Sagamore Rye Cask Strength Batch 1A Review (2025)

Maryland used to be a big deal in American distilling. Back in the day, before Indiana became the powerhouse of American Rye, there were Pennsylvania-style or Maryland-style ryes. The Pennsylvania version was spicier; Maryland was more mellow due to its higher corn content. 

 

"[I]n 1910, there were 44 distilleries operating in Maryland, 21 of which were in downtown Baltimore. It also led them to the discovery that prior to Prohibition, Maryland was the third leading distiller of whiskey in the U.S. behind Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and at one point, it led the nation in rye whiskey production." - DistilleryTrail.com

 

Founded in 2013, Sagamore Spirit was created by Kevin Plank, the former CEO of Under Armor, and Bill McDermott. They enlisted MGP’s former Master Distiller, Larry Ebersold, to create a recipe of two rye mashbills: a familiar 95% rye/5% malted barley mash and a 52% rye, 43% corn, and 5% malted barley mash.

 

One of Sagamore Spirit’s goals is to bring back a resurgence of Maryland-style rye whiskey. A second part of the plan was to create a grain-to-glass distillery by building partnerships with local farmers and purchasing as much Maryland-grown rye as possible. Until recently, it had been producing its distillate in a 20,000-square-foot facility, blending 20% of that with 80% sourced MGP rye.

 

I say “until recently” because I’m reviewing Sagamore Rye Cask Strength – Batch 1A today. The back of the bottle indicates this one is distilled by Sagamore Spirit – this one is all Maryland distillate!

 

Sagamore Spirit maintains a 120° entry proof. Batch 1A is made from 23 barrels and was triple distilled from the signature dual mashbills. It aged seven years in Maryland-grown oak from Independent Stave Company (ISC). This American Rye is non-chill filtered and packaged at 61.5% ABV (123°) and has a suggested price of $69.99 for 750mL.

 

Before I get to the #DrinkCurious part, I must thank Sagamore Spirit for providing me with a sample of Batch 1A in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this Rye whiskey into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. Inside, the liquid had a reddish-orange dense hue. A thick rim produced wide, almost watery tears.  

 

Nose: I allowed the whiskey to breathe for about ten minutes before bringing the glass to my nose. I smelled ripe plums, chocolate, leather, rye bread, and charred oak. I encountered bold, black cherries when I pulled the air through my lips.

 

Palate: Sagamore Rye had a thick, creamy mouthfeel, and that first sip was hot! Don’t shy away when this happens – this is called palate shock. The second sip should be radically different because it is prepared.

 

Flavors of black cherries, chocolate, and fennel teased the front of my palate. Cocoa, nutmeg, and rye spice came next. The back included leather, mint, and charred oak.

 

Finish: The finish started softly for about two seconds, and then a powerful statement was made as it quickly ramped up in flavor and intensity. The flavors of rye spice, mint, cocoa, cherries, and barrel char lasted 1:12, placing it into the medium venue. It seemed long before I timed it; thus, I did it twice just to be sure.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: If you’ve followed me for any length of time, I’m sure you know that I dislike fennel, black licorice, and anise. It came in like a freight train on the front but vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. As such, it didn’t remain at the front of my mind.

 

Batch 1A drank at least at its stated proof, perhaps several points higher. While not distracting, the roof of my mouth numbed early during my tasting experience.

 

I noticed a few things; first, Batch 1A tasted far different from the Sagamore Spirits/MGP blends I’ve tried. Secondly, the more I sipped, the more I enjoyed what was in my glass, so much so that I poured a second, which is rare. That’s when I took the opportunity to add two drops of distilled water.

 

I discovered a lot of cinnamon on the nose. Strangely, the whole sniffing experience seemed to have a more dominating alcohol punch. That was entirely out of left field; it shouldn’t happen that way. The texture turned oily, and the anise exploded inside my mouth, completely commanding my attention. I won’t do that again!

 

Poured neat, I loved Sagamore Rye Batch 1A. It is an unusual whiskey, which is one of the things I find most attractive. Everything seemed to mesh well; it was well-balanced and, dare I say it, entertaining. The team at Sagamore Spirits has proven it knows how to distill, and I’m confident you’ll agree. Priced very reasonably, it earns every bit of my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.