This is a NAS cask strength rye from Sagamore Spirits. It ironically is loaded with marketing language about Maryland and insists that there are “no shortcuts here” when it is sourced from MGP. I was hoping we were getting away from this sort of thing in the craft spirits scene but alas we are not. Well let’s see if the taste makes up for it!
Review
Age: NAS
Abv: 112.2 proof
Color: A reddish copper
Price: $64.99
Batch 2e
Neat
Nose: A little hot with cinnamon and baking spice notes
Taste: Also a little hot with more herbal notes at the front leading to cinnamon and baking spice with just a hint of something sweeter. Vanilla maybe? Decent mouthfeel.
Finish: Long and hot with mostly cinnamon notes here as well
On a rock
Nose: Significantly mellowed by the ice bringing the cinnamon way down and bring forward the vanilla and herbal notes from the neat taste.
Taste: The ice helps here too by greatly improving the mouthfeel to something nice and viscous, taming the heat and again bringing the vanilla out alongside a bit of honey. The baking spice and herbal notes are still there and slightly subdued.
Finish: The honey and vanilla fade back to a shorter cinnamon finish.
Conclusion
I wouldn’t drink this neat and was ready to give it a harsh review but the ice really saved it for me. That said I still won’t be looking for a backup bottle but I’d be willing to drink it on the rocks at a bar or at a cookout. It was too pricey for what it is too me and I’d take a nice Willet 4 year or High West Rendezvous Rye over it and save a few bucks.
I’d be interested to taste that 2017 batch that won Double Gold at the SF Spirits Competition and their Port Finish though.
0 Stars - Poor to Fine: I would not specifically choose to drink this
Scale
You can also follow me on Instagram(@atxbourbon) or reddit to keep up with these reviews and my other whiskey-centric adventures.