Sagamore Spirit Port Finish Rye (2019 Release)

Fruit throughout. Hit initially with cherry and apple but met soon after with spice. Longer than normal linger. Verry balanced, nothing takes over but the fruit shines. Makes some of the other port finishes look weak - could be the best port finish out right now

The standard Sagamore was okay. Nothing special, but not bad enough where I was turned off from the brand altogether. According to the internet and a few people I’ve spoken with, this Port Finish is the best they have. So I’m glad I tracked this down before it was gone. Batch 1B; Bottle 3391; By SE Nose: Gala apple/apple cider. Rye bread, rye spice, and black pepper. Vanilla, toffee, caramel, and fudge. Plum and apricot. Black licorice and black cherry. Dill, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Awesome nose—and unique to boot. Palate: Rye bread and rye spice. Black pepper, dill, clove, and nutmeg. Caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Gala apple and apple cider. Black cherry and black licorice. Wintergreen and peppermint. Pistachio and mint chocolate. Maybe just a touch of plum, but it’s muted compared to the nose. More of a stereotypical rye taste than the nose suggested, but the quality is still there. Great taste. Finish: Black pepper, dill, clove, and nutmeg. Rye spice, rye bread, Gala apple, and apple cider. Pistachio, walnut, and mint chocolate. Medium-length finish; surprisingly short for a 50.5% whiskey. Solid nonetheless. Sensational nose, great palate, respectable finish. A damn fine whiskey overall. And a considerable boost considering it cost $60. This beats the brakes off of most wine cask-finished American whiskies. The only ones that stack up off the top of my head are the Jefferson’s Groth Cask and Wyoming Whiskey Double Cask. This is as good as the former and edges the latter. That is fantastic company to keep. This restores my faith in Sagamore after my experience with the entry level offering. I’m in. I’m not sure if this was a one-off, or if they have plans to roll this out again in the future. Either way, it’s a must buy. 4.75/5.