MANILA, Philippines — When it comes to what really moves spirits off the shelf and into a glass, taste and design matter. The first showcases the product’s craftsmanship and character, whether it’s worth having over and over again or just once. The latter, meanwhile, contributes to its visual storytelling, helping shape first impressions and inviting customers to discover what lies beyond its brand name and label.
At the recent PR%F Awards 2025, a Filipino brand showed that it has mastered both. It’s really no surprise as it has been winning accolades left and right.
“Detail is important when it comes to taste and design, and we at Tanduay have always paid close attention to the products we release. We want it to be the best, and to have the same quality wherever it is being distributed anywhere in the world,” said Roy Kristoffer Sumang, Tanduay International Business Development Manager.
Tanduay Overproof earned a Gold Medal with a score of 93 at the Tasting Competition and a Double Gold at the Design Competition. Tanduay Reserve Rum 10 Years, meanwhile, was awarded a Silver Medal with a score of 89 at the Tasting Competition and a Gold at the Design Competition.
The Tasting Competition is a double blind-tasting process where spirits, wines, and beverages are judged in 100-point rating system. In the Design Competition, judges inspect the bottles or cans of the product, reading its story and ingredients, and evaluating its packaging and its overall look and feel.
The PR%F Awards is one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world, with a judging panel comprised of top-tier buyers and decision-makers from hotel groups, airlines, restaurants, nightclubs, dispensaries, and liquor stores from the United States and Canada.
“It is a great honor to receive recognition from a competition designed to reflect real-world buying decisions, where products are evaluated by experts who have a say on what customers would want,” Sumang said.
An Artful Blend of Dark Rums
Tanduay Overproof has a delightful interplay of fruity nuances and woody spice notes from ex-bourbon oak barrels. It is a blend of pot and column still dark rums that showcases Tanduay’s expertise in aging.
Tanduay Overproof has a 40% alcohol by volume, and has clear to medium amber glow that hints at its time in aging. On the nose, it greets you with a clean and light aromas of caramel, cherry, and vanilla layered with soft hints of banana and pear.
On the palate, Tanduay Overproof unfolds with an off-dry sweetness and a smooth and warm texture. It has medium intensity flavors of caramel and burnt sugar with light intensity of oak, vanilla, and sherry with hints of banana and pear. It has a medium-long and very complex finish that reflect its depth and character.
This elegantly packaged premium rum comes in 700 mL and 750 mL bottles and is available in select international wines and spirits stores.
A Rum That Embodies the Philippines’ Tropical Essence
Tanduay Reserve Rum 10 Years, meanwhile, is a smooth rounded rum perfect for sipping neat or in cocktails. Bottled at 40% alcohol by volume, it comes in a deep amber color.
On the nose, it has rich aromas of tropical dried fruits, toasted oak, vanilla, butterscotch and toffee. Flavors of toasted oak unfold with balanced notes of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruits. It has a round, smooth body that is medium to full in weight, and its finish is smooth and gently woody, with lingering hints of raisin and dark chocolate.
Tanduay Reserve Rum 10 Years is aged for at least 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels, contributing to its depth and complexity. It comes in a sophisticated 750 mL bottle and can also be purchased in select international wines and spirits stores.
Showcasing the Best of Philippine Rums
Tanduay continues to banner the tradition and innovation of the country’s rums by producing proudly Philippine-made spirits that use the best local ingredients.
“This recent recognition reinforces our decades-long commitment to quality. Tanduay crafts rums that speak for themselves, whether they are judged by a panel of experts or enjoyed by the most discerning consumer,” Sumang concluded.
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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 No. 1 Rum by Drinks International magazine. Tanduay will hold this title for eight 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.
