"Rum, the distilled spirit made from sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice, is the ingredient in many of our favorite cocktails, from mojitos and daiquiris to cool and refreshing piña coladas. Many Americans probably assume ubiquitous Bacardi or Captain Morgan would be the world's best-selling rum, but you'd be wrong."
"That honor belongs to Tanduay, one of the oldest rum producers in Asia. Founded in 1854 during the Spanish colonial era, the brand's name evolved from the Tagalog word for "peninsula" or "low-lying land," which described their local surroundings. Thanks to the Philippines' long history of cultivating sugarcane, there was plenty of raw material to work with."
"According to The Business Spirits" top 10 best-selling rum "Brand Champions" list, Tanduay was named the best-selling rum of 2025 for the ninth year in a row. What surprises many people is that Tanduay's incredible sales have long been driven by the Philippines domestic market. The brand is deeply embedded in the local culture and is especially popular because of its familiarity and affordability."
"For many, Tanduay is the unofficial national spirit of the Philippines. In a Reddit forum, one user recollected: "Tanduay is popular where I'm from. When I was a kid, that's what the adults in our area drank. They just used water as a chaser." Another user recollected: "When we were just starting to work, aside from gin, Tanduay or Empi were our go-to drinks with my friends whenever we felt like drinking and our payday was still far away.""
Rum is a distilled spirit made from sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice and appears in many popular cocktails. Tanduay, founded in 1854 during the Spanish colonial era, is identified as the world’s best-selling rum, not Bacardi or Captain Morgan. The brand’s name comes from a Tagalog word meaning “peninsula” or “low-lying land,” reflecting local surroundings. Tanduay’s sales are described as being driven largely by the Philippines domestic market, where it is embedded in local culture. It is popular for familiarity and affordability, and it is often treated as the unofficial national spirit. Personal recollections connect it to everyday adult drinking and go-to choices among friends.
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