Tanduay Rum, a Leading Brand Made in the Philippines

Tanduay Rum is a Filipino brand with more than 160 years of history. Today, it maintains its status as the Rum Brand Champion since Drinks International declared it as the world’s number #1 rum by volume of 2020 for three consecutive years.

Tanduay Distillers, Inc. – led by Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. – is one of the biggest brands in the distilled spirits category with a 99% share in the rum category. Since 1854, their expressions are enriched with the history, culture, and craftsmanship of the Philippines, providing the consumers with the highest quality products through innovative practices.

From the 1930s, the rum it produced began to be branded as “Tanduay Rhum”. The original distillery adopted its name from its first location on Isla de Tanduay, an area bordering the Quiapo and San Miguel districts in Manila.

The aging, compounding, and bottling facilities are distributed in four plants located in elevated regions of the country. All of them include modern wastewater treatment plants, which convert distillery waste into biogas energy for the company’s power requirements.

Regarding its processes, Tanduay Rum is made from varieties of heirloom sugar cane, using only first-syrup A-grade molasses. The raw material is sourced from the heart of Bacolod (Negros Occidental) and Victoria (Eastern Visayas), one of the Philippines’ sugar capitals due to its long tradition of cane farming. Once harvested, they refine the sugar cane in Tanduay’s sugar mill to extract the molasses from the initial boil.

After fermentation and distillation, the rum is aged in ex-bourbon oak barrels. The Distillery uses two aging processes, the single-barrel method, and Solera. In the former, alcohols mature in individual barrels, while in the latter, a fractional aging and blending method in a series of barrels that are never empty. Then, a skilled Master Blender supervises the quality of the rums before bottling and distribution.

This rum has maintained a solid market in Asia, although its exports have expanded to the United States and Europe thanks to high-profile marketing strategies. Besides rum, Tanduay Distillers also produces gin, vodka, brandy, and whiskey. Nowadays, Tanduay is one of the most-awarded rum brands in the Philippines, receiving several local and international awards.

The expressions of Tanduay have a silky smoothness with elegant flavors that provide them with a distinctive taste. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Tanduay Asian Rum Gold

The headliner in the premium rum category, this spirit is aged up to 7 years and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

Tasting Notes

• Color: Bright golden amber.
• Nose: Refined and elegant. Presence of mature honey, almond, caramel, toasted oak, orange peels, and vanilla.
• Palate: Good balance of alcohol level and sweetness. Expressive and elegant flavors of vanilla, tropical fruit, coconut, and nutmeg.
• Finish: Persistent in harmony. Caramel flavor persists on the finish, with vanilla and wooden notes.

On the online community Rum Ratings, Tanduay Asian Rum Gold received 5 out of 10 points and 14 reviews:

John Frederick from the U.S. said, “(…) tried it on ice, not bad but seemed stronger than 80 proof. Not a bad bite, just seemed strong. Nice Amber color, touch of sweetness. Certainly not bad, would buy again.”

Rv from Belgium highlighted that this is “the favorite rum of the local Filipino. Tasted the Filipino variant on the spot and it was not ok. When I heard they were going to expand to Europe and upgrade the rum I bought this bottle. Pleasantly surprised by the warm aftertaste and the beautiful bottle in a tube.”

Tom from the U.S. described it as a “complex array of different notes going on here. From butterscotch to vanilla to cocoa. Dried fruit, tea, oak, tobacco, and sandalwood. Does have some alcohol burn in the back of the throats, which is fine in my book. I like sipping this neat but mixed and this rum will hold its own as well.

Tanduay Asian Rum Silver

This rum is aged up to 5 years and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

Tasting Notes

• Color: Clear, transparent, pale-straw yellow.
• Nose: Good intensity of mandarin and grapefruit peel with toasted notes, coconut, and vanilla background.
• Palate: Cream soda with flavors of citrus fruits all in harmony.
• Finish: Dry yet sweet with warm persistence.

On Rum Ratings, Tanduay Asian Rum Silver obtained 3.7 points and 3 ratings so far. However, it has received good reviews because of its taste:

Joola69 from the U.S. commented, “enjoyed a bottle of Silver Tanduay Rum while vacationing in Sedona AZ. Boring bottle and label design. Vanilla extract and pure alcohol to the nose and palate when neat sipped. Surprisingly strong burn at end although it’s giving hints of being sweet.”

