La Tondeña Distillers (Distileria Bago, Ginebra San Miguel)
La Tondeña Distillers was purchased by San Miguel Corporation in 2003. Today it is called Bago Inc and is a distillery within the Sa Miguel Corporation. The company name was insprired from ist location in Tondo, Manila. La Tondeña Distillery pioneered in 1902 with the production of alcohol derived from molasses, instead of the commonly used nipa palm. In 1997 La Tondena renamed Distileria Bago, Inc. and build a second distillery in Pangasinan for completion in 1998.
Author: Caroline Porsiel
Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.
