Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye

NEAT NOSE - Hints of Vanilla, Caramel, Maple, and Mint PALATE - Vanilla, Rye Spice, with an oily mouthfeel FINISH - Sweet with a little kick of rye spice BUY? - Yes, don’t pass this one. BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely. One of the best ryes I’ve ever had.

Even if I drink multiple whiskies on the same day, I usually only review them one at a time. I don’t post two reviews on the same day primarily because with the length of my reviews, I sometimes feel it might be asking a bit much for people to read two at a time. Then again, with the way people dip in and out, you may post two on back-to-back nights and they’re seeing them at the same time, but I also like to review the first whisky I’m drinking of the night unsullied by the experience of other whiskies. Sometimes doing side-by-side comparisons can really elucidate certain flavors. It can make one whisky stand out against another that you otherwise find fine on its own. In any case, I had some Sagamore Double Oak last night after I review the Four Roses and was almost compelled to write it up then because of how much I love it, but I figured I’d wait until today, as I’m getting ready to go to dinner with some friends, having a pre-meet up drink, to share my points on Sagamore Double Oak, which I picked up at the Delaware Total Wine after a trip to Winterthur Gardens with my family this past Mother’s Day (I also nabbed the Cognac-finished Sagamore, which I’ve reviewed here, and the Rum-finished Sagamore, which I haven’t yet opened). If you ask my what my favorite Sagamore is, I might just tell you all of them, all the ones I’ve had are my favorite. I haven’t had a bad whisky from this distillery yet. The most unique to me was the Tequila-barrel finish, and the best representation of rye was the Cask Strength, but this runs in the same wheelhouse as the cask strength. This is very oaky indeed with pencil shavings both on the nose and the palate, mingled with vanilla and rye spice. The palate is rich with a wonderful mouthfeel and the vanilla on the tongue becomes a rich French vanilla with the pencil shavings coming back in on the finish. This is definitely for those who like woody savory spicy whiskies. There’s very little presence of anything sweet aside from that touch of French vanilla. If that doesn’t sound appealing to you, you’re not going to be into this. And speaking of whiskies complimenting each other, last nights tasting of Four Roses in conjunction with this was a perfect pair. So I have to go 4.25 for this too. Both are amazing, amazing woody whiskies, but whereas the Roses is full of caramel and cherry fruits, this is straight up spice, wood, and a little hint of Vanilla. All in all a lovely match. So I’ll pour myself a Roses next to do it up again tonight. This one is, of course, a little more expensive that the Four Roses, but well worth the $65 asking price.

I am not a finished whiskey guy but Sagamore does it right. I can still taste the rye spice on the palate and through the nose but these guys use the double oak process to enhance the pour versus overpowering what you drink. That i can get behind. I get a coffee note off of this which is not a common note i pull from what i own, but again i am not a big finished whiskey enjoyer. I really appreciate what Sagamore is accomplishing here … very nice job and i wish all finished offerings were this good … enhancements on a bourbon or rye which you can still taste but that finished profile is not the dominant profile.

Well balanced spicy and sweet rye with some fruity notes. Reminded me of a chocolate orange and Christmas spices — in the best way.

Syrup and oak nose. Quality dryness with a rounded charcoal flavor. Powdered cacao, faint eucalyptus and clove. Medium finish.