91: Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey

Maryland Style Rye Whiskey is the topic today.  We explore a handful of rye whiskies from Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore Maryland.  We're joined by Brian Treacy to talk about what makes Sagamore Spirit unique, their core lineup, and some exciting limited release rye whiskies.  Sagamore Spirit jump started their brand sourcing some of the wildly popular "MGP Rye" from Indiana's largest distillery, but they are excited to move to their own distillate in the very near future.  We enjoyed each of the whiskies that Sagamore sent to us for this episode and look forward to visiting their distillery in the future and tasting more of their whiskey.  Enjoy this week's episode and be sure to check out Sagamore Spirit.

Show Links: 

• Sagamore Spirit and Brian Treacy's Story
• Sagamore Spirit on Instagram
• Brian on Instagram @Sagamorewhiskeybrian
• Independent Stave Company- "Wave Stave" Barrels
• Thrillist - This New Whiskey Was Aged With Sierra Nevada Beer 
• Sagamore Spirit has released a limited-edition whiskey called the Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select Bartender's Barrel to benefit the local restaurant industry.
• NY Times - Maryland Rye Whiskey Has Finally Returned. But What Was It in the First Place?
• Under Armour's Kevin Plank Enters the Whiskey Wars -2016 Inc. article. 

About Sagamore Spirit

• Sagamore Spirit is a Maryland Style rye.  
• Their five-acre waterfront distillery in Baltimore's Port Covington neighborhood opened in April 2017. 
• The Distillery is equipped with a 40-foot mirrored finished copper column still, nine 6,500-gallon fermenting tanks, an 8,000-gallon beer well, and a 6,000-gallon mash cooker.  
• The American Whiskey story started over 158 years before the first bottle of Kentucky bourbon, when great veteran distillers of the mid-Atlantic distilled Rye Whiskey. 
• Maryland was home to 44 distilleries before Prohibition and by 1939, it held one-third of the nation's Rye Whiskey supply. 
• Maryland Rye Whiskey was nationally renowned, and quickly became synonymous with quality and class.  At Sagamore Spirit, we've picked up the torch. Our mission is to inspire a global passion for Maryland Rye Whiskey and revive – and dominate – the Rye Whiskey category. 
• With over 75 awards for taste and packaging, we are committed to building awareness and excitement around Rye Whiskey's historic birthplace – Maryland.  
• All Sagamore products are made from two mash-bills.
  • The first is 52% rye, 43% corn and 5% malt barley. 
  • The second is 95% rye and 5% malt. 
  • The rye mash ferments for three days in 6,500-gallon open top fermenters. It's then distilled in the world's only 40-foot mirrored finished copper column still, then redistilled twice in a doubler.
• Three core offerings and limited releases:
  • Signature 
  • Double Oak
  • Cask Strength
  • Manhattan Finished Rye - Upcoming limited release
    • https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/latest-sagamore-rye-whiskey-finish-inspired-by-classic-manhattan-cocktail/ 
  • Other Limited Releases
    • Port Finish
    • Calvados Finish