Dolly's legacy
Dolly's Story
Where the Essence Remains
It was a warm summer day when Dolly, a woman in her forties, received the news that her husband, Manuel Ferreira da Silva, had passed away. Manuel wasn’t just any man; he was the owner of a well-known rum brand in the Island of Santo Antão, Cabo Verde. Together, they had shared a loving marriage and raised twelve children. She began studying the production processes, marketing strategies, and market trends. Every time she faced an obstacle, she remembered the love Manuel had felt for her and his belief in her ability to succeed. Manuel had always believed in Dolly’s strength and determination.
Dolly’s determination and perseverance began to pay off. She became a role model not only for her children, who learned that setbacks in life could be overcome with courage and determination, but also for all mothers who take the lead in providing for their families, no matter how dire the circumstances. And so, the story of Dolly, the woman who became a widow with twelve children, the woman who took ownership of a rum company, who became a successful businesswoman and symbol of strength, entered history as an inspiration to many. Her journey demonstrated that love, determination, and courage can be the driving forces behind incredible achievements, even in life’s darkest moments.
This is for Dolly.
Dolly’s History
1944 - 1960
In the dance of destiny, Manuel Ferreira da Silva and Dolly Monteiro Silva began their love journey as they exchanged vows in 1944. Welcoming their first child Gastão Ferreira da Silva in 1946, Manuel sowed the seeds of their dreams by acquiring land on Santo Antão in 1949 for the cultivation of sugar cane. With the purchase of the first sugar cane press machine in 1950, a distillery emerged. In 1951 the ‘Ferreira da Silva Rum’ was officially established marking the birth of a remarkable legacy — a tale of love, dreams, and the alchemy of spirits. In 1955, they expanded their reach as the first bottles of rum were exported to other islands such as São Vicente and São Nicolau, marking the brand's first steps beyond its home soil. The year 1960 brought a significant milestone as Manuel and Dolly opened their very first liquor store in the village of Paúl.
1976 - 1979
In 1976, a sudden and unexpected event shook the family as Manuel passed away. They had shared a loving marriage and raised twelve children. But now, Dolly was suddenly faced with an immense challenge. Dolly knew she had to rely on her inner strength and perseverance. It was in this moment of adversity that Dolly courageously took the reins, overseeing the daily operations of the rum company. She began learning everything she could about the rum business. She studied the marketing strategies and market trends. And in 1979, as a tribute to her beloved late husband Manuel, Dolly initiated the aging of old rum, a practice that would become a cherished tradition. Manuel had always believed in Dolly's strength and determination.
1980 - 2003
The early '80s were a period of growth in multiple ways. In 1980, Dolly celebrated the birth of her first grandchild, Peterson do Rosario. In 1983, Ferreira da Silva expanded its presence to an additional four islands, solidifying its footprint across Cabo Verde. Dolly's determination and perseverance began to pay off. In 1985, the brand embarked on an expansion project for its distillery and export efforts, aiming to bring Dolly’s rum to even more corners of the globe. Fast forward, Ferreira da Silva Rum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2001. A remarkable milestone that testified to the brand's enduring dedication to quality and tradition. This was proved in 2003, when the rum was delivered to all Cabo Verde islands, further strengthening its bond with its people.
2017 - 2024
In 2017, the legacy of Ferreira da Silva faced a moment of transition and remembrance as Dolly, the driving force behind the brand, passed away at the age of 90. The following year saw a shift in leadership as grandchild Kevin Ferreira da Silva assumed responsibility for the brand's activities abroad, ensuring that the commitment to excellence continued to be upheld. In 2019, the brand took a significant step towards international expansion by opening its first branch in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 2021 celebrated Ferreira da Silva Rum's 70th anniversary. In 2024, a Limited Edition Bottle 'Dolly' was launched, commemorating the extraordinary woman who breathed life into the brand. And so, the story of Dolly, the woman who became a widow with twelve children and took ownership of a rum company, entered history as an inspiration to many. Her journey demonstrated that love, determination, and courage can be the driving forces behind incredible achievements, even in life's darkest moments.
