American

Whiskey Review: Sagamore Spirit Mezcal Cask Aged Straight Rye

We review Sagamore Spirit Mezcal Cask Aged Straight Rye. It's a Maryland-style rye finished in añejo mezcal casks.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Sagamore Spirit Mezcal Finished Straight Rye (image via Suzanne Bayard)

Tasting Notes

About:

Aged for 4 years in new oak barrels and finished for 26 months in añejo mezcal casks, 53% ABV, mash bill: at least 52% rye with a high amount of corn, SRP $79/ 750ml bottle.
Appearance:
This whiskey is deep brown in color with orange undertones.
Nose:
The nose is decedent with notes of sweet treats and chocolate. I pick up aromas of melted milk chocolate, toasted marshmallows, and toffee. This is intensely aromatic and reminds me of tawny Port wine in its lush caramel and mocha notes. Wow! With time in the glass, it offers up raisiny notes of PX sherry, pumpernickel bread, and Werther’s Originals. After pouring, I pick up a smoky, waxy aroma to the room like a recently snuffed candle. It’s quite potent!
Palate:
This opens with a rich smoky note of maple-cured bacon and charcoal. It’s a BBQ pit-master’s dream! The flavor is sweet with a hint of allspice and clove alongside flavors of melted brown sugar. I had thought that this would be a touch overwhelming, given the strength of the aromatics, but it’s just delightfully decedent.
Finish:
Comments:
This is wildly impactful, both aromatically and on the palate. It’s not something I imagine turning to frequently, but I could see this as a fun pairing with caramelized onions, BBQ, and loaded pizzas. A dash of water brings out sweet fruit notes and seems to amp up the sugar, so enjoy with a few drops of H2O as an after-dinner drink.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Suzanne Bayard

Suzanne Bayard struck out to the West Coast with her now husband almost a decade ago to explore the intersection of wine and policy in its world-class wine regions. She manages a Portland, OR bottle shop by day as the wine buyer and newsletter editor. She is also the Director of the Deep Roots Coalition, an organization of 30 Willamette Valley wineries that educate on and promote dry farming and sustainable practices. She joined the Whiskey Wash to explore two other passions: writing and whiskey.

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