Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength Review

Like the Sagamore Signature Rye, this Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength is made from a mix of MGP rye mash bills. They are distilling their own product, but they only opened in 2017 so their whiskey isn't ready yet, but should be available in 2021. This is an approach to whiskey I have nothing against, sourcing till you can get your own out the door, so long as you're transparent; I have to commend Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armour, for at least properly labeling his whiskey endeavor.

Before we get into the rye whiskey review below, I want to address the seeming incongruity between saying this is a whiskey with "no dilutions or alterations - simply a splash of spring water" and calling it "cask strength".

Technically speaking, at the moment, cask strength isn't defined by the TTB. But Barrel Proof and Cask Strength are used interchangeably and ATF Ruling 79-9 did define Barrel Proof. Essentially you can add water, but can't water it down more than 1% post dumping. So a "splash of spring water" isn't considered a real dilution and so the cask strength designation remains.

Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Fueled by Maryland's great veteran distillers, we forged a new path to define cask strength rye whiskey. There are no shortcuts here; no dilutions or alterations - simply a splash of spring water and a time-honored tradition of patience and purpose. Aged fully, and exploding in color and flavor, it's a spirit that connects us to a storied past only Maryland Rye Whiskey can claim. These are our deepest roots, distilled.

Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Maryland, USA

Distiller: MGP
Bottler: Sagamore Spirits
Mash Bill: Rye, (at least 51%), Corn and Malted Barley (blend of MGP's high rye (95%) and low rye (51%) mashbills)
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 4+ years
ABV: 56.1%

Price: $75*

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength Review: Tasting Notes

NOSE
Oak, dark fruit, buttery toffee, complex baking spice, cocoa, leather, oil and vanilla candy with a touch of dill.

PALATE
Dried dark fruit, oak, complex spice, toffee, char, vanilla and light notes of dill, citrus, leather and coffee beans.

FINISH
Long -> Oak, dark fruit, spice, sandalwood, nuts and dill.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, heavy-full body and a warm oily feel.

Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength Review: Overall and Score

This is a solid rye whiskey. Aroma is oak driven followed by layers of fruit and spice and sprinkled with rustic notes like leather and sweet notes like vanilla candy. Palate is a heavy powerhouse of flavor and while it's multi-faceted it just doesn't quite hit that next-level depth. Finish is nice and exactly what you'd expect.

I'm happy I'm getting so much out of this whiskey. The Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength is a tremendous whiskey with a solid profile that pulls from multiple categories and keeps thing interesting. It's also quite good in an Old Fashioned. A good whiskey worth at least tasting at the bar.

SCORE: 88/100 (B+)

*Disclosure: This Sagamore Spirit Rye Cask Strength was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.