From the sugarcane farmlands of the Philippines came a rum that would carry Filipino pride across the globe. Tanduay, once a small distillery in old Manila, is now celebrating its eighth consecutive recognition as the World’s Number 1 Rum and Rum Brand Champion for 2024.
“At Tanduay, we take great pride in our history. Our success was built on generations of craftsmanship. As we continue to expand globally and develop more products for our consumers, we remain committed to the values and traditions that have guided us for more than 100 years,” said Tanduay Chief Operating Officer Kyle Tan.
Tanduay’s beginnings go back to the Spanish colonial period. It was first known as Ron de Destilerías en Hagonoy y Tanduay, or Rum from the Distilleries of Hagonoy and Tanduay. The story began in a small shop in Hagonoy, Bulacan, the Destilería de Hagonoy owned by Elías Menchacatorre. He later sold the business to Valentin Teus, a master spirit blender, who would merge it with Destilería de Ynchausti y Compañía.
Founded in 1854, Ynchausti y Compañía was involved in many ventures, including inter-island shipping, Manila hemp and abaca manufacturing, plantations, construction, banking, and capital lending. The Tanduay known today emerged from this operation.
By 1862, the distillery had moved to a large site by the waterfront of Isla de Tanduay in Manila. Located along Calle Tanduay, it held the largest capacity among distilleries in the Far East at that time. Its furnace stood over a complex of warehouses beside the Pasig River.
Tanduay’s legacy is preserved through time-honored rum-making techniques in their barrel-aging facilities
After the Second World War, chemical engineer Faustino J. Munarriz became Tanduay’s longest-serving master blender. His scientific precision helped preserve traditional techniques while improving quality control and product development. It was during his time that the well-known Tanduay Rhum Dark Five Years and the ESQ line were created.
“We also take pride in our master blenders, as they are the gatekeepers of the rum-making tradition that defines our legacy. They are the ones who ensure that our rums remain consistent with what makes Tanduay a world-class brand,” said Tan.
As the company grew, it introduced a wider range of products. The current lineup includes premium rums, flavored rums, cocktails, whiskies, and gins. It also produces collector’s editions.
Today, Tanduay is available in Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United States, and United Kingdom.
From its modest origin, Tanduay continues to represent the best of the Philippines in every bottle.
“As we look forward to more years of growth, we continue to stay rooted to the Filipino values of resilience and perseverance. We share this journey with our kababayans, proudly representing our heritage to the world,” said Tan.
