Apparently, the best-selling rum brand in the world is, unsurprisingly, Bacardi. Perhaps more surprising is that number two is Tanduay, as in Europe and America it's virtually unheard of. In its home country of the Philippines it's hugely popular (and extremely cheap) but while lots is exported to the rest of Asia, it hasn't ever made its way to Europe.
Way back in 2002 I spent a month in the Philippines and it was there that I encountered Tanduay Dark Rhum. I was only 19 at the time and I had very little experience with drinking spirits. The first time I ever drank so much that I threw up occurred on that trip and it was mostly Tanduay that I was drinking. For some people this sort of experience will put them off a drink for life but on the contrary, I have had a fondness for rum ever since.
Just recently I've found a new interest in broadening my tastes when it comes to spirits and mixed drinks. At first I was mostly concerned with improving the standard of the gin & tonics the hot weather had prompted me to start drinking, but I soon turned my attention to my old friend rum.
And at this point I discovered that Tanduay is all but impossible to acquire in the UK. Nowhere seems to have it. I managed to find one online shop in the UK that listed it but had no stock. I also managed to find an online shop in france that listed it, but, again, none in stock. Nowhere else has it at all. It seems to be completely unavailable in Europe.
I have to admit, I'm not looking for Tanduay because I think it's going to be an amazing drinking experience. On the contrary, I suspect it's a bit on the rough side; not likely to be in anything like the same league as the fine Bajan sipping rums I now have in my collection, or any of the selection of quality spiced rums that I'm hoping to try out later this week.
It's just that this particular rum was an important part of the process of learning to drink and I'm really curious to see how it holds up today, now that my tastes have had another 16 years to develop.