My Son's First Taste Of Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye

[IamMatt]

Just wanted to share this.  My son turns 24 today.  He is not a big drinker--usually only has whiskey one bottle on his cart--but he does enjoy whiskey, including ryes,   So when he asked me to pick out a whiskey for him for his birthday, I chose Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye.  He opened it last night and texted me, "The rye is actually out of this world." 

 

I wish I had his taste at his age.  Actually, probably better that I didn't.

[Thomm]

I picked this up and put it down twice at the liquor store last night. Does $63 sound about right for this bottle?  This was the only place I have seen it, so I don't have a point of comparison. 

[Kepler]

2 hours ago, Thomm said:

I picked this up and put it down twice at the liquor store last night. Does $63 sound about right for this bottle?  This was the only place I have seen it, so I don't have a point of comparison. 

 

That price is in line.  I paid $55 for mine but most stores in my area have it for $64-65. 

[Kepler]

15 hours ago, IamMatt said:

Just wanted to share this.  My son turns 24 today.  He is not a big drinker--usually only has whiskey one bottle on his cart--but he does enjoy whiskey, including ryes,   So when he asked me to pick out a whiskey for him for his birthday, I chose Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye.  He opened it last night and texted me, "The rye is actually out of this world." 

 

I wish I had his taste at his age.  Actually, probably better that I didn't.

 

I like my bottle of this, because I think the double oak is a great way to improve MGP rye.  But I can't help but wish they would start with an older-aged base rye whiskey, because my bottle still tastes a bit too young despite the smoothing around the edges that the finishing barrel provides.  Maybe I will try blending this with my Redemption 10 year BP rye and see how it works...

[mbroo5880i]

I see Sagamore Rye at several retailers.  It seems like most of bottles I see are either lower proof or really expensive.  I guess I need to start taking my "readers" into to the liquor store to see what I am looking at.   

[IamMatt]

I believed I was not a "rye guy."  Of course, I used to believe I didn't like anything over 90 proof, lol.  First time I tried it was at a whiskey event last year when a friend kept saying, "You gotta try the Sagamore Double Oak," so I reluctantly went over to the Sagamore booth and found out apparently I AM a rye guy. 

[jvd99]

I didn't appreciate bourbon or scotch until a bit later in life. Didn't even know what rye was until I got into the hobby 10 or 12 years ago. In my younger days, I was exclusively a beer guy and if I did order brown liquor, it was usually a Jack & Coke or shot of Jameson.  Cool that your son has some interest and knowledge at such a young age

Edited April 17, 2023 by jvd99

[Jazzhead]

I've yet to see the Sagamore Double Oak,  but I'll be sure to pick one up when I do.   The Sagamores I've tried - especially the "Barrel Select" series which blend high and lower-rye MGP and are now aged out to at least six years - are fantastic.   

[Anwalt]

3 hours ago, IamMatt said:

I believed I was not a "rye guy."  Of course, I used to believe I didn't like anything over 90 proof, lol. 

 

I do SOOOO feel ya!

 

I'm still, umm, "transitioning" to rye.  But it's well underway, thanks largely to some nefarious influences.

 

And the proof thing is a done deal.  Can enjoy both ("go both ways"?), but tend to prefer higher proof.

 

It's been an interesting year, glad I'm not the only one.

[VWIndy]

Just got a bottle of the Sagamore Spirit Double Oaked Rye today for $57.  It does have some rich caramel, oak, and spice notes to it.  I assume the second oak barrel really contributes to this extra "kick".  Another example of a great rye whiskey from MGP!

 

Great way to get your son drinking the good stuff early on!!

 

[mbroo5880i]

I am not sure I have seen a bottle of this.  I have tried Sagamore and I recall it was pretty good.  I don't remember which bottle I tried.    That's another story for another time.  I will share I was at a casino and it was the 5th or 6th pour on a long night.  Paid for by someone else.  They were paying while I was playing.  Not gambling just drinking and chatting up other non-gamblers who were waiting at the bar while their friends were gambling.  I told my friends to spend their money on the slots and I would spend their money on shots.  

 

 

[Skinsfan1311]

On 4/16/2023 at 9:04 PM, mbroo5880i said:

I see Sagamore Rye at several retailers.  It seems like most of bottles I see are either lower proof or really expensive.  I guess I need to start taking my "readers" into to the liquor store to see what I am looking at.   

The folks at Sagamore really can blend them.  The cask strength is really good, but the Barrel Select, (and I have had 3 bottles from two different sources), is excellent.  You should be able to snag one for under $60.00. 

 

 

[Jazzhead]

11 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

The folks at Sagamore really can blend them.  The cask strength is really good, but the Barrel Select, (and I have had 3 bottles from two different sources), is excellent.  You should be able to snag one for under $60.00. 

