Tanduay Gold Asian Rum. Thanks to the Bleeding Heart Rum Company and more specifically their Don Papa “rums”, the Philippines has become more well known globally as a rum producing nation.

However, Tanduay is (and has been for a number of years) one of the worlds best selling rums. Like so many of the best selling rums – the sales are largely limited to certain more localised markets. Much like Old Monk and McDowells in India, Tanduay can account for a lot of sales in their domestic market and in other Asian markets such as Hong Kong and China.

As of 2020 Tanduay were shifting 23.9 million cases of rum and had expanded into the US market and are currently setting their sights on gaining a foothold in Europe. Hence this review. They have now released their Gold, Silver and “Double” expressions in the UK. These rums are being imported by Emporia Brands who until recently looked after the St Lucia Distillers line up.

To give some insight into just how much rum Tanduay sell – Bacardi shifted 17.7 million cases in 2020 and Appleton Estate (including J Wray and Nephew) sold 1 million cases.

Tanduay Gold Asian Rum is not particularly expensive – especially in its domestic market. Which goes some way to explaining the amount they sell. Whilst Tanduay do have more expensive aged rums, again much like Old Monk and McDowells in India the majority of their sales centre around their cheapest rums.

In the UK various retailers have Tanduay Gold Asian Rum for sale now. You can pick up a bottle from Master of Malt priced at £24.74 for a 70cl. The rum has been bottled at a respectable 40% ABV.

According to the Tanduay website the rums in the blend have been aged upto 7 years in charred ex-bourbon barrels. The rum is produced from their own “heritage” estate sugar cane and from what I can gather it is a molasses based rum.

I do have more background information on Tanduay, who have been producing rum since the 1850’s but as I also have their Silver expression to review I will save that information for that review. Otherwise I’ll end up with nothing to say or have to repeat myself. Which is kind of boring.

So we may as well get on with the important bit and see what this rum is all about.

In the glass I am presented with a golden almost orange coloured spirit. It’s not quite as vibrant as the bottle shots might suggest though. A little “washed out” looking really.

The nose of the rum is best described as suspicious. A hydrometer test doesn’t pick up any additives. However, the almost sickly sweet coconut note, which is the dominant and most noticeable aroma on the nose definitely smells more than a little confected.

The nose is sweet and sugary. It’s inoffensive and I’m not getting much sense of barrel ageing or any oak or wood like notes. It’s pretty straight forward stuff. Light, unfussy and not very complex.

Mingling with the coconut are similar aromas such as almonds and other light nuts. Some peanut brittle and some sugary cashew nuts.

Sipping Tanduay Gold Asian Rum reveals more complexity – with some spice and oak on the entry. It has a spicy/sweet note that I can’t quite place which is actually quite enjoyable.

The mid palate gives a mix of light spice, a touch of oak and the return of the coconut and almond notes.

Overall this is a very light, sweet and easy going rum. The finish is next to non-existent and fades out very quickly. It doesn’t offer a great deal just a very slight spicy burn before disappearing completely. All that is left behind is the coconut/almond notes.

As a sipper it doesn’t really pull up and trees and it’s just too easy going to be of any real interest. Mixed it works in much the same way most “lighter” rums tend to – it rubs along okay with cola, lemonade etc but it doesn’t really put its stamp on the drink. It adds a slight coconut/almond (again) note.

Tanduay Gold Asian Rum isn’t particularly expensive. So it may be worth a punt if you like a slightly “nutty” light rum. I do think there is something more going on here than just the original distillate and barrel ageing.

Not bad per se just not terribly exciting