Rum has always held a strong place in the Philippines. From bottles passed around at fiestas to late-night karaoke sessions, it has long been tied to celebration and camaraderie. For decades, the category has been dominated by light, approachable bottles from giants like Tanduay, which helped make the country one of the biggest rum markets in the world. They were reliable, affordable, and ever-present, but rarely something you stopped to think about.

That conversation is starting to shift. Bonifacio Rum, the newest release from Destileria Limtuaco, the country’s oldest distillery, takes a different approach. Named after founder Don Bonifacio Limtuaco, it moves away from the easy-drinking styles Filipinos have long known and stands as the Philippines’ first pure pot-distilled rum from molasses.

The Bulacan Plant. 

The project has been years in the making. In 2008, with guidance from consultant Robert Pigon, Limtuaco set up a dedicated rum plant in Bulacan, installed alembic pot stills, and began experimenting with longer fermentations and small-batch production. For more than a decade, those rums stayed inside the distillery. “We’ve been making pot still rum for 17 years,” says sixth-generation blender Aaron James Limpe-Aw. “This is the first time we’re releasing it as a 100 percent pure pot-still expression.” Produced on a reclaimed Cognac alembic still, Bonifacio uses molasses from Luzon, fermented for 60 to 70 hours, distilled twice, and carefully cut to retain character. The result is a spirit with greater depth, texture, and individuality.

A first debut masterclass was held at The Spirits Library in Makati.

The line begins with three expressions. Philippine Pure Pot Still White Rum (55% ABV) is unaged, high proof, and unapologetic, showing grassy cane, tropical fruit, vanilla, and a clean but fiery finish. It works best in simple cocktails like a Daiquiri or mixed with soda. Aged Rum (46% ABV) is matured in ex-bourbon casks, with notes of oak, spice, caramel, and banana, designed for sipping. Legacy Rum (43% ABV) blends pot and column still distillates into a profile of chocolate, raisin, and caramel, balanced enough for both cocktails and casual pours.

Destileria Limtuaco has been shaping Philippine drinking culture since 1852, when Don Bonifacio Limtuaco, a Chinese immigrant and innovator, founded the company. Still family-owned after six generations, its portfolio has stretched from early remedies like Siok Tong herbal tonic and staples like White Castle Whisky to modern creations such as Manille Calamansi Liqueur and Amadeo Coffee Liqueur. The distillery has also gained global recognition at the World Liqueur Awards in London, where Intramuros Liqueur de Cacao was named World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur and both Manille Calamansi and Amadeo Coffee Liqueur won gold.

Aaron James Limpe-Aw.

Today, under sixth-generation master blender Aaron James Limpe-Aw, Destileria Limtuaco continues to evolve while rooted in tradition. He describes Bonifacio Rum as “the refined taste of heritage and excellence,” a release that honors the distillery’s founder not by looking back with nostalgia, but by showing what Philippine rum can become. Together with its award-winning liqueurs, Bonifacio underscores that the Philippines is ready to take its place on the world stage of spirits.

The timing is significant. In 2023, global spirits giant Diageo acquired Don Papa Rum, a move that put the Philippines on the global rum map. For local producers, it signaled that the country’s spirits could stand on an international stage. Bonifacio Rum enters this landscape not as a rival but as part of a growing narrative that Philippine rum has range, history, and more than one story to tell. 

As Aaron puts it, “We wanted to show that rum can have character, depth, even funkiness. It’s something new for the market, but it’s also part of our heritage.” More than a bottle, Bonifacio Rum is a statement about how Philippine rum deserves to be seen, here and everywhere else. With its release, the story of Filipino rum is only beginning to be told.

Chrysmas Gawaran