Sagamore Spirit Rye Double Oak

Two casks, one excellent Maryland Whiskey.

When Sagamore Spirit opened its distillery on the bank of Patapsco River in Baltimore in 2017, they had a clear mission: put Maryland back on the Whiskey-making map by reviving the "Maryland-style" Whiskey that almost disappeared after the repeal of Prohibition. They're proofing their Whiskeys with limestone-filtered water from their farm, which reportedly fuels local racehorses who are born winners.

The Double Oak Rye Whiskey is an award-winning Spirit that went through two barrels. Its journey started at MGP in Indiana and spent four years in American oak barrels before it was put in new charred wave stave barrels for an additional six months. The idea behind the said fancy barrels is that their staves have tiny grooves that increase the surface area that can interact with the Spirit. The result are subtly toasted oak flavors with notes of vanilla and caramel. It's a fantastic limited-edition Rye Whiskey that makes us wonder why exactly the Maryland style nearly vanished.