Sagamore Spirit Rye Review

Sagamore Spirit Rye is sourced from MGP, but they're not just buying casks, slapping their Sagamore Spirit Rye label on it and calling it a day. They're taking an approach more along the lines of High West and creating blends. Though instead of being from multiple distilleries, it's all from MGP and is a blend of MGP rye mash bills.

In addition to MGP's famous 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley mash bill - a lot of sourced whiskey comes from this - they have two other rye mashes. One is made from 51% Rye, 45% Corn and 4% Malted Barley and the other is 51% Rye and 49% Malted Barley. Sagamore doesn't say which ones are blended into it or what the ratios are, but at least they disclose where it's from and how it's made. Now, on to this rye whiskey review.

Sagamore Spirit Rye Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Our spirit flows from a spring house, built in 1909, at Maryland's Sagamore Farm - naturally filtered spring water, fed from a limestone aquifer. The same water that fuels our champion thoroughbreds also cuts the rich spice of our rye, creating a spirit as revolutionary as America's risk-takers and history-makers. Our story is one of passion, of old meeting new, and crafting a timeless American whiskey.

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

Region: Maryland, USA / Indiana, 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: NAS (4+ years)
ABV: 41.5%

Price: $45*

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Sagamore Spirit Rye Review: Tasting Notes

NOSE
Caramel, dill, cinnamon, oak, orange peel, vanilla and chalk.

PALATE
Caramel, oak, cinnamon, clove, dill, orange peel and some vanilla candy.

FINISH
Short -> Spice, oak, dill, clove, menthol and some orange peel.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, med-light body and a light watery feel.

Sagamore Spirit Rye Review: Overall and Score

Won't knock your socks off, but works well as a daily drinker. Aroma comes through as dry and spicy with a subtle sweetness. Palate hits a bit harder, but not by much and carries the same dry spice with subtle sweetness character. Finish is a quick flash of the same. It's a very consistent whiskey experience.

Sagamore Spirit Rye is a bit sweeter than most standard MGP bottles and I think that has to do with it being a blend of Rye recipes, one of which has higher corn and the other higher malt. This lower rye and higher amounts of sweeter grains could be pulling it in that direction which makes it pleasant, but needs a bit more time and/or less water to get the kind of depth that grabs your attention.

SCORE: 83/100 (B)

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

Sagamore Spirit Rye Review Summary