Tanduay Bacolod Rum Fest Set August 10-18 With “Ambagan” as Theme

The fourth Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival recognizes the different roles people play in building a community as it chooses "Ambagan" for this year’s theme. Happening from August 10 to 18, this year’s event promises food, arts, music and thrills for everyone to enjoy.

A feast that started as an homage to the city’s sugarcane, which is the main source for Tanduay’s award-winning rums, the event has been held annually since 2019.

“On this same ground, my father, Lucio K. Tan Jr., together with Councilor Em Ang, announced the inception of the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival. The festival was born out of a desire to ensure that Bacolod, the City of Smiles, remains the heart and home of Tanduay. That wherever Tanduay goes, Bacolod will always be a part of its story. What’s remarkable about this collaboration is that we are able to tell the story of Bacolod and Tanduay by highlighting their culinary heritage and the artistic prowess of the Bacolodnon, whether in cocktail-making, painting, music, or dance. That, in essence, is what this Rum Festival is all about.” ~Lucio Tan III, President, LT Group and Tanduay Distillers, Inc., 

Before a full house press conference held at the Century Park Hotel in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Tan, likewise, cited the strong collaboration of Tanduay with the local government in mounting the annual festival. 

“On behalf of our City Government led by our beloved Mayor Albee Benitez, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. Together, we have built a celebration that not only honors our heritage but also paves the way for future generations to appreciate and cherish. Supporting initiatives like this festival is crucial in preserving our culture and boosting our local economy.” ~Councilor Em Ang, Chairman of Bacolod City History, Culture, and Arts

Through the different facets of the festival, participants are encouraged to contribute, whether through culinary delights, visual arts, and more. On August 10, a motorcade heading to the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) will signal the opening of the festival, where local government officials led by Mayor Albee Benitez are expected to grace the ribbon-cutting ceremonies of the Food Park. The Food Park will feature nightly entertainment, local and international culinary delights, and mixology. The Food Park will be open until the last day of the festival on August 18.

On August 12, a Mixology Competition will take place at the Ayala Malls Capitol Center. On August 14-15, the Culinaria Competition will be held. August 16 is designated as Rum Education Day, featuring a Tanduay Plant Tour, followed by a Rum Masterclass and the nationwide Grand Finals of the Mixology Competition at the Seda Hotel.

On August 17, a motorcade parade featuring some of Bacolod’s beauty queens, with Tanduay Brand Ambassador Derek Ramsay, will begin in the afternoon, followed by a Street Dance Competition and a concert at the BCGC. Bands Juan Karlos and Almost will headline this year's concert performers.

For more information about the festival, visit on Facebook.

A Daring Julia Barretto Is Tanduay’s New Calendar Girl

Tanduay has chosen actress Julia Barretto as its 2024 Tanduay Calendar Girl. 

“Tanduay will be celebrating its 170th anniversary in 2024 and we wanted a strong, confident, and hardworking personality to represent the brand. Like Tanduay, Julia has weathered many challenges in her career and has emerged happy and successful. In representing Tanduay, she shows the world that the brand champions courage and empowerment. 2024 is a big year for Tanduay as it celebrates its 170th anniversary. We have lined up activities that will showcase the brand’s evolution, how it captured the hearts of Filipinos, and how it is now also gaining the attention of rum aficionados in the biggest cities in the world. Julia is going to be a part of these major events.” ~Tanduay, the brand said in a statement

The World’s Number 1 rum added that Barretto has a fire in her soul and is not afraid to show the world her truest self. 

The 2024 Tanduay Calendar Girl was presented to the members of the media at Elements in ETON Centris. According to Tanduay, their creative team worked with the actress’ style team for the upcoming calendar and they tapped top editorial and commercial photographer BJ Pascual to do the shoot.

Barretto is one of the most popular and talented actresses of her generation. She has been in the industry since she was a child, appearing in numerous top-rating television shows and movies throughout her decades-long career.

The actress is also considered a style icon and is one of the most-followed Filipino celebrities on social media, with 11.4 million followers on Instagram as of this writing.

As the 2024 Tanduay Calendar Girl, Barretto is also scheduled to appear in the brand’s promotional events and materials in the coming year.

Tanduay Rum Awarded Medals in Spirits Awards Belgium

 

Dubbed “The United Nations of Fine Spirits”, the international competition rewards spirits from across the globe. It has a panel of internationally renowned experts assessing and classifying whiskies, cognacs, brandies, rums, vodkas, and gins, among others.

Tanduay products continue to gain recognition from prestigious spirits competitions abroad. Most recently, Tanduay Asian Rum Gold and Tanduay Asian Rum Silver were both awarded silver medals at the Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial in Brussels, Belgium.

“There are many fine spirits around the world, and we are honored that our products have been chosen as two of the best. We accept this recognition with both pride and humility, and we thank all our people for their hard work and dedication in continuous-ly crafting quality products that are proudly Philippine-made.” ~Paul Lim, Tanduay Distillers, Inc. Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing

The Tanduay Asian Rum Gold is one of the company’s most-awarded products. Aged in used Bourbon barrels for seven years, it is silky smooth with elegant flavors, almonds, dried dark fruits, and island spices. 