Boyblueau from Australia wrote, “based on the promotion you expect a lot more. It’s nowhere near as good as a good Cuban white and certainly miles off the premium whites. But it’s ok (…).”

Beukeboom from the U.S.: “(…) although labeled a “silver” rum, this is more straw color (according to both my eye and the back label). I had read about the Tanduay brand online and thought it interesting. (…) This one is definitely a rum best suited for mixing. It’s way to harsh for drinking neat IMHO. Works well in Coke Zero but not as well as others. Okay for a basic mixing rum. Does not stand out much at all. Has a marked vanilla flavor and somewhat sweet aroma (…).”

Tanduay Double Rum

A premium spirit made of a blend of rums aged 16 and 5 years married in ex-bourbon barrels for 2 years more. Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

Tasting Notes

• Color: Dark amber
• Nose: A well-married flavor of tropical dried fruits, toasted nuts, and cooked pineapple.
• Palate: A deluxe-aged rum hitched with a taste of torched pineapple with a mellow blend of cherry and vanilla.
• Finish: Elegant medium-long woody notes, raisin, and tropical zest finish.

On Rum Ratings, Tanduay Double Rum obtained punctuation of 8.4 and 8 ratings. These are some of the consumers’ remarks:

Ppgrace from the U.S. said, “Nice bottle. Great color. Oily thick nutty consistency. Classic pallet of Madagascar vanilla, honey, and Medjool dates… Very nice rum from the Philippines.”

Recallgt from the Netherlands pointed out: “… First sniff is little sharp/alcoholic, second is sweet. Taste is caramel, little sharp edge. Let it breathe a little and it’s nice, no ice needed, it’s well balanced after the breath. Further, banana, caramel and such. Taste is caramel with a little smoky finish, lasts quite long for the price must say. This is an above average rum, with a touch of the higher quality rums, without the hurts of the premium price (don’t mix tough, it’s really pretty good).”

Shammerle also from the U.S. said that “(…) The rum has a great aroma that really makes you want to dive in. It has a little bite on the nose at first but that fades about 2 – 3 minutes after pouring. The taste is really enjoyable both neat and with a cube of ice. Really tasted like two different rums. There was no chemically taste or heavy bitter wood flavor that can accompany some aged rum (…). More like the Zafra range, but not exactly dry. It definitely has legs on the glass, but not syrupy like many of the other popular ones. (…) There are a few different layers to it and the finish is nice. It doesn’t blow you away with flavor, but is just really enjoyable and solid. On ice, it’s just so easy to drink (…).”

Tanduay Rhum Dark

This Dark Brown spirit is aged for at least 3 years and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). It is described as the hallmark of Tanduay’s rich and exotic rum heritage, with a unique character that made it the most popular golden rum in the Pacific.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Dark amber color
• Nose: Amaretti cookies and fresh fruit notes.
• Palate: Butterscotch, frozen custard, cola, and caramel apple.
• Finish: Smooth caramel, tropical fruits.

On Rum Ratings, Tanduay Rhum Dark received 4.7 points and 21 ratings. Among the consumers’ reviews are:

Likewise, Wim Hengelmolen from the Netherlands said that “the color of this Rhum is reddish dark brown, it’s a strong 80% smooth to drink Rhum with a good after taste. I like to drink it on the rocks, pure in the glass with some ice. This rhum is hard but proven good, no problems in the morning. It can compete easily with the great names like Bacardi Rhum, I appreciate its taste even more. it’s alcohol content is much higher and very affordable.”

Carlo Volti from the U.S. said, “Very good Rum; very reasonable price. (…) Every bottle of Tanduay Dark I’ve purchased have all been VERY DRINKABLE, NOT HARSH TASTING, even when sipped straight; and I’ve NEVER had a problem the following morning. The absolute worst “problem” I once had, if you could even CALL IT A PROBLEM was still being drunk the next morning. (To me that’s a bonus!) (…).”

