Review: Sagamore Spirit Sherry Finish
Review: Sagamore Spirit Sherry Finish
Hot on the heels of their enjoyable Rum Cask Finish, Maryland’s Sagamore Spirit Distillery is out with another addition to their Reserve Series line, and it sure sounds tailormade for the holiday season. The distillery first released a Pedro Ximenez sherry-finished rye whiskey as a much more limited Distillery Exclusive way back in 2019, and the positive response inspired the folks at Sagamore to increase its production for another future release. Now that wait is over. This latest Sherry Finish is a blend of four-year-old straight rye whiskey that has spent an additional 18 months finishing in 132 gallon PX sherry barrels. Let’s dig in.
The nose is bursting with dried berries and citrus, orange marmalade, and a vibrant rye spice. Despite the dryer high tones, there’s a juicy texture to this aroma that builds as it opens with plump raisin and fig notes. The palate is silky with more bold, sherried notes: a surfeit of dark fruits — dried and jellied — along with a bit of milk chocolate and orange candies. It’s quite an expressive whisky, well-spiced but also well-rounded. The warming finish sees much of the bigger fruit notes subside, giving way to more cocoa powder and mild rye spice. A fitting fireside dram, especially during the holidays.
106 proof.
A- / $79 / sagamorespirit.com [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]