The Tanduay Asian Rum Silver has also received several recognitions throughout the years. It is aged in used Bourbon barrels for five years and had hints of dried tropical fruits, vanilla, and toasted coconut.

This year, Tanduay continued to expand its international presence when it inked deals with top wines and spirits distributors from several U.S. states. Its U.S. presence now encompasses Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, Wisconsin, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Tennessee, and Michigan, and the territory of Guam.

Tanduay has also expanded its market in China and entered Singapore. The company is likewise working on its distribution in Europe.

Tech Savvy Lucio Tan III Leads Tanduay’s Continued US Market Growth Amid Pandemic, Eyes Europe Distribution in Q4

 

Tanduay Distillers’ Inc. president and chief operating officer Lucio Tan III, a software engineer, has been aggressive in bringing the Filipino rum to more customers worldwide, making it available not just through traditional marketing and selling but tapping into online channels as well.

A software engineer, Tan’s direction for the 165-year-old Tanduay business is to bring it to more customers worldwide, making it available not just through traditional marketing and selling but tapping into online channels as well. Now headed by Lucio Tan III, the third-generation scion to one of the Philippines’ biggest conglomerates, Tanduay continues to successfully enter new international markets. Most recently, it inked deals with the largest US wines and spirits distributors, Johnson Brothers and General Beverage.  The third-generation scion to one of the Philippines’ biggest conglomerates is at the forefront of bringing the Filipino rum to more customers worldwide.

Even as most businesses are reeling under the effect of the pandemic, Filipino rum maker Tanduay’s growth continues on an upwards trajectory. A software engineer, Tan’s direction for the 165-year-old Tanduay business is to bring it to more customers worldwide, making it available not just through traditional marketing and selling but tapping into online channels as well.

Tanduay can now be found in Hawaii, Nevada, Wisconsin, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Tennessee, and Michigan, and in the territory of Guam. It is also available in China and Singapore and will be available in Europe by the end of the year. Tan's direction for the 165-year-old Tanduay business is to push toward a more visible international presence using traditional marketing strategies and tapping into tech-driven or digital channels as well.

Tanduay takes pride in delivering the highest quality products by ensuring its sugarcane source and maintaining its efficient distillation process. As one of the biggest and most recognizable brands in the country, it pays homage to Filipino craftsmanship as it dominates the global market.

Founded in 1854, Tanduay uses the same distillation process that is employed in its now decommissioned distillery in Manila. A Master Blender, who serves as the guardian of Tanduay’s formulas, checks on the consistency and quality of the rums before they are sent for bottling and packaging.

Tanduay’s push toward a more visible international presence started in the 2000s. Its more recent initiatives in the US included a partnership with the Golden State Warriors, making it the first Philippine brand to sponsor an NBA team. It had naming rights to the Tanduay Club in the Oracle Arena, and Tanduay Rum can be found at retailers in the Golden State Warriors’ blue and gold “Strength in Numbers” collectible boxes in California. Tanduay currently has its own branded bar at the Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors’ brand-new arena in San Francisco’s Bay District which opened in 2019.

Tanduay also became the official rum of the Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets. It has been a Presenting Sponsor of the 40/40 CLUB and an Associate Sponsor of the arena's Brooklyn Show platform. Tanduay also made a foray into entertainment by being one of the sponsors of the Emmy Awards, the first for any Filipino brand.

The company credits its international partnerships and aggressive marketing efforts for its domination of the international rum category. For three years now, Tanduay has been declared the World’s Number One Rum by Drinks International magazine. It has sold millions of cases worldwide, even outselling more popular international rum brands.

“Even before the pandemic, we were already working on making Tanduay available through tech-driven channels. Last June, we launched an online selling site for our Filipino customers, shots.ph. In the US, we have partnered with Caskers and Flaviar, and we are also available through the online sites of our distributor-partners. When we market Tanduay internationally, we are also highlighting the craftsmanship of the Filipino. Tanduay is a product that we can proudly say is Philippine-made—from the sugarcane, it uses to the unique distilling process it undergoes. These are all products of the Filipino’s hard work and ingenuity. We’re combining our traditional practices in rum-making with new ways of marketing our products.” ~Lucio Tan III, Tanduay Distillers’ Inc. President, and Chief Operating Officer, a Software Engineer, a Graduate of Stanford University

Tanduay mainly sources its sugarcane from Bacolod in the Visayas, which is a place known for its long history of sugarcane farming. The island is home to the country’s 100-year-old sugar milling company.

About Tanduay 

Tanduay is one of the most-awarded rum brands in the Philippines, receiving various local and international citations. In 2017, it was declared the World’s Number One Rum by Drinks International magazine. Tanduay will hold this title for three consecutive years.

Tanduay started out as a distillery in Hagonoy, Bulacan, a province in the island of Luzon known for its heroes and craftsmen. It changed ownership throughout the decades and has been under the Lucio Tan Group of Companies, Inc., one of the biggest conglomerates in the Philippines.

Even as the years passed, Tanduay has maintained the traditional way of distilling its rums, a practice that started in its Manila distillery. It has likewise consistently maintained its product quality, ensuring that Filipinos and foreigners alike will enjoy the same taste and aroma of a Tanduay product wherever they are in the world.