Whiskey_Hound
Sagamore Spirit Port Finish Rye (2019 Release)
Rye — Maryland, USA
Reviewed
June 16, 2022 (edited November 5, 2022)
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.
60.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@PBMichiganWolverine I do not unfortunately. That was a bottle kill review. But I owe you samples—with interest. Lol. I am definitely on the hunt for another Sagamore Port. If I find one, I’ll save you a sample. And if I find a second, I’ll make it a whole bottle
@Whiskey_Hound the Midwinter unfortunately has dropped in quality significantly, while price has sky rocketed. If you still have a pour of this Sagamore Port, I’d love to try it. Seems hard to find now. And in return, I have several pours I can send over as well
@Scott_E Midwinter is an absolute must try for me. I’ve heard Come to think of it I have a sample from you that I need to get on. @PBMichiganWolverine I’m keeping an eye out for this. If I find another, I’ll grab one for you as well. I need another before it’s all gone
@PBMichiganWolverine Groth, yes, was quite similar. I didn’t even think of that comparison. You can find these still, but sparingly. Had a connection with a person in Florida who purchased on my behalf. Weren’t many left. That was several months ago.
@Scott_E @Whiskey_Hound any comparison to Jefferson Groth or early Midwinter is a win. These still available?
After I tasted this, I too had to find a bottle. I fortunately did find one. After this experience, I have found respect for Sagamore and seek out their other finishes. This ranked up there, for me, to the early versions of A Midwinters Night Dram. Great review.