THE country's top rum maker Tanduay Distillers Inc. (TDI) is set to introduce in the market its export product bearing a label that it is processed and bottled in Bacolod City, a first of its kind.

This was confirmed by former councilor Em Ang along with the company officials during the press conference on the country's first-ever Tanduay Rum Festival at Cafe Azucarera in Bacolod City yesterday.

Ang, author of the ordinance declaring the third week of August as a celebration of Rum Festival in the city, said the development was first announced by TDI president and chief executive officer Lucio "Bong" Tan Jr. during the festival launching in Manila recently.

"He (Tan) explained to us what's happening with Tanduay and how it has become the top rum in the world as well as their plans for Bacolod City," she said, adding that they really want to concentrate in Bacolod to help not only the city but the industries and businesses here as well.

The launching of the Bacolod-labeled Tanduay rum will be among the highlights of the festival on August 17 to 24 this year.

TDI will be giving a commemorative product to the City Government of Bacolod as a symbol of partnership for the hosting of the eight-day festival.

The rum company will release an initial of 50 cases of Tanduay rum with Bacolod City in the label mainly for export market like United States.

It will be processed and bottled in one of the company's distilleries based at the boundary of Bacolod City and Murcia town in Negros Occidental.

The product will be out in the market at least six months after the launching, most probably starting next year.

It will be a totally different packaging of the product which traceability is really Bacolod City, Ang said.

The company earlier said it is eyeing to strengthen its international presence starting this year.

Currently, it has markets in at least five states in the United States.

These are on top of the recently penetrated markets in Guam, China, and Australia and soon in some parts of Europe.

Established in 1854, Tanduay is one of the oldest existing liquor companies in the country.

It is a member of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies, and the oldest among the subsidiaries and carries with it the distinction of being one of the biggest brands in the distilled spirits category with a 99 percent share in the rum category.

Aside from the Tanduay Distillers plant in Bacolod-Murcia boundary, the company also owns the Asian Alcohol Corporation in Pulupandan, also in Negros Occidental.

Its two other plants are in Cagayan de Oro and Laguna.

The former chairman of the City Council's committee on tourism, who was with Mayor Evelio Leonardia during the festival launching, further said that Tan announced that he wants Bacolod to be the home of Tanduay rum.

The city will be known for rum, this is the direction of the company according to him (Tan), Ang said.

"It will be a big boost for the city as the number one rum in the world will be known to be made here," she said, adding that in terms of tourism, it's putting Bacolod in the map.