Under the ‘Cask Exchange’ program, after aging Richland Rum for approximately three years, the contents of select casks are transferred temporarily to new barrels. The emptied casks are then used by the Chateau Elan Winery in Braselton, GA, to age Port for about one year, adding warm notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, leather and tobacco to the Port. After the Port has been bottled, the barrels are returned to the Distillery in Richland, where the Rum they originally held is placed back into them. Hints of sweetness, red fruit, and field flowers acquired from the barrel signal maturity (typically after about one year) and the rum is ready to be bottled.