Alexandra Dorda, the daughter of Belvedere and Chopin Vodka co-founder Tad Dorda, has launched Kasama, a new, small-batch Rum brand that aims to redefine the next generation of both Rum drinkers and spirits makers.
Leaving behind the typical tropes associated with old-school Rum brands like sailors and pirates and absent of a heavily spiced flavor profile, Kasama pays homage to Alexandra’s Filipino-Polish heritage—Kasama is distilled in the Philippines, bottled at her family’s distillery in Poland, and is now available in the United States.
Representing sunshine and optimism inside and out, Kasama is a golden Rum made with noble sugar cane that is aged 7 years in ex-Bourbon American oak barrels. It offers notes of sweet pineapple, a hint of vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt.
Named after the Filipino term for “together,” Kasama celebrates the rich agriculture of the Philippines – one of the largest Rum markets in the world. Meant for sipping or mixing, Kasama lends itself to a variety of cocktails ranging from a classic light and sour daiquiri, to a dark & herbal Old Fashioned, and, of course, a sweet and frosty Colada.
“My mother is Filipino, and I’m very in touch (and in love!) with that part of my heritage,” said Alexandra Dorda. “My family’s deep roots in the craft spirits space coupled with my mother’s culture inspired me to create Kasama, a rum that I hope will enliven the rum category. Kasama is a celebration of the Philippines and everything our islands have to offer. I love the feeling of carefree joy that I experience in the Philippines, and I tried to bring that sense of happiness and optimism to life with subtle, tropical notes such as pineapple and vanilla, which show up in the rum in the most welcoming, inviting way.”
The bottle is designed by Serious Studio, a Philippines-based design firm that helped bring Alexandra’s vision of “a love letter to the Philippines” to life and highlighted the brand ethos of connection and conviviality. Kasama’s label and bottle etching showcase the vibrancy of the tropical country with an unconventional, but uniquely Filipino harmony of juxtaposed yet complementary colors and hand-drawn illustrations of native plants like heliconia, sampaguita and santan. The branding also features postage stamps with cultural nods like a smiling sun inspired by the national flag and the Filipino phrase “Mabuhay,” a local greeting that translates to “long live.”
Kasama Rum is priced at $29.99 per 750ml bottle.
It will be available in 250 stores across the United States, including K&L Wine Merchants, Hi-Time Wine Cellars, and BevMo in Spring 2021 in California, New York Wine Exchange and Broadway Wine & Spirits in New York City, Total Wine & More in Florida, and Binny’s Beverage Depot in Illinois.
