Sagamore Double Oak Rye Whiskey Review: A Bold Oak-Heavy Experience

Steve Coomes -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Sagamore Spirit and MGPI
  • MASH BILL: Unique rye mash bills from each distillery, but neither specified
  • AGE: Approximately 6.5 years in original and finishing barrels
  • YEAR: 2024
  • PROOF: 96.6 (48.3% ABV)
  • MSRP: $64
  • BUY ONLINE: Sagamore Bottle Shop

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Fans of double-oaked whiskey and bourbon-only fans who want to like rye.

WORTH THE PRICE: Not really to me. I like regular Sagamore Rye far more than this double-oaked version. But since double-oaking is costly, it's a fair ask.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar for most, but perhaps bottle for fans of double-oaked rye.

OVERALL: If you're a fan of double-oaked whiskies, this is for you. Here's why, according to Sagamore.

"After aging our high-rye and low-rye whiskeys for 4 to 5 years in high-char new American oak barrels, our distillers blend them and finish the whiskey in toasted wave stave barrels for an additional 18 months. The increased surface area of the low-char, medium-plus-toast staves impart delightful caramel, toffee, hazelnut, and toasted coconut flavors to Sagamore Double Oak Rye."

That's a lot of interaction with wood; it comes through mightily in the whiskey.

On the nose is raw and cooked rye grain, cooked fruit, candied fruit, cedar, leather and a touch of pine resin. The longer it rests in the glass, aromas shift toward orange peel, charred oak and grilled pineapple.

The palate leads with cedar, bitter chocolate, new oak, clove and black pepper. It leaves the tongue tingling more than burning, but either way, it's spicy beyond what you normally encounter with 96 proof. The finish is dry but at least a little fruity, and the spice warms all the way down the gullet.

The barrel influence is so significant here that, for me, this is recognizable as a rye in name only. Still, I'm confident there are many others who would enjoy that. For me, sometimes extra oak is too much of a wood thing.

BRAND NOTES

After aging our straight rye whiskey for 4 to 5 years in high-char new American oak barrels, our distillers transfer the aged whiskey into toasted wave stave barrels for an additional 18 months. The increased surface area of the low-char, medium-plus-toast staves imparts Double Oak's delightful caramel, toffee, hazelnut, and toasted coconut. Our classic Maryland-style rye whiskey is reimagined through this innovative aging process and then proofed with limestone-filtered water from our spring house built in 1909. The final spirit is a shining example of old meeting new.

Flavor Profile: Known for its distinctive spicy and fruity notes, rye whiskey delivers a complexity that sets it apart from other whiskies. The high rye content in the mash bill brings vibrant flavors, making it ideal for sipping neat or in cocktails.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.