Destileria Limtuaco Museum, Intramuros

March 4, 2023, D and I visited the Destileria Limtuaco Museum. Founded in 1852 by Chinese immigrant Lim Tua Co (later known as Don Bonifacio Limtuaco) Destilera Limtuaco & Co, Inc. is the oldest existing distillery in the Philippines. The company now sells more than 40 spirits, wines and liquors and is headed by fifth generation master distiller Olivia Limpe-Aw.

*5 days later, I was in St. Luke's Hospital in QC for my scheduled full hysterectomy surgery.*

 

In 1979, Julius Limpe (Olivia's father) acquired the archetypal Bahay na Bato to specifically enshrine the museum. It was a private space for the Limtuaco family to preserve their company's history. The museum located within the confines of the Intramuros area was formally opened to the public in 2018.

The museum is divided into several sections which include a small distillery that showcases the processes of producing rum from sugar cane and whisky from yellow corn, all are made from 100 % local raw materials.

On the second floor of the museum is a trove of the Limtuaco family's personal belongings throughout the decades.

An intensive collection of liquors acquired from the Spanish period as gifts as well as their current line of whiskeys, liquors and wines are prominentl displayed. They are famous for producing the classic White Castle whiskey with its iconic commercial ad featuring a woman riding a white horse.

White Castle Whiskey calendars featuring a model in a
red bikini on a white horse commercial ad

original sketch of the now famous commercial ad

Distileria Limtuaco also developed "Sioktong", the classic Chinese medicinal wine, a concoction of Chinese herbs said to have many health benefits.

Entrance fee: ₱100.00

Address: 481 San Juan de Letran, Intramuros, Manila
Best to leave your vehicle at any paid parking area, then walk to the museum.