality. Kasama is all about celebrating good times with good company (even if that looks a bit different now during the pandemic).”
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