Ben from the United Kingdom: “Great smooth rhum. Tasty, slightly sweet but great over ice. Certainly has a different aroma to western rums.” Graham from the same country said, “it is not the best I have ever tasted but has a wonderful flavour and punch. Most 80 proof alcohols are not very palatable when drinking neat, but with coke, Tanduay makes it one of the best drinks around – not overpowering, not oversweet, just a bloody good rum and coke. I wish was available overseas.”

Tanduay 1854

This is a very special rum masterfully blended from Tanduay’s special reserve of aged rums, aged 15 years before being bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). It was launched in 2004 to honor the company’s 150th anniversary.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Warm Gold
• Nose: A perfume-like aroma of mixed exotic fruits – pineapple, banana, and citrus – over a faint hint of vanilla.
• Palate: A thin, oily body. Its flavor profile builds on the fruit aroma, adding a toasted sugar note, mown hay, and vanilla with a hint of banana followed by white pepper, a hit of citrus, and more menthol.
• Finish: Medium length and oily.

On Rum Ratings, Tanduay 1854 has obtained 5.7 points so far from 10 ratings. Some of these are:

Brian from the Netherlands: “(…) A pretty smooth rum as well. It is noticeably smoother than the 12 yrs old. Must be caramel and cinnamon that are the most prominent flavours (…).” And Jeno Molnar from Hungary said that “the quality very good for that reasonable price. (My main drink in Boracay Philippines).”

Moreover, Adam from Poland pointed out, “easy to drink, very smooth…little sweet and vanilla. For me too much of alcohol nose. Hard to buy (just on the Philippines- but best from Tanduay offer). If you are at Philippines neet to try!”

Finally, Taster from Switzerland commented, “Nose and palate: orange and some hints of oak. Similar to Don Papa Rum (from the Philippines as well). The Tanduay is less sweet than Don Papa, which is positive. Tanduay seems less complex, but more subtle and maybe even more authentic than Don Papa.”

Tanduay Superior

This is considered the “cognac of rum”, aged for 12 years and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

Tasting Notes

• Color: Dark amber color.
• Nose: Notes of smoke and oak wood, delicate caramel nuances, and shades of spices.
• Palate: A compelling smooth flavor with a hint of smokiness and a gentle sweep of caramel and oak spices with nutty overtones.
• Finish: A long well-rounded finish.

On Rum Ratings community, Tanduay Superior got 5 points and 10 ratings. Here are some of the comments:

Jan Mariboe from Denmark wrote, “Good for an ‘after office and on your own’ time. The rum has a long dry finish filled with charred flavours of caramel (treacle), toasted walnut and a beautiful cocoa fade. The finish makes the experience worth repeating.”

Franklin Fraitus from the U.S. said, “(…) it’s not bad at all. It is smooth enough to be a sipping rum, and it is completely unobjectionable in every way. But, that is also the issue with it, as there is nothing that stands out as being wonderfully tasty either. I’d say it tastes like a common, good quality, standard rum should, and that is not a bad thing in any way. In fact, I’ve not found a more ‘standard’ rum anywhere.”

Benjamin from France commented, “High end Rum from the famous Tanduay in the Philippines. Very sweet and round. Super caramel. Pleasant for everyone but you don’t know what or how this rum is really made. Could be a spiced rum – from all of artificial flavors when you know you pay the bottle only 3-4 dollars.”

Other expressions

• Tanduay Rhum ESQ, bottled at 32.5% ABV (65 Proof).
• Tanduay Select, bottled at 30% ABV (60 proof).
• Tanduay Rhum Light, bottled at 27.5% ABV (55 proof).
• Tanduay Rhum 65, bottled at 32.5% ABV (65 proof).
• Tanduay CLX, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).
• Tanduay Rhum White, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).
• Tanduay Boracay Cappuccino, bottled at 25% ABV (50 proof).
• Tanduay Boracay Coconut, bottled at 25% ABV (50 proof).

We invite you to explore RumRatings.com and join this exciting community to discover more Filipino spirits.

You can also visit the Global Rum Tasting Club and receive tasting kits featuring unique rums based on your preferences. Members will also have access to Zavvy.co and enjoy educational Live Streams as well as a virtual tasting with experts from the rum industry.