Sagamore Spirit Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey is the flagship expression from Baltimore's Sagamore Spirit, a distillery on a mission to revive the once famous tradition of Maryland style rye whiskey. Before Prohibition, Maryland was a rye powerhouse, and Sagamore has spent years working to restore that legacy, first by blending and bottling carefully selected rye while laying down its own distillate, and now with a flagship that is 100 percent Maryland made at its waterfront Baltimore distillery. The whiskey is a thoughtful blend of two straight rye mash bills, a classic high rye recipe of 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley, and a lower rye recipe of around 52 percent rye balanced with corn and malted barley. Triple distilled for smoothness, matured four to six years in high char new American oak, and married in small twenty barrel batches, it is then proofed with limestone filtered water drawn from the spring house on Sagamore Farm, built in 1909, the source that gives the brand its distinctive character. Bottled at a balanced 93 proof and hand bottled with batch and bottle numbers, it delivers a classic Maryland style profile that marries traditional baking spices with bright, fruit forward notes. Expect a nose of warm spice and vanilla, a palate of golden apple and baking spice giving way to caramel, honey, and brown sugar, and a finish of warm spice and honey fading through mild oak and gentle fruit. Smooth enough to sip neat yet characterful enough to elevate any cocktail, it is an outstanding, versatile rye and a proud standard bearer for Maryland whiskey. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in a Manhattan or whiskey sour.
ABV / Proof
| Distillery |
Sagamore Spirit, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Category |
Maryland Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Expression |
Small Batch, Straight Rye (blend of two rye mash bills) |
| Mashbills |
95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley, blended with ~52% Rye / 43% Corn / 5% Malted Barley |
| Age |
4 to 6 Years |
| Distillation |
Triple Distilled; blended in 20 barrel batches |
| Maturation |
High Char New American Oak |
| ABV |
46.5% |
| Proof |
93 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm amber.
Nose: Warm baking spice and vanilla with a touch of fruit.
Palate: Classic baking spices and golden apple giving way to caramel, honey, and brown sugar.
Finish: Warm spice and honey linger through mild oak and faded fruit.
FAQ
What is Maryland style rye? It is a historically softer, more balanced, fruit forward style of rye whiskey that flourished in Maryland before Prohibition. Sagamore Spirit is at the forefront of reviving it.
What is the mashbill? It blends two straight rye mash bills: a 95 percent rye recipe and a lower rye recipe of around 52 percent rye with corn and malted barley, married for complexity and balance.
What proof is it? It is bottled at 93 proof, or 46.5 percent ABV.
Is it Maryland made? Yes. The current Small Batch is 100 percent Maryland made at Sagamore's Baltimore distillery and proofed with limestone filtered water from Sagamore Farm. Earlier releases blended Maryland distillate with sourced rye.
How should I drink it? Its balanced 93 proof makes it excellent neat, over a large cube, or in cocktails like a Manhattan or whiskey sour.
Where can I buy Sagamore Spirit Rye online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
