Derek Ramsay’s Beginner’s Guide to Rum

Actor and Tanduay Rum’s long-time endorser Derek Ramsay can give you a tip or two to learn more about one of the biggest-selling spirits in the world. 

The best way to learn more about rum is to drink it. However, it wouldn’t hurt to know about their different varieties and flavors before you have one.

Rum can be mixed as a cocktail, enjoyed neat, with a splash of water, or on the rocks. 

White rums are usually used for cocktails, while dark and golden rums are enjoyed neat or with ice. “I like my rum on the rocks! I usually enjoy a drink before I call it a day,” said Ramsay.

How they’re made determines their taste. 

There are different kinds of rum in the world, and the ingredients, distillation, and aging process play a huge role in how they taste. In other countries, they are made from raw sugarcane or distilled in a wood-fueled fire. For its Philippine-made rums, Tanduay uses first-syrup molasses that are extracted from the initial boil of quality sugarcane. They are then fermented for 24 to 32 hours prior to distillation after which they are stored in Kentucky bourbon barrels. A master blender, who serves as the guardian of the company’s rum formulas, along with rum specialists will then check the rums for consistency before approving them for bottling and packaging. “Where it came from, who are its makers. Knowing these will assure you of the quality of the rum. Personally, I’d like to get to know my drink of choice,” he explained.  

Dark rum is aged five years or longer, while gold rum is aged at least three years. 

The former has a heavier body with hints of caramel and tropical fruits, while the latter has a rich taste with hints of vanilla spice. “I prefer the bold flavors and woody notes of dark rum when I find myself in a more pensive mood. When I feel like celebrating with my best buddies, I bring out the gold rum,” he revealed.

White rum is light-bodied with a sweet and spicy taste.

This makes it perfect for cocktails such as mojitos and daiquiris. “When I feel like spending a cozy afternoon with friends or when hanging out with them in clubs, you can start the fun with a choice of mojito or daiquiri,” he suggested.

Premium rums are sipping rums.

Some enjoy it neat, while there are those who have it with ice or water. You can also add lime or citrus to it. “Eventually, as you develop a liking for rum, you explore the premium rums. Like the Tanduay CLX Rum, you’ll get hints of chocolate and vanilla, tropical fruits, and orange zest. It’s a different experience altogether,” revealed Ramsay. 

Try different rum varieties.

Before you get your hands on premium rums, which are the most expensive rum variety, try out the more affordable ones first to determine the ones you like and how you want to drink them. “Lastly, don’t be afraid to explore. Find the rum that best fits your taste for as long as you get to the one,” Ramsay concluded. 

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, since 1988. Even as the years passed, Tanduay has maintained the traditional way of distilling its rums, a practice that started in its now decommissioned 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. 

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.

“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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

International Partnerships, Aggressive Expansion Push Tanduay Rhum to Number 1 Spot Anew

Tanduay Rhum sold 20.5 million cases in 2019, an increase from its 20.1 million cases in 2018, according to Drinks International magazine which hands out the awards.

Tanduay‘s international partnerships and global expansion bolstered its worldwide sales, making it the world’s top-selling rum for the third consecutive year.

Tanduay products are currently available in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Michigan, and Guam in the U.S, and will be available in Hawaii, Indiana, Nevada, and Minnesota within the year. The company has also successfully entered the markets of China, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Australia.

“Being declared the World’s Number 1 Rum for the third year is an achievement not just for Tanduay but for the entire country as our products are proudly Philippine-made using materials sourced locally. We celebrate this feast with our fellow Filipinos and we thank our international partners who have helped us market Tanduay globally. At present, we are working toward bringing Tanduay to Europe as rhum sales in the region outstripped gin. The value of rhum in Europe is growing faster than volume, which is very encouraging because that suggests premiumisation leading the industry to long-term growth prospects. Nowadays, drinkers have a more developed taste when it comes to their drink of choice. Aside from rhum, we are also exploring other spirit categories to supply markets here and abroad.” ~Paul Lim, Tanduay Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing 

He likewise divulged that Tanduay is currently working on expanding its product portfolio for both local and international markets.

Early this year, Tanduay won five medals from the Beverage Testing Institute. Tanduay Asian Rum Gold topped the list with a gold medal. Silver medals, meanwhile, were awarded to Tanduay Asian Rum Silver and Boracay Cappuccino Flavored Rum. Tanduay Double Rum and Boracay Coconut Flavored Rum both received bronze medals. It was in 2018 that Tanduay first dislodged Bacardi on the top spot of the world’s number one rum list. The following year, the Filipino rum maintained its leadership against 153 other brands in the category.