Have you ever wanted to be surrounded by an intoxication of good spirits? Imagine no more. Inside the walls of Intramuros, there’s one unique old stone house that’s full of spirits. It’s the intoxicating aroma of gin, rum, and whiskey.
The Limtuaco family bought an old stone house and transformed it into a museum. This house is now the Destileria Limtuaco Museum which opened in 2018. It showcases the history of the Philippines’ oldest distillery.
A House of History
Julius Limpe, 4th-generation master brewer of Destileria Limtuaco, bought the bahay na bato (masonry house) in 1979. Mr. Limpe bought it to house a collection of the family’s history. Specifically, the history of the Limtuaco family business.
After four decades it has collected significant attribution of the company. Olivia Limpe-Aw, 5th-generation master brewer and Mr. Limpe’s daughter, realizes its importance. She then opened the house as the Destileria Limtuaco Museum on February 6, 2018.
Since the opening, the museum has gained enough visitors. Curious feet walk in and go to wonder in the past. Guests become witnesses to 174 years of wine and spirits.
From Medicine to Spirits and Dreams
The Destileria Limtuaco Museum showcases 160 years of their history. Lim Tua Co, a Chinese immigrant, adopted the Filipino name Don Bonifacio Limtuaco. He established the business in 1852 in Binondo. His first product, Siok Hoc Tong became a hit with the locals. Filipinos popularly call it Sioktong. A herbal wine as medicine brought success to the business.
The business grew into a distillery. The museum displays the decades of progress of Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc. It also includes the personal belongings of the Limtuaco family. One of these belongings is a sketch of a bikini-woman galloping on a white horse. A sketch that Julius Limpe made from a dream. This dream became the White Castle Girl.
Evangeline Pascual immortalized the White Castle Girl in the 1974 calendar. It became an iconic figure for their White Castle Whisky. This year Ashley Rivera is their White Castle Girl.
Stones and Spirits
Visitors are always welcome to the Destileria Limtuaco Museum. The museum is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. They’re open every day except Monday. The fun part of the tour is the spirits on display.
MUSEUM TOUR RATES:
Regular Pass: ₱100 (Museum tour only)
Premium Pass: ₱200 (Museum tour + Signature craft liquor tasting)
Visitors get to see a small scale of the old distillery and vintage machines that were used. A collection of old and new alcoholic beverages. Guests get to see and smell the rum from the square barrel on display. The fun part is that the adults can get to taste from their bottled products.
The Destileria Limtuaco Museum is located at 481 San Juan de Letran inside Intramuros, Manila City. It is just beside the Lyceum of the Philippines University. A small museum that anyone can hardly notice but is worth the find.