 

 

The age, proof, price and quality of the Barrel Select compares quite closely to Pikesville.   Given that Pikesville is gone with the wind in Pennsylvania and New Jersey,  the Barrel Select has become my go-to rye.   It has more rye spice than Pikesville, which is a Kentucky style rye,  but there's enough sweet corn in the blended mashbill to provide essential balance to the pumpernickel.    A good comp might be OF rye with more proof and age.   

[Skinsfan1311]

7 hours ago, Jazzhead said:

The age, proof, price and quality of the Barrel Select compares quite closely to Pikesville.   Given that Pikesville is gone with the wind in Pennsylvania and New Jersey,  the Barrel Select has become my go-to rye.   It has more rye spice than Pikesville, which is a Kentucky style rye,  but there's enough sweet corn in the blended mashbill to provide essential balance to the pumpernickel.    A good comp might be OF rye with more proof and age.   

I like 'em both!   

[bayouredd]

The Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye is actually the rye that made me like rye. I started with a Willett 4yr which was nice but the Sag DO personified the flavors which made me take notice. Now, the SB crew that enriched me to rye being a Holiday Spirit has captured another fish...

[mbroo5880i]

Crap, I saw this the other day but passed because I am looking to get a volume discount.  I got to remember to look for it this weekend.  I believe the price I saw was $64.99.  Maybe I can find it cheaper.  I will hunt a few more places.

[Anwalt]

8 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

Crap, I saw this the other day but passed because I am looking to get a volume discount.  I got to remember to look for it this weekend.  I believe the price I saw was $64.99.  Maybe I can find it cheaper.  I will hunt a few more places.

 

This is a very Mbroo post.  

[Skinsfan1311]

11 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

Crap, I saw this the other day but passed because I am looking to get a volume discount.  I got to remember to look for it this weekend.  I believe the price I saw was $64.99.  Maybe I can find it cheaper.  I will hunt a few more places.

$64.99 for the Double Oak??

 

Good pass.

 

  It's $49.99 at Total Wine stores in MD and DE.   

[Kepler]

14 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

$64.99 for the Double Oak??

 

Good pass.

 

  It's $49.99 at Total Wine stores in MD and DE.   

 

Just goes to show the difference in markets, price-wise.

 

Sagamore Double Oak is typically $59 to $65 here in Texas.   So I would not say 64.99 is an automatic pass, depending on your regional pricing.

[Skinsfan1311]

9 hours ago, Kepler said:

 

Just goes to show the difference in markets, price-wise.

 

Sagamore Double Oak is typically $59 to $65 here in Texas.   So I would not say 64.99 is an automatic pass, depending on your regional pricing.

Yup!  I didn't think about that.   

Sagamore is 20 minutes from the house and you can find it pretty much everywhere around here.       

[mbroo5880i]

I hope to shoot for the middle.  Maybe I can get 20% off the $65 price tag.  Cheap Bastards are always looking for an angle but still not miss out by being too cheap.  

[Skinsfan1311]

1 hour ago, mbroo5880i said:

I hope to shoot for the middle.  Maybe I can get 20% off the $65 price tag.  Cheap Bastards are always looking for an angle but still not miss out by being too cheap.  

Agreed.

If I was in your boat, and really wanted a bottle, I'd shell out the $65.00. Sometimes,  we Cheap Bastards have to crack open our wallets. 

 

The Mendoza line for my frugality,  (when it comes to most whiskey), is $40.00.

I'm willing to pay more, sometimes a much more,(and often do), but there is a lot of good-to-great whiskey out there for under $40.00.

I find myself picking up, then putting down, bottles that cost more.   Sometimes Mrs. Skinsfan,  (the Great Enabler), has to  tell me to  "just get the damn thing, you deserve it!" , when I waffle, more than usual, over a purchase.

 

 

 

[Kepler]

9 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Yup!  I didn't think about that.   

Sagamore is 20 minutes from the house and you can find it pretty much everywhere around here.       

 

I'm officially jealous of you! 

[Kepler]

On 4/19/2023 at 4:17 PM, bayouredd said:

The Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye is actually the rye that made me like rye. I started with a Willett 4yr which was nice but the Sag DO personified the flavors which made me take notice. Now, the SB crew that enriched me to rye being a Holiday Spirit has captured another fish...

 

I'm usually not a big fan of double-oaked bourbons, but this Sagamore DO makes me think it might be the way to go for a rye whiskey.  Maybe we will see more of them from other producers.

[mbroo5880i]

25 minutes ago, Kepler said:

 

I'm usually not a big fan of double-oaked bourbons, but this Sagamore DO makes me think it might be the way to go for a rye whiskey.  Maybe we will see more of them from other producers.

 

Thanks for sharing this.  I am also not typically a fan of double-oaked bourbon.  Hearing someone with similar tastes have a positive take on a DO rye whiskey is encouraging.  It is on my shopping list.