1944 - 1960
In the dance of destiny, Manuel Ferreira da Silva and Dolly Monteiro da Silva began their love journey as they exchanged vows in 1944. Welcoming their first child Gastão Ferreira da Silva in 1946, Manuel sowed the seeds of their dreams by acquiring land on Santo Antão in 1949 for the cultivation of sugar cane. With the purchase of the first sugar cane press machine in 1950, a distillery emerged. In 1951 the ‘Ferreira da Silva Rum’ was officially established marking the birth of a remarkable legacy — a tale of love, dreams, and the alchemy of spirits. In 1955, they expanded their reach as the first bottles of rum were exported to other islands such as São Vicente and São Nicolau, marking the brand's first steps beyond its home soil. The year 1960 brought a significant milestone as Manuel and Dolly opened their very first liquor store in the village of Paúl.
1976 - 1979
In 1976, a sudden and unexpected event shook the family as Manuel passed away. They had shared a loving marriage and raised twelve children. But now, Dolly was suddenly faced with an immense challenge. Dolly knew she had to rely on her inner strength and perseverance. It was in this moment of adversity that Dolly courageously took the reins, overseeing the daily operations of the rum company. She began learning everything she could about the rum business. She studied the marketing strategies and market trends. And in 1979, as a tribute to her beloved late husband Manuel, Dolly initiated the aging of old rum, a practice that would become a cherished tradition. Manuel had always believed in Dolly's strength and determination.
1980 - 2003
The early '80s were a period of growth in multiple ways. In 1980, Dolly celebrated the birth of her first grandchild, Peterson do Rosario. In 1983, Ferreira da Silva expanded its presence to an additional four islands, solidifying its footprint across Cabo Verde. Dolly's determination and perseverance began to pay off. In 1985, the brand embarked on an expansion project for its distillery and export efforts, aiming to bring Dolly’s rum to even more corners of the globe. Fast forward, Ferreira da Silva Rum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2001. A remarkable milestone that testified to the brand's enduring dedication to quality and tradition. This was proved in 2003, when the rum was delivered to all Cabo Verde islands, further strengthening its bond with its people.
2017 - 2021
In 2017, the legacy of Ferreira da Silva faced a moment of transition and remembrance as Dolly, the driving force behind the brand, passed away at the age of 90. The following year saw a shift in leadership as grandchild Kevin Ferreira da Silva assumed responsibility for the brand's activities abroad, ensuring that the commitment to excellence continued to be upheld. In 2019, the brand took a significant step towards international expansion by opening its first branch in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 2021 celebrated Ferreira da Silva Rum's 70th anniversary. In 2024, a Limited Edition Bottle 'Dolly' was launched, commemorating the extraordinary woman who breathed life into the brand. And so, the story of Dolly, the woman who became a widow with twelve children and took ownership of a rum company, entered history as an inspiration to many. Her journey demonstrated that love, determination, and courage can be the driving forces behind incredible achievements, even in life's darkest moments.
1944 - 1960
In 1944, Manuel Ferreira da Silva and Dolly Monteiro da Silva began their love journey as they exchanged vows. They welcomed their first child Gastão Ferreira da Silva in 1946. Manuel laid the foundation for their dreams by acquiring land in Santo Antão in 1949, establishing a distillery in 1950. In 1951, 'Ferreira da Silva Rum' was born. Expanding in 1955 with exports to São Vicente and São Nicolau, and opening their first liquor store in Paúl in 1960.
1976 - 1979
In 1976, Manuel suddenly passed away and left Dolly facing immense challenges. Drawing on her inner strength, she courageously took control of the rum company, studying marketing strategies and market trends. In 1979, she initiated aging old rum as a tribute to Manuel, a cherished tradition reflecting his belief in her strength and determination.
1980 - 2003
The early '80s marked a period of growth in multiple ways. In 1980, Dolly celebrated the birth of her first grandchild, Peterson do Rosario. By 1983, Ferreira da Silva expanded to four additional islands, solidifying its presence across Cabo Verde. Dolly's perseverance paid off in 1985 with distillery and export expansion, aiming to globalize Dolly’s rum. Fast forward to 2001, marking the brand's 50th anniversary and enduring dedication to quality. By 2003, delivering rum to all Cabo Verde islands strengthened its bond with the people, showcasing its commitment to tradition.
2017 - 2021
In 2017, Dolly, the driving force behind Ferreira da Silva, passed away at the age of 90. The following year, grandchild Kevin Ferreira da Silva assumed responsibility for the brand's activities abroad, ensuring excellence. 2019 marked international expansion with a branch in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 2021 celebrated the 70th anniversary. In 2024, a Limited Edition Bottle 'Dolly' honored her legacy, inspiring many with her journey of love and determination.
