Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Straight Rye

Distilled by MGP, who have mastered the art. They capture the joy of distilling exceptional American whiskey without the burden of marketing. All they need to do is relax while young distilleries eagerly pay to put their name on it. Given this is a cask strength MGP rye, great things are expected. Hopefully, any non-rye components in the mashbill remain subtle. Decent color, likely 4-5 years old. MGP typically keeps the age quiet, but the "aged fully" claim on the bottle is quite misleading. The nose has good spice, black pepper, and cinnamon, followed by a fruit note—perhaps aged or tropical fruit—and a touch of sweetness resembling maple. The nose burn is moderate, but it still reminds you it's rye as you pull the glass away. The body feels hot on the palate. The initial taste is rye grain, but it's quickly followed by an explosion of maple and even chocolate. I anticipated it being too sweet, but just as I was about to be let down, the heat kicked in. The finish is where the rye truly burns, and it does so exceptionally well. While I can detect the high ethanol content contributing to the burn, only rye can penetrate the gums and linger for minutes after a sip. With more sips, I can discern a fruity note similar to the initial scent, but only in the context of dessert fruits like bananas foster or apple pie. This is a fine whiskey that highlights rye. I don't think a mashbill explicitly featuring "low rye" should be labeled as rye whiskey, but honestly, after the initial sweetness, only the rye truly stands out. The cask strength likely enhances its appeal, as less proof probably means more sweetness. It's not a bad purchase, as long as the contents are still sourced; I'm not familiar with Maryland distilleries, but I highly doubt they could produce anything rivaling MGP. I really need an MGP tracker app.

This pint bottle cost $30.99 at Total Wine in Albuquerque. It lacks an age statement, is 112.2 proof, and has a dark copper color. Information on the mash bill is scarce, with conflicting reports suggesting a blend of high and low rye mash bills or a 95/5 ratio. Given Sagamore Spirit's history of using MGP juice and potentially distilling its own now, both scenarios might have been true at different times. While I often find the lack of ingredient disclosure in whiskies frustrating, this is particularly vexing. NOSE: Initially vanilla, followed by cinnamon, a mineral note resembling granite's decay into gravel, and honey. As I sipped, notes of freshly mowed grass, a hint of smoke, approaching rain, and summer leaves emerged. MOUTHFEEL: Creamy. TASTE: Cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, red pepper, and black pepper. The pepper notes appeared late but were very pronounced. FINISH: The finish is long, starting with cinnamon and brown sugar that fade, giving way to a strong oak presence that extends the finish. SUMMARY: This is a fine whiskey. It's slightly hot but manageable, and the taste compensates for it. It drinks somewhat like a bourbon but has distinct rye characteristics. I highly recommend this spirit. RATING: On my eight-level scale, it receives a 6, which is Fine. This equates to 3.75 stars, 87.5/100, or 8.75/10.

I'm enjoying Sagamore more with each pour. This cask strength bottle caught my attention as I've been preferring higher proof spirits lately. I hope it meets expectations. The nose is quite distinct for a rye, evoking an iced cinnamon bun rather than the typical baked goods aroma. This is a pleasant beginning. First taste... wow, what a flavor explosion! It's not a traditional rye. While the subtle pine notes common to all ryes are present, this offers much more. There's honey on the edges and a molasses-like flavor in the middle. For a cask strength, the heat is never overwhelming, arriving mid-sip with a slow burn to the finish, complemented by a hint of toasted marshmallow. I'm a huge fan of WhistlePig, considering the Little Pig the gold standard. Sagamore is a brand to watch, and this bottle could certainly compete with some of my favorite WhistlePig expressions. Don't hesitate if you see this or any of their other bottles. Sagamore has recently earned a permanent spot in my glass and my affections. I hope the Little Pig won't be too envious!

I had heard that some of the more common Sagamore Rye expressions, like Double Oak and Straight Rye, weren't particularly good, and I had the chance to try this particular bottle at a restaurant. I sampled it neat, using a glencairn glass. The aroma presented the expected rye spice, but something felt slightly off. It wasn't as appealing as many other ryes I've sampled previously. There was an almost lemony, orangey, or herbal quality emerging. The palate then made me genuinely question what I was tasting. It was merely 'okay,' and the herbal taste was far too dominant for my preference. It overpowered any hints of rye flavor, vanilla, and oak. The finish confirmed the palate's impression, as it didn't linger excessively but continued the 'herbal' character with a mix of oak. In summary, this is a rye I would not try again. I'm a significant fan of rye, and for reasons I can't pinpoint, I didn't enjoy this one very much at all.

Nose: Evokes a rum, with dominant brown sugar. Hints of vanilla are present, along with subtle herbal rye notes in the background. Also notes of Cinnamon Red Hots and a slight citrus orange. Taste: Tastes like cherry cola and sweet brown sugar. A toasted marshmallow note emerges in the finish, which is highly enjoyable. A truly distinctive rye character. Overall: A rye for bourbon enthusiasts. Exceptionally sweet rye. A very unique flavor profile with a remarkably pleasant and lengthy finish. The viscosity is somewhat low, which is intriguing given the long finish. The toasted marshmallow note adds significant depth. It would be excellent in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Definitely a worthwhile bottle to have on hand. Outstanding value in the $55-$60 range. 4.3-4.35

A robust Straight Rye Whiskey from Sagamore Spirit Distillery in Maryland, made with copper stills, aged over 6 years in new charred oak barrels, and bottled at 112.2 proof. The aroma is rich with notes of grain, wood, fruit, nuts, herbs, and spices. The bold and spicy palate offers notes of cherry cola, roasted marshmallows, brown sugar, dark chocolate, honey, and nutmeg, leading to a long, warm finish with hints of black pepper, rye, cinnamon, hazelnut, pecan, caramel cream, clove, and oak. Thanks to a friend for visiting with a story, a tasting, and lunch.