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PLANTATION RUM INTRODUCES A NEW UNIQUE TREASURE -- PLANTATION VINTAGE 1998 -- TO ITS PORTFOLIO OF EXCEPTIONAL ARTISANAL RUMS

A Rum That Should Have Been Classified A Rhum Agricole: It Is The ONLY Rum In The Plantation Portfolio Made with 100% Pressed Sugar Cane

Chateau de Bonbonnet, Ars, France (January 27, 2012) – Plantation Rum announces the addition of a hand-crafted and limited edition Plantation Rum Guadeloupe Vintage 1998 to its distinguished collection of artisanal rums. It is the only rum in the Plantation Rum portfolio made from 100% pressed sugar cane and as such should be labeled a rhum agricole. According to quota limits established by the AOC (Appellation d’origine contrôlée), this is one rum that cannot bear this recognition. Despite this, it was still named “Best Rhum Agricole Aged Over 4 Years” at the UK RumFest 2010. This rum is just now available in the US. Created by spirits visionary Alexandre Gabriel, a man committed to producing specialty spirits so distinctive and revolutionary that they set the bar for all others, only 600 bottles of Plantation Guadeloupe Vintage 1998 are released for the US market, retailing for approximately $64.99 (42% ABV) and available now nationwide.

The rums in the Plantation portfolio are made with a proprietary Cognac Ferrand “double-aging” technique that is not used by any other producer in the industry. With the exception of Guadeloupe which is made from sugar cane, all Plantation Rums are made from molasses, distilled, put into casks and aged (for a time) in their country of origin before being shipped to the Cognac Ferrand estate in France where they are finished in previously used casks and then bottled. The portfolio shows the true terroir of the rum and includes blends from Barbados as well as limited edition vintages from Barbados, , Guyana, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Trinidad.

Regarding Plantation Guadeloupe’s rum vs. rhum agricole labeling, according to the AOC, limited quotas of rum produced in Guadeloupe and can bear the “rhum agricole” label. This rum was simply over quota, so it could not bear that name. However, in every other way, Plantation Guadeloupe technically fits the rhum agricole definition: produced in Guadeloupe, distilled from 100% pressed sugar cane juice, in a short column still (15 to 25 trays) then aged for 11 years (in Guadeloupe) in large French oak casks. Once they reached this maturity, these selected casks were shipped to Cognac Ferrand where they were poured into previously used casks and aged for one more year before bottling.

“Most rhum agricoles that I tasted were not a good tasting profile match for a second aging in our casks,” says Alexandre Gabriel. “Some have this vegetal quality that would not agree with the rancio aromas from our barrels which is this hard-to-describe nutty, spicy, sandalwood essence that comes from old casks. This rum was an exception, and showed some unusual potential. Now after 12 years of aging, we find we have a truly unique Guadeloupian gem to share.”

Plantation Guadeloupe 1998 was originally released as a single barrel edition in the German market only in 2010. Unbeknownst to Cognac Ferrand, one of these bottles was entered into the Rhum Agricole” category at the UK RumFest competition and was awarded “Best Rhum Agricole Aged Over 4 Years” in the Golden Rum Barrel Awards even though it did not bear this label! Its fellow nominees included some of the best rhum agricoles in the world, making this recognition even sweeter.

TASTING NOTES – Plantation Guadeloupe Vintage 1998 Possessing subtle orange and vanilla flavors with touches of dried fruits, the liquid is perfectly balanced, round and lush with a long smooth and fruity finish. It has a strong aroma with slight notes of citrus and oak.

THE PLANTATION RUM PORTFOLIO AVAILABLE IN THE USA Plantation Guadeloupe 1998 joins the Plantation portfolio of highly respected, superior quality rums from around the globe:

The Classics  Original Dark Overproof 73% – Trinidad () SRP: $29.99/750ml  Grand Reserve 5 Year Old – Barbados (Caribbean) SRP: $19.99/750ml  20th Anniversary – Barbados (Caribbean) SRP: $39.99/750ml

The Historical Vintages  Trinidad 2000 Vintage (Caribbean) SRP: $39.99/750ml  Barbados 2000 Vintage (Caribbean) SRP: $39.99/750ml  Jamaica 2000 Vintage (Caribbean) SRP: $39.99/750ml

The Exotic Vintages  NEW! Guadeloupe 1998 Vintage (Caribbean) SRP: $64.99/750ml  Guyana 1999 Vintage (South America) SRP: $59.99/750ml  Nicaragua 1998 Vintage (Central America) SRP: $39.99/750ml  Panama 2000 Vintage (Central America) SRP: $39.99/750ml  Grenada 1998 Vintage (Caribbean) SRP: $39.99/750ml

ABOUT COGNAC FERRAND Plantation Rum is produced by Cognac Ferrand, one of the world’s premier boutique producer of fine spirits and the architect of the artisanal spirits movement. Cognac Ferrand has offices and production premises at Château de Bonbonnet in Ars, France and its brands are distributed in more than 40 countries. The brands available in the U.S. include the award-winning: Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Citadelle Gin, Mathilde Liqueurs, Plantation Rum, Landy Cognac, Cerbois Armagnac and Daron Calvados. W.J. Deutsch & Sons is the importer of the aforementioned brands to the U.S. For more information about Cognac Ferrand, visit www.cognacferrand.com or on Facebook.

The award-winning Plantation Rum portfolio is available in fine restaurants, bars, lounges and liquor stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.plantationrum.com or www.facebook.com/PlantationRum.