Chateau de Bonbonnet, Ars, France (October 16, 213) Plantation Rum, theportfolio of double-aged rums produced by the venerable Ferrand house inFrance, announces the introduction of Plantation Original Dark Rum . PlantationOriginal Dark is a blend of rums from Trinidad and Tobago, crafted by AlexandreGabriel, the 212 UK RumFest worlds best Rum Master Blender. PlantationOriginal Dark (8 proof, 4% ABV) will be available nationwide as of mid/lateOctober 213 and will retail for a suggested $17.99/75ml bottle.Plantation Original Dark is an aged dark rum FIRST MATURED in heavilycharred American Oak barrels in the Caribbean which impart full-bodied flavorsand a deep color. Gabriel then selects specific barrels, only the ones to his liking,and blends the rums. The base rum is aged three to five years and married with afull-flavored rum distilled 8 years ago. Then this rum blend is AGED A SECONDTIME for 12 to 18 months in medium-toasted Cognac Ferrand French oak barrelswhich impart nice spicy, tannin notes. This final aging fine tunes the blend andbrings together all the aromas and flavors before bottling.This DOUBLE AGING TECHNIQUE is the signature of Plantation Rums andallows Plantation Original Dark to blossom into a rich-tasting, aromatic yetelegant dark rum. The result is a rum ideal in any cocktails that call for a dark rumand in classic rums drinks like Mai Tais, Daiquiris and Rum Punches.Plantation Original Dark is all about the true and rich rum taste that works so wellin cocktails, says Alexandre Gabriel. This is a rum made like rum used to bemade, when it was full of flavors. We handpick each barrel, one by one and weblend the rums according to the ancestral elevage* technique that we use at Cognac Ferrand. Some people callthis ancient touch the rum funk. In the old days it was called the HOGO derived from the French Haut Goutwhich means High Taste. I learned from an old cellar master that this is the way rum was blended in Europe inthe 18th and 19th century. Artisanal rum is now captivating the epicureans, the lovers of the good things of life.Our passion is infectious!And the rum experts agree: The new Plantation Original Dark rum is a delightful expression that delivers rich,warm tones of authentic Trinidad style spirit. This well balanced blend is highly recommended for cocktails thatdeserve a full-bodied rum component says Robert Burr, publisher of Rob's Rum Guide.Plantation Original Dark was VOTED BEST IN CLASS FOR AGED RUMS in the 213 RumXP tasting competitionin Miami.Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director of Bar Operations for Legal Sea Foods has chosen Plantation Original Darkfor the restaurants Spiced Pineapple Daiquiri, to be served in 32 Legal Sea Foods Restaurants around thecountry. The cocktail will appear on their cocktail menu from October 213 through April 214. PlantationOriginal Dark brings a unique Caribbean authenticity to every rum based cocktail, says Sullivan. This is how rumis supposed to taste. The flavors are rich, buttery and complex while being perfectly balanced and beautifullyblended.